Katniss Everdeen becomes the reluctant
symbol of a revolution against the Capitol. ACTION/SCI-FI
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The Hunger Games:
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The first part of the final installment of the epic Hunger Games series was far darker and depressing than its previous two entries. The entire cast is still stellar, with Jennifer Lawrence giving yet another fantastic performance. It was neat to finally see the grittiness and desolation of District 13 on the big screen and Julianne Moore played the mysterious President Alma Coin to perfection, giving us the slightest glimpse at a leader willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Mockingjay Part I was very close to the book, which always makes me happy. While I don't think that this book needed to be split into two movies, it does allow for a more thorough adaptation which I guess is needed for a finale like this. When it comes to stellar performances, Josh Hutcherson knocked it out of the park with only one scene (which fans of the third book will clearly recognize). And of course I can't finish this review without mentioning the bittersweet final performance of the great Philip Seymour Hoffman, who passed away due to a drug overdose earlier this year. He was always a dedicated and enjoyable presence on camera and his final performance as Plutarch Heavensbee is no exception. I enjoyed the first part of this finale and I cannot wait for the conclusion. |
The first part of the final installment in the popular Hunger Games franchise, while not bad, further proves the point that not every book needs to be split into two movies. While the film is a tense, political thriller with hints of a very real, bloody rebellion happening; it also feels like some of it was padded for time. This creates an uneven experience where for every exciting action moment, it was quickly followed by some less interesting moment.
The main thing anchoring this film is the absolutely stellar performances from the entire cast. Jennifer Lawrence is great as the lead character, continuing to show why she was the perfect choice for the role of a reluctant heroine. Even though he appears briefly, Josh Hutcherson makes his few scenes count. Finally, credit has to be given to the great Philip Seymour Hoffman, who passed away after the filming of this installment. He portrays a very likable character who wants nothing but to fight the good cause. As stated earlier, my main problem with this film is the feeling of it almost being filler, with a lot of lead up to the actual final installment. I really think this should have been one, instead of two, movies. Apart from that, this is still a very good installment in this franchise. It features great performances, some exciting action scenes, and political intrigue. Fans of both the movies and books should be more than pleased. |