Granted the book wasn't that long, but I think splitting the movie into two parts helped to flesh out the story a bit more. And I enjoyed the changes they made and things they excluded more than Catching Fire. Would probably still rank it below the other two, just because it was a bit slower.
It's been a long time since I've read the book. Let me see if I can recall what the changes were: Spoiler Was there anything else major that was different? I can't recall. Below is spoilered not for content but because it's possibly a very rude thing to say, but... Spoiler Does anyone else think that PSH just really mailed it in with this series? I know he was battling personal demons and that could be why, but I really think he does a terrible job of acting in both Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Not that Plutarch is supposed to be overly demonstrative or anything, but PSH just comes off as a hungover guy reciting memorized lines.
I hated the movie Especially the ending They should have done it as one movie so there could be closure
It was pretty tense and suspenseful, especially during the rescue mission. Other than that, it was okay. The last two movies could have been one movie.
That was pretty much it I think. Spoiler That whole scene was changed because I'm pretty sure she and Finnick went to the surface to take their minds off the mission, and Finnick just opened up to her. I liked how they used his comments as a diversion in the movie, how they showed the mission, and then her trying to distract Snow but him knowing full well what was happening. None of the district battles (w/o Katniss) we saw in the movie were in the books and I thought that was a nice addition. I think there were two of them. I don't think she was as nearly as sulky as the book. I can see what you're saying about PSH, but even at his worst he still is damn good, imo. One thing that does bother me is Coin. She's not as nearly as cold and unlikeable as she is in the book. Hope to see that changed in part 2.
Total money grab. Wish I had waited till next year to see the whole final movie at once. Todays Hollywood sucks.