Stretching Out The Final Installments

The Harry Potter series has seven books, but there are eight films. The Twilight series has four books, but five films in total. The Hobbit is one book, but there will be two films. Continuing this pattern after long debate, it was officially announced yesterday that Mockingjay, the final and third book in The Hunger Games series will be split into two films- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.  With release dates of November 2014 and November 2015.

With these examples it can be debated that too much happens in the final book to adapt and fit into one film. That too much will be cut out and rushed and therefore not properly staying true to the spirit of the book and be faithful to the story and there is also a natural break in the story for a split to occur. That can very well be true, but in my opinion, the 388 page Mockingjay (according to my hardcopy) doesn’t fit well into this mold.

That does not include the one and a half page epilogue that feels more like a rushed afterthought by Suzanne Collins, as a reward to fans/readers for sticking out the wait and reading the series to get to the end. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the books, but Mockingjay is the weakest in the series, in particular the second half of the book.

That is not to say there isn’t some potential in stretching out the final installment.

WARNING SPOLIERS AHEAD!!

For example, the fact that Peeta at the end of Catching Fire is kidnapped by the Capital and brainwashed to become an assassin and kill Katniss, then have that reversed by the end of the rebellion needs to be done right and not feel like Soap Opera writing 101 and that Peeta’s brainwashing is magically reversed by his love for Katniss.  As well as consciously or not, ONE of the reasons Katniss leads a rebellion (and becomes the Mockingjay symbol for it) is over Peeta. The struggle and pain by both Peeta and Katniss in this regard needs to feel real, not rushed and cheesy. They are both damaged physically, but more importantly, emotionally from this. These two characters are played by talented and up and coming actors. Give them something juicy to work with.

This now leads me to my second example of where things can be fleshed out better-the disappointing epilogue. I’m not saying that this should be a huge focus and long, that is not the point. The rebellion and the aftermath and the new Panem is the focus of the last book, but, seeing how the love triangle is going to be a focus and we have an extra film, make Katniss drawn out decision worth it. The epilogue takes place about fifteen years after and Katniss and Peeta are married. They are both damaged, but have built a life for themselves with two children. Give a bit more insight to their life together and their struggle. If done right, along with the other elements of the story, it will have a bittersweet, but fulfilling and not rushed feel to the end.

END OF SPOILERS

Time will tell of course where they will take this final installment, and if this rise of splitting the final book of a series continues as a trend, or is short lived. No doubt money is a motivation by the studios. With Mockingjay, I hope at least they make it worth it.

Finally, here is an article by Entertainment Weekly with some ideas of where the split between the two films may occur. 

http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/07/10/mockingjay-split-in-two/