Mockingjay Part 2 / 4-Film Collection Blu-Ray Review

Mockingjay Part 2 is already out on digital release, but fans can own it on Blu-Ray TOMORROW, March 22nd. Deciding whether you buy the Blu-Ray or the full 4 Film Collection depends on how much you want to spend, honestly. Everything that's on the Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-ray also exists in the 4 film collection and then some. Let's go over what is in the 4 Film Collection that you cannot get anywhere else.

4-Film Collection

• 12 Deleted Scenes from The Hunger Games
• 1 Deleted Scenes from Catching Fire
• 2 Featurettes "Picturing Panem" and "Capitol Cuisine"

The above is content that is completely new. When you buy the 4 Film Collection you are not only getting all the films, but also the many special features that each movie came with. If you're a superfan, you probably have seen all these special features already. However it might be worth it for you just for these deleted scenes from the older movies. When navigating the menu on the 4 Film special features disc, each brand new feature will have "never-before-seen" attached to it.

I highly recommend getting the 4 Film collection for those that have been fans since the first film. The fandom was pretty outraged when we got no deleted scenes on the first Blu-Ray. Sources we talked to kept saying "the version Gary showed us was pretty much the version we went with". We knew that was probably an exaggeration and that Lionsgate was holding on to something for a box set version of the movies in the future. Now that we are here, we are quite glad that fans are able to finally see these deleted scenes, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY, and get a little closure on the deleted scene fiasco in 2012. 

We live and breathe special features, and it's never too much in our opinion. We wish that there were more "extra" special features to be had in this box set, but the reality might just be that is all that was shot. Still, we are grateful that we have the opportunity to own a complete collection of every single Hunger Games film and special features.

Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-Ray

At the very least fans should be getting Mockingjay Part 2 on Blu-Ray. There are some great special features and quite a challenge for fans looking for Easter Eggs. We always report on how to access the Blu-Ray Easter Egg, and this one has three deleted scenes hidden in it. To access the Mockingjay Part 2 Easter Egg, you can check it out HERE.

Audio Commentary

As always the Blu-Ray offers audio commentary from Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson. For those fans wanting to learn everything they can about behind the scenes information on Part 2, definitely don't miss the commentary. They touch on aspects that are in the book that aren't in the film, citing reasons to why they couldn't. Some interesting facts are that the main reason the wedding happens in the film is that they didn't want to deny fans of that moment. As much as they were dying to put more Johanna in the film they could not for fear of the film losing momentum. A lot of insight into Katniss' character going into this last film. Fans who are anxious to learn more will definitely enjoy the audio commentary.

Pawns No More

This 8-Part documentary is a lot of behind the scenes action in Mockingjay Part 2. They spend a lot of it talking about the story of The Hunger Games as a whole, so it takes awhile before it starts getting into the interesting bits of production. There are some cool things to see such as stunts, explosions, the sets, effects, etc. There is a lot to see, and maybe I am spoiled by 3 hour special feature Blu-Rays, but it seems like the Mockingjay Part 1 Blu-Ray documentary caught a lot more action and on set shenanigans than in Mockingjay Part 2. This could just be a logistics issue, maybe they just didn't have the time or means to capture as many moments for part two seeing how they filmed the whole Mockingjay story at once. Having said that, the documentary is still a great addition to the special features Lionsgate has come out with for every film. Fans will love watching Pawns No More, and maybe even tear up at the very sentimental conclusion of the documentary. 

Featurettes

Featurettes include "Photographic Journey", "Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor", "Panem on Display" and "Jet to the Set". If you haven't been to The Hunger Games Exhibition, "Panem on Display" is a nifty section to watch. If you have been, it won't be anything new to you. My favorite of the featurettes is "Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor". They do talk about it in Mockingjay Part 1 special features, but I can't get over how spectacularly they build the Mockingjay suit for accuracy and function. It gives fans a little more information than mentioned in the Part 1 special features about how they developed the suit and the changes it went through. "Jet to the Set" is exclusive to the Blu-Ray, but it is not our cup of tea. It looks like a tourism video, a very celebrity Hollywood look at filming spots in Atlanta and things to do there. It does not really feel like a special feature, more so a very Capitol presentation of Atlanta. But hey, some people are into that. 

What do?

What do indeed, tributes. Luckily there are tons of ways to own either the 4 Film Collection or just the Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-Ray digitally. There are tons of options on the official site HERE. Personally, I prefer physical Blu-Rays that include a digital copy of what you're getting. I recommend getting the 4-Film collection because not only does it provide you with all the films, special features, plus even more special features, but also gives you codes to own everything digitally. Either way, you're getting some awesome special features to enjoy in addition to Mockingjay Part 2. Enjoy!

