Mockingjay Part 1 - Film Review - It's a Mockery!
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Yet again we find ourselves leaving the cinema claiming “That was nowhere near as good as the book” as another beloved franchise splits the final novel into two films and doesn’t do a good job of part 1.
By Ben Walley
It is full of character detail but lacks action and excitement to grip and satisfy the audience so familiar with the other two films. The instalment never seemed to be going anywhere at any point. There were, at times, points where you felt as if it’s leading to an epic moment but then you’re left waiting in limbo, because that epic moment never arrives.
You can’t help but think that if it wasn’t for the cast, who are bombarded with Oscars, including the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee, and Jennifer Lawrence at the helm as the saving grace with another mesmerizing performance as the traumatised Katniss Everdeen, this film really would’ve hit rock bottom.
Katniss was rescued from the previous Quarter Quell Hunger Games to become the figurehead (Mockingjay) of the rebellion which, at first, she declines. She is then flown off to her home, District 12, which has been completely decimated thanks to the bombings by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) after her antics in the arena at the Quarter Quell. This causes her to change her mind after all, and become the Mockingjay. Her job now is to rally the troops and bring the districts together to fight the Capitol. After one or two very brief action scenes, (which are beautifully shot) the revolution is well and truly underway.
During all of this, President Snow has Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as hostage, who he tortures and manipulates to try and keep the districts on the Capitols side and request a ceasefire.
Director Francis Lawrence has created a great feeling of tension, but there is a huge lack of excitement and that tension has no sense of escalation. He seems to have tried to create a war movie but it has turned out to be mainly people arguing locked away underground over Skype.
Let’s hope this is just a stepping stone for a bigger and better Part 2.
