The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One

Rating: 4/5

In a film that can only be as good as its' source material, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One is a well done adaptation even if it's working with weaker content than its predecessors.

After collapsing the dome at the 75th Annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) finds herself recovering deep inside the bunkers of District 13. Though it was thought to be destroyed in a previous war, District 13 is alive and well, and under the rule of President Coin (Julianne Moore). To make sure they are not exposed to the capital, the members of 13 must follow the strict guidelines set by Coin, and Katniss is not keen to adhering to the rules.

Once she is well enough, Katniss is informed by former games master, Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), that he and the other leaders of the rebellion who dwell in 13, would like her to become the mockingjay and a symbol of the fight against the Capital. At first, Katniss is hesitant about agreeing to be the face of the rebellion, but when she learns that Peeta is being held against his will in the Capital, she becomes determined to do anything she can to free him from the clutches of President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

In my opinion, I have always felt that Mockingjay was the least impactful installment in the Hunger Games books, so it only makes sense that this film would not be as good as the rest. That being said, this movie did not need to be made into two parts. It is painfully obvious that it was done just for the sole purpose of making more money off of the franchise. By making two separate films, the first one spends more time on exposition than needed, making the movie drag in certain segments, until you are suddenly brought out of the depths of District 13 for a few moments of action.

The acting talent in this film, as it is in the two previous ones, is quite excellent. Phillip Seymour Hoffman's talent is legendary, and even though he is only in handful of scenes, whenever he graces the screen, his performance effortlessly pulls the viewers attention towards him. Elizabeth Banks once again shows that she can give Effie Trinkett a level of depth that one would not think she could have based on her original outward appearance. In this installment, Effie has also found her way to District 13, but has been stripped of all her color and flare. Banks shows Effie's struggle with her bland appearance and being taken away from all she knows, as well as her intense devotion and love for Katniss.

At this point in the series, Katniss has had her spirit practically broken by more than enough grief and tragedy, but somehow she manages to try her best and push through it. In this film, Jennifer Lawrence had the challenge of bringing more intensity to Katniss through her personal struggles rather than through action in the arena, and she definitely was capable to step up to the emotional plate. There is a reason that Lawrence hasn't been defined only as Katniss Everdeen in her acting career. It is because her talent for performing is much greater than that of just a star in a teen franchise.

In all fairness, when I read Mockingjay, I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, so this film really isn't bad. There are definitely moments in which the combination of the scenery and the score give you chills, and the intensity of the scene can be felt in your gut; namely the "Hanging Tree" scene. Though it doesn't appear as captivating as its predecessors, Mockingjay Part One is still leaps and bounds above the majority of the other dystopian teen novels turned into films.