Adventuroo.com

A Raleigh, North Carolina mom capturing the everyday

You are here: Home / Archives for Announcements

The Hunger Games Mockingjay- Part 2: Will Fans Like It?

by

A lot of people have been anticipating the release of this movie. Including me!

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 opens today in theatres nationwide with lots of excitement about seeing the final movie in the series. I mean, who doesn’t want to see Katniss kick some butt?

Note: This post contains some plot details about the movie. No major spoilers though.

The Mockingjay - Part 2 movie review

Jennifer Lawrence stars as ‘Katniss Everdeen’ in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

For the set-up, here’s the synopsis: 

The blockbuster Hunger Games franchise has taken audiences by storm around the world, grossing more than $2.2 billion at the global box office. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful final chapter in which Katniss Everdeen [Jennifer Lawrence] realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival – they are for the future.

With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow [Donald Sutherland] in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends – including Gale [Liam Hemsworth], Finnick [Sam Claflin] and Peeta [Josh Hutcherson] – Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to liberate the citizens of Panem, and stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her.  The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.

My Thoughts 

I’ve read all the books, so I know how the story goes. Regardless of whether you’ve read the books or not, it’s pretty necessary to have seen Mockingjay Part 1 to really capture the full story. Part 2 jumps RIGHT in to Katniss trying to speak after a recovery period. What’s she recovering from? Oh, you know, that time Peeta tried to kill her.

Katniss has it in her mind to kill Snow herself, but she ends up sticking with a unit from District 13 for a good part of the movie, a unit that ventures to the Capitol trying to free the citizens of Panem. Overall, the movie lacks the non-stop action of the past movies, but her unit has some pretty suspenseful moments. I found myself with my hands anxiously moving around because I just KNEW something was about to happen. Of course, I was right.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, left), Boggs (Mahershala Ali, center) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth, right) in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, left), Boggs (Mahershala Ali, center) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth, right) in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

With there being an all-out war, lives are lost. Quite a few. But the movie stays true to the book. I even heard some hard sobs in the theatre during a part or two.

At times I wished there was more action during the movie. A decent bit of the movie focused on the Peeta-Gale-Katniss love triangle, which some may or may not like. But overall, there were some strong moments in the movie. And even though I knew what was coming having read the books, I felt all the feels.

Regardless of its slower pace, any Hunger Games fan will leave the theatre with some closure. Let me know what you think if you go see it!

Studio: Lionsgate

Director: Francis Lawrence

Release Date: November 20, 2015

Run time: 2 hours 17 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Hi, Yes, It’s Me.

by

Well, hello there, 2015! And you. Hello to you too.

My last post here was May 2014. MAAAYYYY. That’s crazy.

But so is life. And life (aka my job, my other blog, my family, my other hobbies) got in the way and next thing I know – POOF! – it’s 2015.

So, I am doing what so many people do in January of a new year.

I am starting fresh.

Look around and you’ll see a new blog design. One that I didn’t take months hemming and hawing over. I designed it all over the weekend (one of my resolutions is to stop taking so long to do everything). And I LOVE it! (Hope you do too.)

Soooo about this new year.

I want to post more. Every week? Not super likely. But really anything is better than how I did in 2014.

I not only want to share stories, but I also want to share tips, ideas and how-tos for this, that, and the other. Vague? Yes, I’m leaving this blog open to my whims. (And maybe some fun printables.)

What’s Next?

Well, if you’ve followed me on Instagram, you’ll see my hubby and I are embarking on something called the Whole 30 challenge. We start TOMORROW (Jan 5). If you’re unfamiliar with the program, read their Welcome page and even grab their book It Starts with Food (affiliate link). It’s opening my eyes to how our bodies process protein, fat, and carbs… and why some of us can reduce calories but still not lose weight.

A photo posted by @melaculbertson on

I must confess the foods I’ll miss the most. Then we’ll see how much I miss them AFTER the challenge.

Buh-bye for now:

  • Black beans with Lizano (a Costa Rican condiment)- yes I’ll REALLY miss this
  • Half-and-half and Stevia in my coffee
  • CHEESE GLORIOUS CHEESE
  • BREAD GLORIOUS BREAD
  • Wine
  • Air-popped popcorn with butter and salt (my favorite snack in all of time)

And We’re Off!

Whether it’s your first time here, or you’ve read this blog through both my regular and sporadic posting days, thanks for reading TODAY. And here’s to more blog posts in 2015!