Finally we get to the end of another over-length trilogy built on an under length book, and once again the whole thing makes no sense.
The premise is not quite as full of holes as the Divergent series. The story isn't as drawn out as the Harry Potters. The CGI is not as bad as the Hobbits. It is better acted than the Twilights. So all those seem like it won't be the worst series. And it certainly isn't but at the same time it is not a good series either.
The first 90 minutes or so is pretty much a match for the previous 3. Lots of set piece action scenes, minimal sensible story tying them together.
Another huge weapon cache in a military base under a mountain, completely undermining stated 'facts' from the first two stories. The two boyfriends suddenly sorting themselves out by one of them being good at his job, that skill being abused by someone else, completely outside his control, and somehow this makes everything his fault.
There is no explanation of how the rebel armies of the Districts, who we are repeatedly told are under-armed and outmanned by the existing Capitol forces manage to make any ground at all. How they do so against the ridiculous devastation of the defensive 'pods', is never even discussed. Some of the traps are so devastating that even our team of special forces superstars well behind the front line can't handle them without huge loss of life, so how are your average untrained farmers making any sort of progress?!
They finally come towards a point where they almost, nearly, just about, explain how and why the Hunger Games exist in the first place. Four movies after that explanation was really warranted.
Then they tack on not one, but two unnecessary endings. The credits could have rolled straight after the Presidential assassination. Job done, film finished, victory and democracy assured. They certainly should have rolled after the next 'real or not real?'. Happy ending for everyone. Instead they stick in a very strange scene, not just for it's meaningless tacky content but more so for the freaky CGI baby. It is weird. Up to this point the CGI has been fairly un-noticable, however ridiculous the effect that is being created it is still smoothly, but suddenly it is like they gave the office junior the job on this scene.
In the midst of that they throw in Woody Harrelson reading a letter from Plutarch which is obviously bodged in due to the death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Not only is that whole scene a mess but it ruins the whole tri/quadrilogy. Instead of the message that none of the President's ever really held the power, it was always in the hands of the media, we are treated to an apology and an excuse for why the alternative new President that the media has selected instead is somehow going to be 'better'.
It is certainly no worse than the previous 3 and it does at least finish off the story of the trilogy. I have rated each of the others as 5/10 and this one is no worse.
