Running Time: 123 min
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Sam Claflin, Jeffrey Wright, Philip Seymour Hoffman (†), Donald Sutherland, Natalie Dormer, Sarita Choudhury, Stanley Tucci, Willow Shields
Review:
Jennifer Lawrence has made a meteoric rise in just four years. Landing the role of Mystique in the popular "X-Men" franchise, as well as the lead role in the film adaptation of the young adult novel "The Hunger Games", she quickly became one of Hollywood's darlings and, because of her down-to-earth attitude, managed to get an enourmos fan-base. Critics seem to like her too, as she has been nominated for an Academy Award three times since 2010 and even won the Oscar Gold for Best Supporting Actress in 2013. So, with "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" Lawrence returns to the franchise that made her a worldwide phenomenon once more.
The emphasis in this title is really placed on the term "Part 1". The film builds up a lot of tension, but misses a climax, and thus, feels more like a bridge to "Mockingjay Part 2". Storywise, you get the impression that the "Hunger Games" franchise has matured, as its political themes are increasingly coming to the fore, which is cool to see. Focussing heavily on the way two opposing groups use propaganda in order to get people to join their cause, it is an interesting and relevant piece. As result, however, they cut back on the action, so if you are just in for the people-murdering-each-other aspect, you will be disappointed.
The actors all deliver extremely well. Josh Hutcherson manages to level up his performance, especially in the final act of the film, and the script allows Jennifer Lawrence to show a bit more range the other movies did. Dormer and Moore are great additions, and very fitting for their roles, as well as the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman who gets as close to comic relief as you can in a dystopian story.
Visually, the film's effect have improved as well, while the color palette is much less flashy than in "Catching Fire" to fit the overall tone. In general, the movie looks much smaller than its predecessors, since it has just a few settings and is slower paced. Nonetheless, because the characters (and with them the audience) are looking at the bigger picture, you can't help but feel that you are at the brink of something monumental.
In the end, although it could be argued wether it was good to split the third entry in two movies, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" is a worthy entry for the series. If you are a fan of the franchise, and maybe even read the books, it won't let you down. If, on the other hand, you are just a casual viewer, it won't be too bad if you catch it some time next year just before the finale comes out. Having read the books I can say: It is going to be of epic proportion!
For Fans Of:
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
The Hunger Games (2012)
Click Here To Watch Trailer!
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