Twenty Times I needed morphling during ‘The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2’

Published 12:07 pm Saturday, November 21, 2015

I can’t believe “The Hunger Games” movie franchise is officially over. What do I have to look forward to now?! What is left for me in this barren wasteland of Katniss-less movie franchises? Let’s be real, as a super fan I have been both looking forward to and dreading “The Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2” since the credits began to roll after Part 1. Yes, we have two extra hours of Katniss and company, but now we are out of story! I guess we can hope for some nice deleted scenes on the Blu-Ray, but that’s about all we have left.

But don’t worry, this will not be a “20 Times I Was Most Depressed That The Hunger Games is Ending” article (though I kinda was tempted). This is going to be a celebration.

I’ve heard some critics say Part 2 is their favorite film from the franchise, but that is a giant NO from me. “Catching Fire” is not only my favorite film of the franchise, but is probably in my top 10 of favorite movies of all time. So yeah, Part 2 can’t really be compared to that. But thanks to incredible performances from the cast (especially the scene between Jennifer Lawrence and Buttercup), as well as unrelenting action and high-stakes drama, “Mockingjay Part 2” is a fantastic end to the series. It provides closure for fans … especially in that beautifully shot epilogue. In all honesty, I was not a fan of the “Mockingjay” book, but the movie is one instance when the film is much better than its paper counterpart.

So, here we are once again. It’s time to look at the most squeal-inducing moments of the recent Hunger Games film and have our last fangirl/fanboy freakout about this amazing series!

Chins up, spoilers on.

1. When the action begins right where Part 1 ended; Katniss is trying to talk after Peeta’s frenzied strangulation damaged her vocal cords.

2. The title card!!! This always gives me chills.

3. When Jena Malone ROCKS that shaved head look. I can’t believe that was done via CGI and special effects makeup.

4. Effie getting to be back in her extraordinary costumes and wigs again!

5. When Prim and Katniss dance at Finnick and Annie’s wedding!

6. Gwendoline Christie’s extremely short, yet awesome cameo!

7. When resistance soldiers give the “District 12 sign”!

8. Natalie Dormer!!!!

9. Any time Peeta says “real or not real”! (PS: Katniss kept the pearl from “Catching Fire”)

10. When Katniss and company find out that in order to get to the center of the Capitol to kill Snow, they have to go through another Hunger Games type situation.

11. When we saw just how scary the mutts in the sewers were. I definitely didn’t picture them to be THAT scary in the book. And Finnick gives his life to save Katniss.

12. Whenever Peeta and Katniss do anything like this.

13. Or this

14. Tigress’ fierce makeup!

15. When you see the parcels parachuting down from the hovership and you know what’s coming

16. When Katniss shoots her arrow, killing Coin (though not through the eye like in the book)!

17. When the crowd descends on President Snow.

18. Effie and Haymitch kiss! I ship it.

19. When Buttercup pulls a “Homeward Bound” and somehow makes it back to District 12. The last time we saw him he was in District 13. This scene with him and Katniss is the most gut-wrenching scene of the entire film.

20. When we see Katniss and Peeta literally running off in the sunset together with their two beautiful children (Trivia fact: the kids were played by Jennifer Lawrence’s real life nephews).

So cheers to the cast and crew of The Hunger Games for making such a great franchise that caused many fangirl freakouts! You will be missed!

LAUREN BRADSHAW is a lover of all movies, even the bad ones. Follow her on twitter @flickchickdc and her blog is fangirlfreakout.com.