Continuing where the last movie left of, Katniss Everdeen, a now renegade survivor of the games that was rescued by the radicals of District 13, unwillingly joins the propaganda battle the rebels are launching against the fascist President Snow (Donald Sutherland), dictator of the dystopian future America, Panem. Coerced by the resistance commander President Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) into being in a succession of inspiring propaganda videos, Katniss is the face of the revolution, the rebellion’s iconic “mockingjay”. She is also suffering from post traumatic stress disorder induced flashbacks to her time in the games and is undoubtedly wracked with guilt by the use of Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as a propaganda tool by Snow in retaliation. The film centers on Katniss’ struggle to deal with the mounting responsibility she is burdened with and the role she plays in the fight for freedom. The presence of the Mockingjay Katniss Everdeen proves inspiring for the subjugated rebels amid the desolation; Lawrence brings a powerful allure to her ambivalent character that carries the majority of the movie.
The latest installment in The Hunger Games saga is a completely different movie from the first two chapters, which is arguably what is needed in order to introduce the more adult themes of revolution and rebellion in the oppressed districts. Last year’s Catching Fire was in many ways a rehash of the first film, but “Mockingjay – Part 1” sets the series on a new course, exploring the mutiny within the districts against the fascist regime imposed on them and the controlling influence that propaganda has over the masses. Mockingjay – Part 1 is bleak and depressing, darker even more so than the previous movies when the plot was centered on teenagers put in an arena and forced to slaughter each other; with death, despair and war more prevalent than ever before.
It is clear that the recent trend in splitting the final book into two movies did not work for The Hunger Games in the same way it hasn’t before for other book to movie adaptations Harry Potter and Twilight, and instead is just another attempt to make the maximum profit from the success of the franchise. The plot lacks the action the other two movies have provided, with this addition definitely being prolonged, when the book could have easily been one three hour movie instead. Without the second part, it is difficult to ascertain whether Part 1 has done the previous Hunger Games movies justice since it is just half of a story, especially as its source material is by far the weakest of the trilogy.
However, alone, it's worthwhile going to see, particularly for longtime fans. It still manages to advance the story, has enough time for character development, with outstanding acting from the cast, and introduces some more adventurous elements with fresh political themes being established within this chapter of the series. With one more film left in Hollywood’s The Hunger Games franchise, it’s evident that the action and battles omitted from this installment are being saved for next year’s promisingly epic finale.
Director: Francis Lawrence
Running time: 123 minutes
Screenplay: Peter Craig and Danny Strong – based on the novel by Suzanne Collins
Certificate: 12a
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson
By Faith Shaboo-Meere, Haberdashers Aske's Knights Academy