How did this slip through the cracks? The marketing department for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 2 just leaked the biggest plot point of the film in the newest trailer. How does something like this happen? There are still people out there that haven't read the books and haven't experienced this yet. I have never seen such disregard for story. This was one of the biggest moments of the books for me, and I am sure that I am not alone in this.
(((HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD)))
(((SERIOUSLY, DON'T WATCH THIS TRAILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS)))
I am going to include the trailer below, But you have been warned:
The big problem with this is that the whole trailer is dedicated to the plot point of Katniss' sister, Prim, dying in the story. The issue I have is that she is not dead in the films yet. The Hunger Games film franchise has slowly been building to the big revolution battle for Panem. We know that Katniss is leading the charge, basically being the mascot for the rebellion, its mockingjay.
The trailer shows every Prim moment and lays out a eulogy of sorts for her. It even reads that this video is "For Prim." I am not the only person up at arms about this trailer. IO9's Rob Bricken is also really angry at this trailer. He said:
Look, I know a lot of people have read the books already, but this... this is crazy. This is about as subtle as a Tracker Jacker in your pants. Anyone who watches this would have to realize-or at least, highly, highly suspect-that Prim is a goner. And why? For what? Fans don't need to be reminded of what happens; they're all going to see the movie anyway. And for those poor souls who are watching the movies without ever having read the books, this spoils one of the most pivotal, heartbreaking moments in the entire series.
It upsets me that the studio apparently feels that Prim dying is such a minor point in the film. Prim is Katniss' motivation to enter the Hunger Games at all. Unfortunately, there is no shame in spoiling anything about this film and the end of the franchise. At the San Diego Comic-Con this past summer, The Hunger Games cast talked about filming the last scenes of the film:
"It's been a combination of trying to really nail it and make sure it's really satisfying to the core ... and to enjoy the time together while we do it," says producer Nina Jacobson of bringing the series to a close.
Fan questions for the cast lingered on the end of the movie, particularly the epilogue. Only Lawrence and Hutcherson filmed that sequence months after shooting ended, and that took Hutcherson by surprise.
"That was the most emotional part," he says. "I assumed that the whole cast would be there. It was really a let down when [they weren't] there." Lawrence admits that she cries.
So, why not just give us everything before the film releases. The entire cast seems to not care that the franchise is wrapping up. The director, Francis Lawrence, has also talked a bit about how the film will stray from the source material:
"I think everyone who loves the end of the last book will love the end of this movie. Except she ends up with Gale."
I don't know if I like this lackadaisical approach to a story that touched millions of people. You would think that there would be a little bit more professionalism. Hopefully, this isn't the state that Hollywood is headed.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 hits theaters on November 20th.
