Film Preview: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015)

Page Revisions:

(June 14, 2015) Original
(August 2, 2015) New Trailer (#2) / New Posters (#4-#18) / Page Redesigned
(October 11, 2015) New Trailer (#3) / New Posters (#19-#22)
(November 15, 2015) New Posters (#23-#28)

Release Date:

November 20, 2015

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “After being symbolized as the “Mockingjay”, Katniss Everdeen and District 13 engage in an all-out revolution against the autocratic Capitol.”

Poster Rating: B / B+ / C- / C (6) / B- (8) / C+ / C+ / B+ / B- / A / B+ (6)

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Review: (#1) The progression of primary designs for this franchise has been interesting and this is a natural visual evolution to finish out the four-film series. (#2) A stark play on the designs from the prior film, exploiting the new era on the way for the franchise as a long-hated enemy is brought down. (#3) While it doesn’t appear to be a specific design associated with this film (since the image was used on the prior), that doesn’t prevent it from being oblique rudimentary.

(#4-#9) This three finger salute may have import to the people of Panem, but to get five “character” posters with nothing but fingers, even if they are ethnically and age diverse, is a weak idea. (#10-#17) Not as illogical as the prior set of character designs, these posters lack the distinctiveness that make such designs work. Each is given the exact same “facial tattoo” design, but they are so close-up that there’s nothing else to distinguish them visually.

(#18) Tying into the prior film’s alabaster throne conceit, we have the final victor of the Hunger Games. It might be a fitting conclusion, but it’s as visually dull as those prior efforts.

(#19) A mockingjay on Katniss’ shoulder with a vast, cloudy background doesn’t have quite the sentimental power it possibly could have. (#20) I’ve always liked when this franchise took the fire-covered mockingjay symbol and placed Katniss in front of it so that it looked like she actually had wings of fire. This design exemplifies that motif. (#21) This is similar to the prior design, but with the added image at the bottom, it looks some of its visual splendor. (#22) Once the primary designs have launched, it’s always fascinating to see what genuine artists come up with in terms of symbolic designs. This is a particularly spectacular rendition.

(#23-#28) These six designs are a part of the promotional website that the franchise has used since the first film. They are a compelling look at what the prior Hunger Games Victory Tours might have used as promotional materials. They are little more than trinkets of the franchise, but are no less compelling.

Trailer Rating: B+ / B+ / B

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Review: (#1) The end of the trailer isn’t as interesting as it could be, revealing too many of the film’s final moments and squelching possible surprises for those unfamiliar with the source material. Still, what leads up to it and slightly permeates the end is exciting stuff, potentially pleasing all of the fans the franchise has made over the last three years.

(#2) This trailer isn’t far off from the first. There are some added moments that seem interesting, but overall it’s as rousing and engaging as its predecessor.

(#3) The final trailer just doesn’t have the emotional oomph one would hope for from a film capping a popular film franchise. While we get a nice glimpse of some of the obstacles these combatants will be facing, the whole franchise is looking tired and surprisingly unexciting.