The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – A Film Review
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| Source: mockingjay.net |
The Hunger Games franchise has undoubtedly become a highly revered series for fans and critics alike, with both previous movies – Hunger Games and Catching Fire – gaining a ‘Certified Fresh’ recommendation on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The franchise’s latest installment, Mockingjay Part 1, has brought monumental anticipation around the world, but was the wait worth it?
For those who haven’t read Mockingjay, its movie counterpart continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who fights to save her fellow District 12 tribute and star-crossed lover Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, in the midst of an uprising against the Capitol.
But the main question crossing many people’s minds (especially those who’ve read the book) is: is the movie too long?
Certainly, the technique of splitting a single book into two movies hasn’t always been a favorite with fans or critics, with much disapproval from moviegoers claiming that Hollywood studios are just trying to bloat the box office. I, for one, was certainly never a fan of it – Harry Potter the Deathly Hallows (Part 1), was rated the worst movie in the series, and the first installment of the Hobbit franchise (An Unexpected Journey) was considered a huge let-down after the massively successful ‘Lord of the Rings’.
Furthermore, I was already not a huge fan of the Mockingjay book to begin with, as I found it as a weak conclusion to Suzanne Collin’s Panem Universe. The book felt slower than its predecessors, especially in the first half, so when I realized that they were going to split Mockingjay into two movies, I was extremely concerned about a stretched out film.
The movie did reflect some of its source material, and was dull and uneventful at many times. However, the movie-makers aren’t entirely to blame; if anything, they improved the source material by making the characters much more likable. It is very difficult to make an action blockbuster out of a book that lacks action.
The highly revered cinematography in the first 2 films was also absent in Mockingjay. Instead of bright, colourful, arenas bursting with life, audiences got a dull underground bunker and bloodless fights.
However, like every movie, Mockingjay had its strong points. The drama was powerful and the emotion felt extremely genuine. Although it lacked the colour and action that its prequels erupted with, the film was still very political. The action, when it got rolling, was high-paced and involved numerous adrenaline infused sequences. There was also some really intriguing character development throughout the film.
Overall, the film is quite strong in some places, average in others and overall, not at all a bad movie with excellent acting and some interesting character development. This film came as a big let-down to me after the unbelievably amazing action-packed Catching Fire movie. Ultimately though, the crowd will be split down the line on whether the movie is good or not. Some will eagerly eat up Mockingjay’s quieter, potentially more emotive environment, whilst others may sulk away from the theatre after being deprived of action. However, if you’re a big Hunger Games fan and you have the time, go down and catch the movie for yourself, though it premiered on the 19th of November last year. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a strong, action-packed movie to drive up your day, this movie is definitely not for you.
Rating: 6/10 (C+)
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