In a way, I think this film is better than the first two, but in another way I enjoyed it less.
What Works: In theory, I love that a huge blockbuster film (essentially aimed at kids and teenagers) has the cojones to be about a propaganda war. It has real ideas percolating beneath the surface about the untrustworthiness of the media and how similar the tactics used by rebels and fascists alike must be in order to be effective. This is a pretty cerebral departure for a series that has—so far—been mostly about children killing each other for sport. This film’s “up with the impoverished masses, down the oppressive elites” message may be the most openly Marxist mega-hit I’ve ever seen. And so I really admired the willingness to delve into bigger ideas…
What Doesn’t: …But I also found myself enjoying it less. There’s not one moment here that really captures the suspense of the first two movies, and that probably has a lot to do with Lionsgate’s greedy decision to split the final book into two different movies. [Though they’re hardly the first to do it after Warner Bros. did the same thing for Harry Potter and Twilight, and no need to even talk about The Hobbit movies in stretching things out. I can’t wait for The Avengers 16: Death of Iron man Part 1 of 4 sometime around 2042.] It feels like a movie that’s all build up and arranging the set pieces for the final showdown between Katniss-inspired rebel forces and the sinister capital. It’s a tease more than a satisfying movie of its own.
What I Would Have Done Differently: I would say “not split the final book into two movies” but Lionsgate would laugh me out of the room for that one. It’s already proven to be a profitable decision for them, and it really doesn’t matter that a lot of fans are leaving with a letdown feeling because everybody knows they’ll come back next year to see the end no matter what.