Big Picture Big Sound

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Blu-ray Review

By Rachel Cericola

The Film

Thanks to Twilight and Harry Potter, a lot of film franchises are stretching out their stories in order to get two films for the price of one highly anticipated finale. In the case of The Hunger Games, it seemed a little unnecessary. That's because the third installment was basically a two-hour setup for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

Not that the last entry was a bad movie, but it didn't pack the same punch as the other entries in the series. Feeling jaded? Just know that despite dragging things out to another two hours, this big finale was worth the wait.

Part 2 picks up exactly where the last film left off, with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) waking up after being attacked by a brainwashed Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Now known as the Mockingjay, Katniss has become a symbol of rebellion. Working under District 13 President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), she joins a "safer" version of the attack against President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and the Capitol, all while creating propaganda for both sides along the way.

HungerGamesMockingjayPt2-st.jpg
Cressida (Natalie Dormer) and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) fight the good fight in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2." Photo: Murray Close.

During this final stretch, you'll see a lot of familiar themes. Friends die, Katniss is put up on a pedestal, and there's the whole love triangle with Katniss, Peeta, and Gale (Liam Hemsworth). Besides the ones already mentioned, there are also a lot of familiar faces from the franchise featured here (including Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died during the film's production). That said, some of those faces aren't used all that wisely, which is amazing when you consider that it's taken almost five hours to wrap up the Mockingjay portion of the franchise.

The good news is that this fourth installment has plenty of action, which is probably what got you addicted to The Hunger Games franchise in the first place. A lot of times, it's when you least expect it -- and that anticipation will keep you glued to the lengthy 137-minute finale. Something that shouldn't be all that surprising is that Lawrence is as wonderful in this film as she's been throughout the whole series. Her Katniss is smart, strong, and completely kick-ass.

Looking for another opinion on this movie? Check out Matthew Passantino's theatrical review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

The Picture

Despite being the fourth entry in this blockbuster franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 isn't the best looking of the bunch. A lot of that has to do with the film's incredibly dark image. Yes, it's intentional, but it doesn't always make for a fun viewing experience. There are a few standout moments in this 2.40:1 transfer, inside Peeta's hospital room, during Commander Paylor's speech, and for that picture-perfect ending. Otherwise, the film is comprised of grays, blacks, and very dark blues. Thanks to all of that darkness, the image isn't as sharp as you'd expect -- or want. It's good, but not great.

The Sound

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 has a lot of quiet moments, where the dialogue is the main focus. It sounds great, but you're probably here for the action -- and action you shall have. The surrounds stay pretty active, thanks to plenty of atmospheric sounds and James Newton Howard's bold score. However, the Dolby Atmos track is what elevates the entire viewing experience. There are a lot of overhead sounds used here, including explosions and hovercrafts. Of course, the best stuff comes during the film's most chaotic moments, especially when pods are triggered (that black tar is especially awesome), the crew starts swishing around the sewers, and when the people flee for the Capitol.

The Extras

HungerGamesMockingjayPt2.jpg
My review copy of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 was actually part of The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection box set. This allows you to binge on all four films from the series, but packs in the bonus Blu-ray that came with the first movie and a brand-new disc of Bonus Features for the overall franchise. That collection includes 12 new deleted scenes from the first movie, six from the second, and another nine for the third, as well as two new featurettes.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 has a hearty collection of extras on its own, including a commentary track, photos, and plenty of interviews. However, the highlight here is "Pawns No More," an eight-part documentary that spends over two hours talking about the franchise, set design, the costumes, the actors, and so much more.

Final Thoughts

It may seem like "Money Grab - Part 2," but The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part gives the franchise a much-needed shot of adrenaline. It may not be as good as the first two films and the imagery isn't as awesome as you'd expect. However, a killer Dolby Atmos track, a ton of action, and Jennifer Lawrence make this a decent ending to the franchise.

Product Details

  • Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
  • Director: Francis Lawrence
  • Audio/Languages: Dolby Atmos/Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (Spanish), Dolby Digital 2.0 (English), DVS 2.0 (English)
  • Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Rating: PG-13
  • Studio: Lionsgate
  • Blu-ray Disc Release Date: March 22, 2016
  • Run Time: 137 minutes
  • List Price: $39.99
  • Extras:
    • Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
    • Pawns No More: Making of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
    • The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey
    • Cinna's Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor
    • Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition
    • Jet to the Set
    • Also from Lionsgate
    • Standard-Def DVD
    • Digital Copy
    • UltraViolet Digital Copy

Where to Buy:

What did you think?

Overall
Video
Audio
Movie
Extras
View all articles by Rachel Cericola
More in Blu-Ray and DVD
Big News
Newsletter Sign-up
 
Connect with Us