THE MOCKINGJAY IS COMING: Secrets of the Catching Fire Blu-Ray UNCOVERED!! *SPOILERS*

Before you read any further, know that the easter egg located on the Catching Fire Blu-Ray is divulged here. If you wish to figure it out yourself, DO NOT READ AHEAD!

We are very proud to have been seemingly the first presence on the internet to have figured out the complex easter egg that was hidden in The Hunger Games Blu-Ray. You can check out that craziness right here. I was going to be really sad if they didn't have it on the Catching Fire one, and EVEN SADDER because then that meant I just wasted hours of my life. Luckily, this puzzle is way easier to figure out this time around. Here's how you access it:

When the Blu-Ray starts after you get the piracy warning followed by the Divergent trailer, you will come to the screen shown above. There is a Panem seal and on the top and bottoms are random numbers and messages that appear very quickly. The message at the bottom is this:

President Snow sees RED at the sign of the Mockingjay in a Capitol Broadcast
But our supporters who press it will see something entirely different.
Never forget that hope is about to spread her wings.

Next, it will go through an animation right into the Blu-Ray menu. It says "Capitol Broadcast" and there is a hologram of the Panem seal. Just wait it out. It takes probably less than a minute for Beetee to do his magic and hack into the system. The Panem seal will suddenly change to a Mockingjay.

So, back in the message we saw that RED is capitalized, and it says "supporters who press it will see something entirely different."

Ever notice those different colored buttons on the Blu-Ray remote? When the Mockingjay shows up, click the red button.

This takes you to a quote from the book and in detail look at The Hob. Really up close shots of its happenings and the people there. Peacekeepers come in to burn it down and the flames turn into a Mockingjay, which ends with....

THE MOCKINGJAY IS COMING.

Catching Fire Blu-Ray DVD review

Catching Fire Blu-Ray Review: Which to Buy?

The Catching Fire Blu-Ray/DVD comes out TOMORROW!!

Still stumped on what's the best version? Here's a look at all of them and what our thoughts on the special features:

Deleted Scenes:

Courtney- It's apparent to all of us that the Jabberjay/Mockingjay explanation is a bit of a travesty to leave out. I'd like to think that they want to make a bigger deal of it explaining it in Mockingjay, which is why they cut it out. I hope, hope, hope. While the other deleted scenes are cool, I wish there was more. In fact, there ARE more as mentioned here in there in the documentary or mentioned in the audio commentary, they just aren't finished scenes. Its true that those types of deleted scenes (the ones that don't make it to the final draft) are rarely scene on DVDs but perhaps we can hope they release them after all the films come out along with the ones from the first film which TOTALLY EXIST. Overall, thank you so much Francis for giving us the deleted scenes we so craved!!

Tiffany- One of my biggest criticisms of the movies in general was the lack of explanation of Jabberjays and Mockingjays. The one deleted scene that stood out to me the most was a scene between Plutarch and President Snow that does just that. And I have to say... I am a little upset that it wasn't included in the final cut of the movie. The other scene that stood out has Katniss and Finnick in the training center with Finnick tying knots, which, though I can see why it was cut out,  explains Katniss's knowledge of noose-tying for the Seneca Crane dummy scene.

Denise- Most of the deleted scenes were obvious as to why they were deleted, as most tend to be. One in particular scene explaining the significance of the Mockingjay as a symbol- not so much. Why this was deleted makes literally no sense to me unless they decided to wait on that explanation to show in Mockingjay. I also loved the scene of Plutarch replacing the Quarter Quell envelope with the one that leads to this particular version and the scene of Finnick showing Katniss how to tie a noose, which comes in handy when she hangs "Seneca Crane".

Documentary (BLU-RAY ONLY):

Courtney- HOLY HOVERCRAFT, this documentary is IMPRESSIVE. It's much longer than your normal special features documentary. While those tend to last 45 minutes, this thing is about 2 hours long. They go into INSANE detail on every part of the filming process, which makes my heart sing. All of us are crazy special features consumers and our model is the Lord of the Rings Extended edition. While no other Blu-Ray has come close to that level, Catching Fire Blu-Ray is definitely on the right track. It has given fans an above and beyond amount of content. I would say the Blu-ray edition is a MUST HAVE. I mean....if you want to see the secret easter egg....

Tiffany- The behind the scenes documentary is long and has nine parts. The subjects range from new and returning cast to the different stages of filming and of course the different parts of post production. The cast goes into detail on what it was like for them filming in Atlanta versus Hawaii, how freezing and miserable the water park scenes were and how beautiful Hawaii was. The post production sections were incredibly enlightening. It was amazing to see how much of the arena was fabricated. The costumes and makeup had their own section, and they go into the logistical challenges on styling the Capitol citizens at 40 stations with unique looks for each person. And of course there are the funny anecdotes from the cast and amusing moments, like Josh ripping his pants. During the credits of the documentary, there are some stray behind the scenes clips, like Josh and Jennifer swinging on a rope.

