The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman March 21, 2016

Suzanne Collins' young adult phenomenon The Hunger Games has finally come to a close with the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2. All four films in the franchise are available for purchase individually, but this new set offers exclusive supplements in addition to previously released material.

For assessments of the four films in this set, please see the following reviews:

The Hunger Games Blu-ray review

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Blu- ray review

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Blu-ray review

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Blu-ray review

The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of the four films is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of the four films is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

For previously released supplements which accompanied the initial Blu-ray releases of the films, see the above referenced reviews.

The exclusive bonus disc included with this set includes the following supplementary material, some of which was (confusingly) previously released and is also available on the standalone discs. Timings are (again confusingly) occasionally slightly variant from the originals, but I noticed no new or missing footage. See the original reviews for more information on the previously released supplements. Since only some of these supplements are listed as "never before seen", though several were not on the general releases I personally reviewed, I am assuming that some of these supplements may have been included in various retailer exclusives. Therefore, all "new" supplements (i.e., not included on the previous general releases) are indicated by an asterisk (*):

The Hunger Games:

• The World is Watching: Making The Hunger Games (1080p; 2:01:43)


• Featurettes:

  Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon (1080p; 14:13)

  Letters from the Rose Garden (1080p; 9:09)

  Controlling the Games (1080p; 5:50)

  A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell (1080p; 14:29)

  Preparing for the Games: A Director's Process (1080p; 3:02)

  Propaganda Film (1080p; 1:35)

  Stories from the Tributes* (1080p; 17:47) offers interviews with various actors and snippets from the film.

  Casting the Tributes* (1080p; 10:42) looks not just at casting but other elements like stunt choreography.

  Tribute Video Diaries* (1080p; 16:46) is a fun set of first person offerings from seven of the actors portraying various tributes.

  Photo Album* (1080p; 3:10) plays to "Catch Me If You Can".

  Stunts of The Hunger Games* (1080p; 14:56) has some good behind the scenes footage of rehearsals for big action sequences.

  Capitol Couture: The Styles of Panem* (1080p; 17:54) focuses on the film's fun costume designs.

  Weapons of the Arena* (1080p; 6:47) shows that there is more than simply a crossbow in the tributes' arsenals.

  EFFECTED: The Visual Artwork of The Hunger Games* (1080p; 10:10) is an interesting look at VFX.

  Feast and Famine: Creating the Food for The Hunger Games* (1080p; 6:58) is not about Craft Services.

  On the Black Carpet: The Hunger Games Premiere* (1080p; 4:45)

  The Hunger Games: Blu-ray Menu Easter Egg* (1080p). Is it an Easter Egg when it's not hidden?

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

• Featurettes:

  The Alliance: Returning Cast* (1080p; 14:27) profiles the holdovers from the first film.

  Friend or Foe: New Cast* (1080p; 18:26) does much the same for this film's new additions.

  One Vision: A Faithful Adaptation* (1080p; 12:38) focuses on efforts to stay true to the source novel.

  The Look of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire* (1080p; 3:14) is a brief piece centering on costumes and production design.

  The Quarter Quell Cast* (1080p; 3:12) is another brief piece looking at these tributes.

  Bringing Panem to Life* (1080p; 6:05) offers more info on VFX and production design.

  Taking Aim: Stunts and Weapons* (1080p; 5:54) looks at the rather wide array of accoutrements the tributes utilize as well as some of the stunt work involved.

  The Quell: On Location in Hawaii* (1080p; 5:03) is a scenic look at some of the locales used.

  Battling the Clock Arena* (1080p; 5:33) takes a look at this sequence.

  Coldplay "Atlas" Music Video* (1080p; 4:01)

  Capitol Cuisine (Never Before Seen!)* (1080p; 4:55) looks at some of the foodstuffs.

  Inside District 12: The Hob* (1080p; 2:14) is a brief look at this "trading center".

• Deleted Scene (Never Before Seen!)* (1080p; 00:36) looks like it's a greenscreened snippet that was never fully rendered.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

• Featurettes:

  Rubble and Ashes* (1080p; 9:13) is an overview of this "chapter" of the story.

  Utilitarian Chic* (1080p; 13:38) looks at various elements like production design and SFX.

  The Propos Team* (1080p; 11:57) centers on Katniss' crew.

  Combat Zone* (1080p; 11:51) offers a look at the wider war that begins to take the place of the actual Hunger Games in this film.

  Katniss Propo Video* (1080p; 00:19) is a very brief propaganda piece.

  Picturing Panem (Never Before Seen!)* (1080p; 7:50) is a glorified photo gallery.

The Hunger Games: Complete 4-Film Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Hunger Games franchise is a bit of a roller coaster ride when taken as a whole, with the first two films managing to create more consistent involvement than the second two. Collins' formulation of a fascistic future state is compelling enough to overcome some narrative hurdles the films face (some engendered by the perhaps questionable decision to split the final book into two films). Bolstered by impressive production elements and generally excellent performances, the films offer a number of nicely staged set pieces and some well done character development. This new set throws in a glut of supplements and comes Recommended.