The Hunger Games Ultra HD 4K Review

• Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Gary Ross
• Disc Format: 4K, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: Lionsgate
• Release Date: November 8, 2016
• Run Time: 111 minutes

        Certain films will lend themselves to the viewing enhancements brought by 4K better than others. Animation will always see the most noticeable upgrading, because of the technology used to create these films, and this is also why large budget action films with computer generated effects also appear improved. While the first film in The Hunger Games franchise had a noticeably smaller budget, all of the films benefit from this new format.

Despite the massive success of The Hunger Games franchise, I have been highly skeptical of the young adult book adaptations since the original 2012 release. The first film gave me pause due to a remarkable number of similarities the PG-13 film shared with a far edgier R-rated Japanese film from 2000. But despite what seemed like blatant borrowing, The Hunger Games was engaging enough to draw my curiosity to the sequel.

• Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Jack Quaid, Taylor St. Clair, Sandra Ellis Lafferty
• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Disc Format: 4K, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: Lionsgate
• Release Date: November 8, 2016
• Run Time: 111 minutes

I somehow assumed that the continuation of “The Hunger Games” in the title ensured the film would finish with another climactic sequence within the games, and was extremely letdown to discover the film utilized a ‘deus ex machina’ moment to remove all significant characters from the action before the completion of the games from the title. This would be like releasing a film called Batman v Superman where the film ends just before they are about to fight. I felt cheated by the title and annoyed at the convenient removal of the only interesting dilemma in the franchise. My frustration was only carried over into the second sequel, which had no games or any worthwhile story.

• Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Format: 4K, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: Lionsgate
• Release Date: November 8, 2016
• Run Time: 111 minutes

Many criticized The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, saying that it wasn’t enough of a movie on its own and the final book should not have been split into two films. I agreed with this point until I finally watched Part 2, and now I just wish the second and third films had been combined, or better yet, been left out entirely. It may have taken two obnoxiously flawed, money-grabbing sequels, but The Hunger Games franchise finally got the last film right. Mockingjay Part 2 builds off of the emotional resonance of its storyline without losing the action elements which made the first film a success. Better yet, the film actually has an ending, unlike the last two films to come out of the franchise.

I know my criticism and reviews will do little to stop every single stupid young adult novel being split up in its last installment, if only to bleed its fanbase for an additional ticket price, but I have to speak up for the sacredness of art over commerce. The final film is a fantastic conclusion, but I only wish I could have entered the viewing without the bad taste left in my mouth by the first two sequels. It is far easier to accept the flaws of the franchise while viewing them in direct succession of each other, especially with the distracting clarity of the 4K presentation.

• Actors: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks
• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Disc Format: 4K, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated:
  PG-13
• Studio: Lionsgate
• Release Date: November 8, 2016
• Run Time: 111 minutes

        Not only are the color more vibrant and the picture sharper in the sequences of action, the soundtrack also feels much more immersive with the right sound system. Each of the 4K releases comes with a Blu-ray copy of each film, along with digital copies. The special features on each of the films are lifted from the original Blu-ray releases, including no new extras with the new format.

The Hunger Games has two featurettes (including one making-of and another about the success of the franchise), a commentary track with the editors and visual effects supervisor, and a conversation with Donald Sutherland discussing his reasons for agreeing to do the film. Catching Fire has a full making-of documentary, as well as deleted scenes and a commentary track with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. Mockingjay Part 1 has another making-of documentary and commentary track, deleted scenes, two extras focusing on the music Lorde contributed to the film, and a tribute to Philip Seymour Hoffman. The final film fittingly comes with over 5 hours of bonus features. The highlight of the extras is the 8-part making-of featurette, because apparently even the special features need to be split up. There is also another audio commentary track with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson, a photo gallery, artwork from the costume design, and a featurette on the Hunger Games Exhibit, which found yet another way to cash in on the faithful fanbase.

Entertainment Value: 8.5/10

Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

Historical Significance:  9/10

Special Features: 8.5/10