Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Trailer Brings War to Capitol

Katniss is back for the fourth and final time in the brand new trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. It's time for the people of Panem to rise up and overthrow that mean old bastard President Snow. But at what cost will victory come?
 
Those who have read the books will know all too well just how dark this final chapter goes. Author Suzanne Collins was not kidding when she decided to write her stories based on the sickening shit she saw on the news in wars around the world (and reality TV shows).

Mockingjay Part 2 should be the most adult of all Katniss' adventures and that's really saying something after the firebombings, genocide and kids killing each other ruthlessly for the entertainment of the rich of the previous installments.

We also finally get to see Brienne (Gwendoline Christie: future Star Wars star) from Game of Thrones in this trailer and she manages to look pretty terrifying just with one sideways glance.

I wasn't a massive fan of the final book in the trilogy but I think they've done a great job of adapting it so far, so I'm hoping the final film is going to end this franchise on a high note.

More trailers at I Love That Film

More on The Hunger Games

In cinemas across the UK from 19^th November 2015

This franchise has grossed more than $2.2 billion at the global box office, so it's pretty safe to say that this final chapter will be a huge smash at the box office in November.

What is The Hunger Games trilogy really all about?

The Hunger Games started out as a series of young adult books written by Suzanne Collins. The author stated that she was inspired to start writing the trilogy when she was channel surfing and images of reality TV started to blend with raw footage of the Iraq War.

Though some saw The Hunger Games as the new Twilight with a young female protagonist caught in a love triangle with two handsome young men who she cannot decide between, the book and films of The Hunger Games are about far more than the trials of young love.

The Hunger Games and its sequels are about far greater themes than Twilight and with Catching Fire and Mocking Jay on their way, the franchise is about to take a turn for the darker and far more distressing as revolution brews in the districts and war rears its ugly head. So what is The Hunger Games trilogy really all about?

Reality TV

The Hunger Games is a televised event where young people are forced into brutal competition with each other for the entertainment of the masses. Sound familiar? The likes of The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent may not force young people to take part and they may not be fighting for survival but the comparisons are clear. Katniss has to ensure that the wealthy audiences like her enough to send her gifts that help her through the games. She has to be constantly aware of her image and her actions as she needs the public to like her. All the while the people at home sit and stare at their screens enjoying the spectacle of young people fighting for their lives, without really caring for those that the television show chews up and spits out.

Inequality

The people of the Districts, especially those of District 12 where Katniss is from, have nothing compared to those in the Capitol. Katniss and her fellow competitors fight in the Hunger Games to win some wealth for their districts and Katniss herself had more chance of being picked as a tribute due to her desire to feed her family with rice. The people in the Capitol on the other hand dress in the latest fashions, gorge themselves on fine food (and then vomit it back up so they can eat some more) and watch the likes of Katniss fight to the death for their own entertainment. The gap between rich and poor is clear to see and is an ever growing cause for concern in our own society.

War

The Hunger Games progresses from a story about a televised event to a revolution to a full blown war. By the final book Mocking Jay (split into two films) Katniss will be more than a competitor but a soldier and revolutionary icon. She has to overcome oppression from those that will try to keep the districts down and will use propaganda to convince the people to rise up and fight the Capitol with her. The morality of war and the ethics of not only Katniss’ action but also the Gale’s will be questioned and explored in the final thrilling part of the trilogy.

Don’t expect Twilight. The Hunger Games will test your head every bit as much as your heart.

Why I love The Hunger Games.
Why Jennifer Lawrence deserves Hunger Games award.

Katniss consoles sister in new Hunger Games Catching Fire image

Following the life altering and mind scarring events of The Hunger Games, it’s no surprise to see Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) having a good hug with her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) in this new image from sequel Catching Fire.

The new still shows reluctant contestant Katniss doing what she does best, caring for her little sister Primrose. The pair look like they need the comfort of each other’s embrace. Katniss as always appears alert and defensive whereas Primrose is lost, deep likely in the relief of having her sister returned to her.

The scarred earth behind them and the presence of smoke suggest that things have yet to improve in Panem’s District 12. The Captitol will be watching the district carefully and particularly President defying Katniss as she starts her new life alongside her ‘love’ Peeta (Josh Hutcherson).

Katniss appears to be continuing her role as protector and defender of sister Prim after her intervention at the reaping of the first film. Saving Prim from a nasty death in the arena was a brave move for our heroine but her troubles are far from over yet with sequels Catching Fire and Mockingjay both on the way and promising more strife.

This image highlights the central relationship of the trilogy besides Katniss and her love triangle boy troubles. Primrose’s role as a healer will become increasingly important in later films and her fate, as anyone who has read the books will know is inextricably linked with that of Katniss.

Katniss has shown she will do anything to protect her younger sister, including entering an arena full of potential killers. Her short lived relationship with Rue in The Hunger Games was a touching reminder of Katniss’ protective nature.

