The Starvation Video games books are nice, and the film diversifications are nearly pretty much as good. Sadly, the movies do not peak in the identical locations because the books, with the diversifications even ruining the most effective components within the collection. This was most blatant with The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay – Half 1 and The Starvation Video games: Mockingjay – Half 2.
Mockingjay was the most effective e-book within the collection, exhibiting off Suzanne Collins‘ recent concepts for the collection whereas coping with heavy themes and delivering a strong ending. The wonderful writing didn’t translate as nicely to the display, due to probably the most notorious decisions within the franchise’s historical past. The e-book’s pacing and rigidity have been muddled within the lackluster first a part of Mockingjay, which ended up being the worst movie within the collection.
‘Mockingjay’ Is the Finest Guide, Not Movie
The primary Starvation Video games e-book was good as a result of it was new and unique. The second e-book, Catching Hearth, wasn’t almost pretty much as good, however it had a intelligent means of bringing Katniss Everdeen again into the sector, ending with a riveting transition to the following e-book. Mockingjay was the fruits of the collection, combining the most effective components of each books whereas additionally standing out as one thing completely totally different.
Mockingjay was the one e-book within the trilogy with out a correct Starvation Video games ceremony, having no Reaping or different associated occasions. Nonetheless, Suzanne Collins did not simply abandon the collection’ roots. As a substitute, she reimagined the Starvation Video games as traps for the rebels coming into the Capitol. It was a intelligent selection that additionally launched audiences to a number of the most horrifying and harrowing deaths within the trilogy.

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What makes Mockingjay the most effective e-book within the collection is what occurs after the “video games.” The rise up looks as if it is completed all of its targets, however Katniss is not so certain. District 13’s president, Alma Coin, makes use of President Snow’s downfall as a means for her to achieve energy. Katniss does the unthinkable, publicly executing Coin when she’s imagined to execute Snow, which reveals a number of the deeper meanings behind Mockingjay. Simply because Coin had the identical enemy as Katniss did not imply they have been on the identical aspect.
Even ‘Mockingjay’s Director Agrees the Movie Wasn’t Nice
In a 2023 Folks article, Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence mentioned that he regretted adapting the third e-book into two movies. It is courageous of Lawrence to confess his errors like that, particularly as a result of splitting Mockingjay into two components was such a horrible choice. Mockingjay – Half 1 largely dealt with the third e-book’s setup, making it essentially the most uneventful movie within the collection, because it was unable to match the tone or tempo of the books or different motion pictures.
In some methods, it made sense to attempt to cut up the e-book into two movies. A couple of years earlier than the Mockingjay motion pictures got here out, different books, like The Hobbit, have been being unfold throughout a number of movie diversifications. Whereas this technique did create a possibility for distributors to make much more cash from one e-book, it additionally allowed filmmakers to incorporate much more particulars from the unique novels they have been adapting. Although Francis Lawrence regretted making the e-book into two movies, he admitted the additional period of time dedicated to the third e-book was a bonus. “In reality, we received extra on the display out of the e-book than we might’ve in any of the opposite motion pictures since you’re getting near 4 hours of display time for the ultimate e-book,” Lawrence informed Folks.

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Motion pictures and books are utterly totally different mediums, although. Books use heavy element to assist with readers’ imaginations, whereas movies present audiences what they should see. Movies should not want to incorporate all the small print in a e-book, particularly when books are sometimes learn in additional sittings than motion pictures. As a result of Mockingjay – Half 1 spends a lot time on the e-book’s minor particulars, it feels unnecessarily lengthy and sluggish.
The largest issue for Lawrence’s remorse was that audiences needed to anticipate the second half. He informed the journal that “making individuals wait a 12 months, I feel, got here throughout as disingenuous, although it wasn’t.” It may be obnoxious for audiences to attend a 12 months or extra for the second a part of a film, particularly when the primary half ends so dramatically. Nonetheless, that is probably not the case for the Mockingjay movies, with the primary half exhibiting the rebels protected and Peeta freaking out on the finish. It is not surprising, and it pales in comparison with the ending of Catching Hearth, which has the surprising twist that Katniss has been taken to District 13.
The place To Watch ‘The Starvation Video games’
Anybody who needs to revisit their rankings of the unique Starvation Video games movies is in luck. The 4 movies following Katniss Everdeen — The Starvation Video games, Catching Hearth, and each components of Mockingjay — are all streaming on HBO Max. The films are additionally obtainable to lease or purchase on digital retailers, together with Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video. Now’s the proper time to look at the movies with a brand new film, Dawn on the Reaping, popping out on the finish of 2026.