Denise- I love love love the documentary because I am a film nerd who has spent countless hours watching LotR extras because of the detail they go into about the making of a film. This one touched base on so many aspects that go into making a film. We got to learn about the casting process for the new characters and how they got such incredible actors in these roles. We got an in depth look into the makeup and wardrobing departments and the ridiculous lengths they had to go through for scenes like the party at Snow's mansion. We got to learn about preparing a water park to look like the Cornucopia. We got to learn about the training and the film making process. This documentary could be it's own movie about the process of filmmaking. You even learn about the different film and cameras they use! To someone who is just casually a fan to film students, this documentary is both entertaining and informative.

Commentary:

Courtney- I sat down and watched the DVD commentary with Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson and it is a really good listen. They do give a lot of information, much you would know from watching the documentary but there is some new info in their too! A while back we got some info that they filmed in L.A. at Universal, but had no idea what they did. Turns out they used it to film pick up shots of people diving and swimming in the arena. They even mention some things they will probably do in the next film such as explain the Avoxes. I highly recommend checking out this feature!

Final Thoughts:

Courtney- I give these special features a 9/10 because it really did go above and beyond with the documentary. There's always room for improvement, we want ALL the deleted scenes as well as more set footage. I mean we can watch Josh and Jen be silly all day long. I am incredibly thankful that Lionsgate bumped up the amount of contents up a notch since last time. Lionsgate, if you are reading this please know that we appreciate all the content you have offered but THE MORE THE BETTER!!! Honestly we can never get enough of it, but you have floored us with that 2 hour documentary. Fantastic job!

Tiffany- It's great that the 9-part documentary is included in all the Blu-Ray packages. Though some might think it's long, for me, the more information the better. It encompassed a lot and hit on the various areas of filmmaking in a fairly balanced way that can satisfy a movie fan like me. The deleted scenes weren't enough, in my opinion. Where was the scene with Peeta and morphling in the training center painting that we saw a still of but still have yet to see? So many were very quick moments, but I'm thankful to have gotten deleted scenes.

Denise- The amount of work and information that went into making this rivaled the Lord of the Rings extras, which I'd say is the definitive version of dvd extras. Though I wasn't able to watch it all, owing to real life getting in the way, I was extremely satisfied and am excited to watch more!

WHICH DO I BUY?

Target. 

Pretty simple choice because it's the only option with an extra disc. With the extra disc you get 45 minutes of interviews that mostly talk and discuss about the books and their themes as well as the cast and crew's deep connection to one another. Honestly, I wish there was more set footage on this disc but I suppose we can't have everything. It's still enjoyable to watch!

Aside from the content, the box and case is VERY ideal. It opens up like a book and has a very sleek look and feel. DEFINITELY get this version! Here's the details:

Target Exclusive (45 minutes of content): 

• “ONE VISION” (A FAITHFUL ADAPTATION)--translating Suzanne Collin’s source material to the big screen
• “THE ALLIANCE” (RETURNING CAST)—an inside look at the close-knit relationships of the returning actors
• “FRIEND OR FOE” (NEW CAST)--finding the perfect embodiments of the new characters

Additional Special Features (over 2 hours of content):
• Filmmaker Commentary
• 9-part Making-of Documentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Divergent Sneak Peek

Best Buy

Tiffany- The Best Buy exclusive includes the main Blu-Ray disc that includes the behind the scenes documentary and a digital download with no DVD. It comes in a metal casing with Katniss and Peeta on the cover. This is a great one to have if don't need a DVD since the case itself is fairly nice.

Walmart Double Feature

This is straight up DVDs of both films, no special content whatsoever. If that appeals to you, then this is for you.

If you don't own a Blu-Ray player I really highly recommend getting one if only for the Catching Fire DVD. There's hours of content to watch, not to mention the Blu-Ray holds a secret from the rebels...

Comic Con 2012: HUNGER GAMES!!

Going to comic-con? Well, good for you. We hope you get trampled! Just kidding, the truth is we're so jealous we can't stand it. The best we can hope for is that you Hunger Games fans get all you can out of this years' con so we've got a press release concerning the Hunger Games Blu-ray autograph opportunities, and some other related panels thanks to a post from MTV. Also, if you guys plan on going PLEASE PLEASE send us pictures of your Hunger Games Comic-Con experience to WelcomeToDistrict12@gmail.com and we will definitely post those suckers! Okay, onto business...