Catching Fire will see Katniss touring the districts, pretending to be very much in love Peeta, on the Victory Tour. President Snow fears rebellion arising and insists Katniss and Peeta play the doting couple and help to quell any signs of Capitol defiance.

Newly crowned Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence is joined by newcomers to the franchise Philip Seymour Hoffman, Sam Claflin and Jena Malone.

With the Quarter Quell fast approaching, where the Hunger Games gets a new set of contenders, including ex-contestants, Katniss and Primrose will have to make the most of that embrace as it definitely will not be long before they are ripped apart again.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is out November 22^nd 2013

Here is the teaser trailer:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Victory Tour Poster

Let the Victory Tour commence… The Hunger Games: Catching Fire recently unveiled a poster featuring stars Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson all dressed in white and ready for their victory tour around the districts of Panem.

The eye catching poster appears as less an advertisement for the film and more a promotion for the victory tour that will take up much of the early parts of the newest entry in The Hunger Games franchise.

With Katniss and Peeta defying the Capitol and the evil President Snow, and both managing to survive and win the 74^th Hunger Games in the previous film, the stage is set for rebellion to catch fire on a wider scale, especially with the ill-fated ‘lovers’ travelling around the districts on the annual victory tour.

The poster shows Panem’s hottest couple all glossed up like a couple of plastic dolls, ready to dazzle the districts with their death defying story but also to convince the ordinary folk that they are indeed as in love as they claim to be. Their stern faces say it all about how happy they are to be together and to be targets of the threatened President Snow.

If the roses, white clothes and floating petals are anything to go by, their relationship looks set to go to the next level but will it be for love or is it a ruse to keep the people of Panem from revolting?

Shooting continues on Catching Fire after a short break while Lawrence captured the hearts of seemingly everyone with her stair stumbling and kooky acceptance speech as she won the best actress Oscar for her turn in Silver Linings Playbook. Set pictures have shown the new arena featuring Katniss surrounded by water and in a figure hugging wetsuit.

Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are again joined by Donald Sutherland as President Snow and new additions to the cast include Oscar winner Philip Symour Hoffman and Amanda Plummer and Jeffrey Wright. Hoffman is taking the role of new Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee but Katniss and Peeta will also be joined in the new arena by Jena Malone as Johanna Mason and Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair.

Catching Fire promises more fighting to the death and a whole new level of threat to the young innocents pictured in the new poster. There will, no doubt, be blood when it is released on November 22^nd, 2013.

Why Jennifer Lawrence deserves Hunger Games best actress award

The Hunger Games fans were showing solidarity with their hero Katniss Everdeen by voting for Jennifer Lawrence to win Best Actress at the Jameson Empire Awards.

Though Lawrence has been winning accolades for her role in Silver Linings Playbook more recently, Empire readers and Hunger Games fans wanted her work in the first of the science fiction trilogy to be recognized.

She beat competition from the usual suspects Naomi Watts, Judi Dench and Anne Hathaway, standing tall amongst her peers for a genre movie that has so often been ignored when it comes to award ceremonies.

Jennifer could not be present to collect her award, avoiding any further slips on steps to stage mishaps, but she had this message for the fans:

“Hi, Empire Awards. I’m really sorry I can’t be there with you this evening but I am honoured to have won the Jameson Empire Best Actress Award for The Hunger Games and I would like to thank the Empire readers for voting for me. I’ve loved bringing Katniss Everdeen to life and this award in particular means a lot to me as it comes from the fans that have made The Hunger Games such a success. Thanks once again to everyone at Empire and all their readers.”

She might now be an Oscar winner for her role as Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook but Jennifer Lawrence won the hearts of many with her role as the feisty, determined heroine of The Hunger Games.

The demanding role saw Lawrence deliver a brave and bold performance, progressing from quiet desperation to revolutionary icon. It is a role she has returned to with renewed fervour in the sequels, the first of which wrapping in December 2012 ahead of the November 2013 release.

Jennifer Lawrence first attracted attention with her beautiful and mesmerising turn in indie Winter’s Bone but The Hunger Games launched her deservedly into mega-stardom, paving the way for her Oscar success.

The Hunger Games heroine Katniss was a gift of a role for the young Hollywood beauty, Lawrence ably flexing her performance muscles as the terrified but calm, clever and cunning contestant.

Her eyes are piercing and her delivery can be withering. She is a modern strong female and a much more inspirational role model for young women than any number of Twilight or Harry Potter films could provide.

Empire had this to say of the star and her character: “Lawrence is perfect as Katniss. There’s very little softness about her, more a melancholy determination that good must be done even if that requires bad things.”

Expect Katniss and Jennifer Lawrence to continue to rise onto bigger and better things. The odds are ever in their favour and there really is no stopping them.

Are you excited for Catching Fire or do you wish J-Law would do something else or just disappear?