I would like to preface this review by saying that I am obsessed with the “Hunger Games” trilogy. However, I disliked “Mockingjay,” the final book.
Okay. I’m done with my rant now.
“Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1” follows Katniss Everdeen, who now has become the face of the revolution against the Capital, after her rescue from the 75th Hunger Games.
“Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1” has a star studded cast, with Jennifer Lawrence reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen, Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. Julianne Moore joins the cast as President Alma Coin of the revealed District 13.
Despite the great cast, the plot itself wasn’t too spectacular. There was some action, such as some of the Districts rebelling, but there was too much narrative throughout, and I was wondering throughout the film when the fighting was going to start. It would have been much better for the producers to just have made “Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1” one hour long and “Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2” two hours long and combined the films into one long, three hour movie.
Despite the lack of action and, somewhat, boring plotline, the cast is what truly makes this movie.
Josh Hutcherson impressively shows the degradation of Peeta throughout the film, starting from a somewhat strong willed man to a wilted shell of a human being. Jennifer Lawrence does a wonderful job showing emotion through her intense facial expressions, such as the pain she feels for the people suffering in the Districts.
The ending, though, is really good and definitely leaves the audience wanting more, and I will certainly see “Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 2.”
Overall, this movie gets a B.