CELEBRATE THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF
THE FILM THAT SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2012

Fans To Have Chance To Receive Select Hunger Games Cast Signatures On
Comic-Con Exclusive Blu-ray Disc Box Art Cover Saturday, July 14

WHAT:  In advance of the hugely anticipated home entertainment release of The Hunger Games juggernaut on 12:01 am Saturday, August 18, select cast members will participate in signing events at San Diego Comic-Con International 2012.  Occurring at the Lionsgate Booth (#4035) on Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, fans will have the chance to meet the actors behind Cato, Rue, Thresh, Clove, Marvel and Primrose Everdeen, plus have an exclusive Blu-ray Disc box art cover signed by the cast.  An exclusive Comic-Con Hunger Games poster will also be distributed at the Lionsgate booth throughout the duration of the convention.

                          

The first film in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games franchise arrives on 2-disc Blu-Ray (plus digital copy), 2-disc DVD (plus digital copy), On Demand and Digital Download, complete with three hours of never-before-seen special features.  Attending media may also participate in an invitation-only press junket with the attending cast at San Diego’s Hard Rock Hotel.

WHO: Alexander Ludwig (Cato), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh), Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen)

WHEN:              FAN SIGNING TIMES:

                           Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

                           Location: Lionsgate Booth (#4035)

WHERE:        San Diego Convention Center

                          111 West Harbor Drive

                           San Diego, CA 92101

Lastly, here are some Hunger Games related panels:

The annual celebration of all that is awesome in pop culture kicks off Thursday, July 12, and there's plenty for Panem's faithful to see and do — even if Comic-Con isn't branded with "The Hunger Games" name. It just takes a little imagination! Here are our Hobnobbing-approved picks for the Con (in chronological order): 

We don't need a panel to tell us dystopia is hot, hot, hot right now, but you better believe we're hungry to attend one anyway. On Thursday, July 12, at 3 p.m. in Room 25ABC, authors Anna North ("America Pacifica"), Neal Shusterman ("Unwind" trilogy), Lissa Price ("Starters"), Paolo Bacigalupi ("The Drowned Cities"), Michael Grant ("BZRK"), Daniel H. Wilson ("Amped"), Gennifer Albin ("Crewel") and Marie Lu ("Legend") will sit down to chat about the burgeoning genre. 

A few hours later, head to the Blu-ray Producers 2012 panel in Room 5AB, where Cliff Stephenson (the man behind "The Hunger Games" discs) will talk shop alongside producers from many a high-profile project, including "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation-Seasons One and Two." 

There's no denying the fanciful wardrobe of the Capitol's citizenry was a visual high point in the series' first installment. Fashion fiends and neophytes alike will want to flock to the Costume Designers and Illustrators: From Concept to Reality panel on Saturday, July 14, at 5 p.m. in Room 24ABC, where "Hunger Games" costume illustrator Christian Cordella will be one of many talents on hand talking about taking an imaginative vision and bringing it to stunning life onscreen. 

And here it is, the pièce de résistance. To celebrate the August 18 DVD/Blu-ray release of "The Hunger Games," Lionsgate will be hosting a star signing at its booth (#4035) on Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The lineup includes Alexander Ludwig (Cato), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh), Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen).

See a full schedule of Comic-Con events at the official site.

Source: MTV 

BREAKING! THG on Blu-Ray/DVD August 18th!

...aaaaand we're back!

It's been 2 weeks since we last posted (We've been busy!) and glad to deliver this news to you:

2 DISC DVD AND BLU-RAY TO BE RELEASED AT MIDNIGHT AUGUST 18TH!!

Lionsgate kicks off its official 12-week countdown to the release on Friday, May 25, when the Blu-ray and DVD will become available for pre-order. EW is helping with the celebration by hosting the exclusive premiere of the trailer, embedded below:

The two-disc set will include over three hours of unreleased material, with features that provide insight into how the film was made, interviews with the cast and crew, and details about some of the story lines that differed from the book -- like President Snow's character (Donald Sutherland) and the role of the game maker (Wes Bentley). An eight-part documentary entitled The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games delves into the behind-the-scenes aspect of creating the film. The extras also include the full-length "Propaganda Film" shown during the Reaping.
By releasing the Blu-Ray/DVD at midnight, Lionsgate hopes to recapture the excitement from the midnight theatrical screening back in March. “The motion picture event of the year is poised to become the home entertainment event of the year, and with a midnight launch and midnight retail events scheduled at stores around the country, we expect to replicate the same level of consumer excitement generated by the film’s theatrical debut,” said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate Executive Vice President & General Manager, Home Entertainment.

Read the rest over at EW.com and check out the the trailer!

Source: Entertainment Weekly


I think the internet may have wet their collective pants. Three hours of glorious footage!! That was the best case scenario for the DVD, but Tiffany and I were predicting it would be much less 3 hours. Kudos to you, Lionsgate!! The fans asked, and you delivered. Thank you!