Entertainment

7 Reasons We Can't Wait for 'Mockingjay'

by Rachel Simon

In just a few short days, the world will finally get to see Jennifer Lawrence reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the highly-anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games. As of now, the film holds a stellar 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it "smart, smoothly directed," and "thoroughly compelling." True, fans of the blockbuster series would flock to the theater no matter what the critics said, but it's a relief to parents and YA-loving adults everywhere that Catching Fire is supposedly really good.

Yet as excited as we are to see it this weekend, it's hard not to wish we could fast forward another few years and get to see Mockingjay: Part 1 and Mockingay: Part 2, instead. The final installments of The Hunger Games are bound to make for thrilling movie adaptations, and the films will be the perfect capstone to the series. Seven reasons we can't wait to see them:

1. It's Double the Jennifer Lawrence Quotes

Some fans felt frustration when it was announced that Mockingjay would be split up into two separate films, but we saw it like this: double the movies = double the Jennifer Lawrence quotes. We all know that Lawrence is incapable of giving an interview without providing hilarious soundbites and GIF material for months to come, and so the fact that she's getting the chance to promote two separate films instead of just one is kind of a gift to the world.

2. The New Characters Are Amazing

Mockingjay adds several new faces to an already star-studded cast, including Julianne Moore, Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones), Lily Rabe (American Horror Story: Asylum), and Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (House of Cards). We're excited to see how they take on their characters, some of which have personalities very, very, different than we're used to seeing their actors portray.

3. The Movies Will Be Written by Danny Strong

We've written before about how great Danny Strong is, and Mockingjay: Part I and Part II will just help to prove the point. Strong, who gained fame as an actor known best for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gilmore Girls, has become one of the most coveted screenwriters in Hollywood. He's earning Oscar talk for his work on Lee Daniels' The Butler, and he's set to write both installments of Mockingjay, which is all but guaranteed to garner widespread acclaim. It's hard to trust any writer with making the Hunger Games novels come to life on-screen, but with Strong, we're in good hands.

4. It's the Best Book of the Series

The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are great, don't get us wrong, but Mockingjay is just really damn good. It's the perfect end to the series, full of beautifully crafted romance, fast-paced action, and witty dialogue. Sure, the filmmakers could always screw it up, but we'd say it's a safe bet that the movies will be just as fantastic as the book they're based on.

5. It's Double the Fashion

If your jaws have dropped upon seeing Lawrence and co. consistently amaze on the red carpet these last few weeks, just wait until Mockingjay. Franchise stars tend to do outdo themselves on their last red carpet go-around — just look at the amazing outfits the Harry Potter stars wore at their very last premiere. It's guaranteed that the Hunger Games actors, and Jennifer Lawrence in particular, will blow us away with their fashion choices come Mockingjay even more than they already have — and with dresses like these, that's saying a lot .

Jason Merritt/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

6. It's Way Darker than the First Two Movies

You thought watching kids kill each other for a game was bad? Just wait until Mockingjay: Parts 1 and 2 come around. In the bloody conclusion to the series, death is everywhere, and no one is safe. Those characters you thought had to be off-limits for getting axed? Sorry to tell you that in Mockingjay, everyone's fair game. Take the next year to prepare for the most depressing, violent, and difficult to watch installments of the series — trust us, you'll need the time.

7. It's the End of an Era

Sure, The Hunger Games hasn't had quite the same impact on our culture has Harry Potter, per say, but there's no denying that it has made a difference. When the final two movies hit theaters, it'll be an emotional time for millions of fans across the globe. And just think of how many "remember when" nostalgia posts those movies will bring — who doesn't love those?

Image: Lionsgate