Three years ago, the world witnessed Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) bravely volunteer as tribute for her younger sister, Prim (Willow Shields), in the 74th annual Hunger Games. After President Snow (Donald Sutherland) disrupts all peace in Panem, the girl on fire fights to save the nation and to unite all districts against the Capitol in “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2.” In a society full of corruption, Katniss struggles to stay true to herself while keeping hope alive. Every song, fight scene and heartfelt gesture — of characters putting their lives on the line for each other — is perfectly woven into a well-devised film.
Katniss’ actions in the film mark a developed sense of maturity as she realizes what is worth fighting for and what she needs to let go of. As the Mockingjay, Katniss symbolizes hope in a world of corruption and chaos, thus uniting the districts against the Capitol and President Snow. In a nation where resistance to higher powers and the lack of cooperation is evident, Katniss leads the way with her strong will and dedication.
In this final movie, not all circumstances present a happy ending. In a surprising turn of events, Katniss simply deletes Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) from her life after the death of her sister. In lieu of what we had hoped, she dismisses Gale abruptly while hastily spitting out a goodbye as he makes no further appearances in her life. Gale — her hunting partner, best friend and one of the most important people in her life — just left.
On another note, the death of Prim electrifies the audience with goosebumps and heartbreak. Everything Katniss has done throughout the saga has been to save her sister, and she is notable to follow through with that wish in the final battle. Upon finding out, she feels a slow numbness — that is, until she returned home and it all hit her. Her cries of sadness and pain send us shaking and into tears. Prim was her safety and home, and she has also been erased from Katniss’ life.
The intense combat scenes, interwoven with the love triangle between Katniss, Gale and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), have people in the audience on the edge of their seats, nervously waiting for what comes next. The comical lines — in and out of somber segments — spur laughs all while capturing people’s hearts. Yet, what makes this Hunger Games movie stand out from others is its sense of closure. There are no more what-ifs, should-haves or could-haves — even Katniss and Peeta return home to find peace within the closure of the Capitol.
The film not only examines one person’s abilities in making a difference, but also evaluates the motives behind Katniss’ actions. People initially witness her stone cold exterior, but fail to see the gentler parts of her personality — the softness in her eyes when she glances at Prim, the tightness in her grasp when she hugs Peeta and the compassion behind her words when addressing the rebels. In the anticipation of fighting for something greater than herself, Katniss makes sacrifices out of a powerful feeling that unites everyone she cares about — love.
The Hunger Games trilogy allows one to see that even in disruption and chaos, faith can be restored within the words of someone you care about. Sometimes being brave involves putting all you have into a mission deemed larger than anything you have ever known. And as Katniss, the Mockingjay, tackled every task with fire in her eyes, a simple phrase lingered in the background — “May the odds be ever in your favor.”
