Review: First part of ‘Mockingjay’ sets stage for strong sequel

Synopsis: “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) hidden with the long-thought-destroyed District 13. Katniss’ courage and defiance of the Capitol has inspired a nation, bringing Panem to the brink of revolution. President Alma Coin of District 13 wants Katniss to be the face of the revolution, but what will happen to Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and the other Victors captured by the Capitol after the Quarter Quell if she decides to join the rebellion?

I went into “Mockingjay – Part 1” having read all the books and having seen both of its predecessors and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how they were going to split the last book into two movies. Director Francis Lawrence does a fantastic job of staying true to the book. That being said, the first installment of “Mockingjay” is very slow. Don’t mistake slow for bad, the movie is beautifully shot and the superb cast has you invested in every scene but this never ended up feeling like a “Hunger Games” movie to me. There is none of the action or suspense that we’ve come to expect and love from “Hunger Games,” only a political war drama set in a dystopian future. Katniss only fires a single arrow the entire movie.

What worked: The cast was excellent. The entire cast of “Catching Fire” returns with the addition of Julianne Moore who does a great job as the militaristic president of District 13. Elizabeth Banks’ Effie Trinket is once again amazing: Having also been rescued by District 13 she is trying to cope with her new home and uniform. Watching her rebuild herself is one of the best parts of this film. Peeta was fantastic; for the little amount of time that Hutcherson was actually in the film, he nailed it. Woody Harrelson once again did a great job as Katniss’ mentor and added some of the only comic relief to this dry film. I also loved the cinematography for “Mockingjay.” The sets were gorgeous and varied between the different districts of Panem. The director does a great job of setting the tone of each scene with the sets. District 13 is stark and cavernous cement hallways and metal stairs with everyone in the same jumpsuit, while the Capitol is a vivid contrast of bright colors and outlandish outfits and styles. There are beautiful, untouched forests filled with life and war-ravaged cityscapes that promise only death. The director and cast really do a great job of setting up the next film.

What didn’t work: This film is a two-hour intro for the “Hunger Games” movie that we all want to see. The plot to this film was just a bit on the monotonous side. I felt that it lacked the excitement and energy that the first two movies shared. The movie’s pace never changes, it just plods through until it just kind of ends with nothing really having happened. Jennifer Lawrence tended to overact her character just a bit on certain occasions and she never quite becomes the brave, courageous Katniss we are hoping to see.

It’s not the greatest “Hunger Games” movie but it’s still worth the watch if you want to see how this epic series is going to end. The film doesn’t leave you with a giant cliffhanger like “Catching Fire” did, which will leave some people pleased. Although the movie felt dry and was very slow it still was well acted and the beautiful scenery was able to keep me interested most of the time. Which leaves me to give this holiday blockbuster a 6 out of 10 rating. Not the greatest movie I’ve seen this year but it’s a must-see if you are a “Hunger Games” fan planning on seeing the epic conclusion of Katniss Everdeen’s struggle against the Capitol of Panem.

This story was originally published December 4, 2014 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Review: First part of ‘Mockingjay’ sets stage for strong sequel."