After being rescued from the 75th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) is taken to District 13. Over seventy years before, District 13 rebelled against the Capitol. The Capitol won and destroyed District 13, which led to the creation of the Hunger Games to remind the people of Panem the consequence of rebellion. In actuality, District 13 survived and moved underground. Under the direction of President Alma Coin (Moore), they created a thriving community and stirred the embers of rebellion within the other districts. President Coin and Plutarch Heavensbee (Hoffman) were behind the destruction of the arena, and want Katniss to be the symbol of the rebellion: The Mockingjay.
Katniss is broken from her time in the arena, suffering from nightmares and guilt. And she is still angry that they did not save Peeta Mellark (Hutcherson). Her frustration is shared by fellow victor Finnick Odair (Claflin). She finally agrees to be their symbol, when the Capitol starts using Peeta to speak against the rebellion. With Gale (Hemsworth) by her side, she goes into the field with director Cressida (Dormer) and her team, to ignite the other Districts to action. Can Katniss save Peeta and everyone she holds dear?
Following the trend of recent YA film adaptations, producers decided to split Suzanne Collins final installment in the Hunger Games series, "Mockingjay" into 2 films: Mockingjay Part 1 and Mockingjay Part 2. The first two films in the series (The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) were incredibly popular and expectations for the final films were high. Both parts of Mockingjay are directed by Francis Lawrence (who also directed Catching Fire) and both screenplays were written by Danny Strong and Peter Craig.
I have to admit, I was nervous about splitting the book into 2 movies. I know it is the trend of adaptations right now, but it felt like a bad move... But it works here. It gave the story to play out, to show the scope of Katniss' decision and developed District 13 to a place that you can understand. They also chose a good place to end the first film, that also sets the sequel into motion. The stakes are high, on a personal and community level. The writers also chose to show how deeply the games broke and changed Katniss and the other victors. You also understand why Katniss is so willing to fight for the other victors: their rescue and immunity (in the books this was extended to Enobaria, who is not present in the film). There is a bond that no one else understands because they didn't have that shared experience of surviving the Hunger Games.
The returning cast continue to excel in their roles. Elizabeth Banks is a standout as Effie Trinket, forced to go without her usual costumes and wigs and makeup, and she is still the bubbly comic relief. It was nice to see a little more of Liam Hemsworth's Gale. Julianne Moore is a good choice as the rigid Alma Coin. And Natalie Dormer (from TV's The Tudors, Game of Thrones, and Elementary) is good as Cressida, the filmmaker.
This film serves as a setup for the final conflict between the rebels and the Capitol. It isn't as action packed as the other films, but it doesn't need to be. This is story builds the tension and shows the political maneuvering and propaganda on both sides. I enjoyed it, and look forward to seeing the final film later this year.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014) 123 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark
Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne
Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy
Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin
Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow
Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
Jeffrey Wright as Beetee Latier
Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
Natalie Dormer as Cressida
Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen
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