Credible Credits
Year: 2014
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Julianne Moore
Tagline: Fire burns brighter in the darkness.
Synopsis: Having destroyed the Hunger Games, Katniss finds herself in District 13 where a rebellion is fomenting and she is sought for as the symbol of their cause: the Mockingjay.
Tagline: Fire burns brighter in the darkness.
Synopsis: Having destroyed the Hunger Games, Katniss finds herself in District 13 where a rebellion is fomenting and she is sought for as the symbol of their cause: the Mockingjay.
Review
Nope, I still haven't read the books. Nor do I intend to. But I do know the gist of how everything will end up, so I didn't go into Mockingjay - Part 1 completely unprepared.
I still have a hard time liking Katniss as a character. She's just so myopic and prickly. And in this go round she spends more time being a pawn or Mockingjay puppet than active agent within the story. There's nothing wrong with that, and Jennifer Lawrence does an excellent job (again) portraying a conflicted young woman caught up in a firestorm. But she isn't as appealing a character to me, so I have a hard time getting very excited about these films.
Unlike its predecessors, Mockingjay - Part 1 is low on action. Katniss fires one arrow during the entire film. This is the (relative) calm before the storm and is more along the lines of a political thriller than anything else. "Moves and counter-moves" as President Snow dryly observes. At this point it is a war of propaganda. What action there is is well paced and you never get bored. At the same time, it can feel a bit slow, as it painstakingly lays the foundation for Part 2 next year.
Where the film shines is in the emotions. The song, "The Hanging Tree" is beautiful and perfect for the story. And even though she apparently hated having to sing it, Jennifer Lawrence does a spot-on job. Her voice has just the right unpolished depth that the song and the moment need.
Although Katniss is the Mockingjay and the center of the propaganda, also impressive were the times when she was not the center of attention. Gale's regret-filled narrative of the destruction of District 12 is powerful. And it was terrific to see Finnick rise above his shell-shocked depression to recount the life he was forced to live and the secrets he subsequently learned. All of this lays the foundation that Part 2 will build upon.
Apparently, Effie Trinket doesn't play any role in Mockingjay the book. I'm quite glad they decided to bring her into the film. It works to have her in District 13. And it especially works to have her help prep Katniss for her role as Mockingjay. I can't imagine anyone other than Effie filling that role.
Pretty much if you saw the first two Hunger Games movies, you're going to see this one. It is what it is: a sort of transition from Hunger Games to open rebellion and war. And if the film does nothing else, it gets you all ready for next year's (hopefully) epic conclusion.
*** Spoiler Section ***
When President Snow warns Katniss that it is the things we love that destroy us, I didn't know he intended it quite so literally. That was both clever and devious. And harsh. It did make for a pretty powerful cliffhanger ending.
I still have a hard time liking Katniss as a character. She's just so myopic and prickly. And in this go round she spends more time being a pawn or Mockingjay puppet than active agent within the story. There's nothing wrong with that, and Jennifer Lawrence does an excellent job (again) portraying a conflicted young woman caught up in a firestorm. But she isn't as appealing a character to me, so I have a hard time getting very excited about these films.
Unlike its predecessors, Mockingjay - Part 1 is low on action. Katniss fires one arrow during the entire film. This is the (relative) calm before the storm and is more along the lines of a political thriller than anything else. "Moves and counter-moves" as President Snow dryly observes. At this point it is a war of propaganda. What action there is is well paced and you never get bored. At the same time, it can feel a bit slow, as it painstakingly lays the foundation for Part 2 next year.
Where the film shines is in the emotions. The song, "The Hanging Tree" is beautiful and perfect for the story. And even though she apparently hated having to sing it, Jennifer Lawrence does a spot-on job. Her voice has just the right unpolished depth that the song and the moment need.
Although Katniss is the Mockingjay and the center of the propaganda, also impressive were the times when she was not the center of attention. Gale's regret-filled narrative of the destruction of District 12 is powerful. And it was terrific to see Finnick rise above his shell-shocked depression to recount the life he was forced to live and the secrets he subsequently learned. All of this lays the foundation that Part 2 will build upon.
Apparently, Effie Trinket doesn't play any role in Mockingjay the book. I'm quite glad they decided to bring her into the film. It works to have her in District 13. And it especially works to have her help prep Katniss for her role as Mockingjay. I can't imagine anyone other than Effie filling that role.
Pretty much if you saw the first two Hunger Games movies, you're going to see this one. It is what it is: a sort of transition from Hunger Games to open rebellion and war. And if the film does nothing else, it gets you all ready for next year's (hopefully) epic conclusion.
*** Spoiler Section ***
When President Snow warns Katniss that it is the things we love that destroy us, I didn't know he intended it quite so literally. That was both clever and devious. And harsh. It did make for a pretty powerful cliffhanger ending.
Quotable Quotes
- "Any other conditions?" "My sister gets to keep her cat." -- President Coin and Katniss
- "They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you." -- Effie to Katniss
- "And what if you're killed?" "Make sure to get it on camera." -- President Coin and Katniss
- "Miss Everdeen, it is the things we love most that destroy us." -- President Snow
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