Review: The Hunger Games – Mockingjay, Part 1 Nov 30, 2014

The games are over – this time, it’s war. This latest adaptation of the popular book series explores propaganda, censorship and the human cost of conflict with a delivery that’s as sharp as its heroine’s arrows.

Previously on The Hunger Games: After disrupting the Quarter Quell, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) was rescued from the arena and flown to the mysterious District 13. Her battle, it appears, is far from over. President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) along with rebel Gamesmaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) plan to use Katniss as ‘The Mockingjay’ – a resistance symbol to unite the people of Panem against its government. Meanwhile Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) plays hostage to the Capitol’s President Snow (Donald Sutherland), who aims to stop Katniss by destroying everyone and everything she holds dear.

Fans of the Mockingjay novel will be pleased to hear that the film is a faithful adaptation. One welcome change is the inclusion of high-strung fashionista Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) who provides comic relief in a life stripped of luxuries, not to mention her beloved wigs. Her suffering is shared by Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) who must face his greatest challenge yet – sobriety. New to the cast are Julianne Moore as District 13’s rebel leader and Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer as Cressida, an ambitious young film director turned propaganda artist. Both do an excellent job of keeping the audience guessing where their loyalties lie – with the rebellion, with Katniss or with themselves?

Unhindered by the book’s first person narrative, we witness revolution spreading through Panem as the districts fight back against their oppressors (note to any aspiring tyrants out there: don’t piss off lumberjacks!) However Katniss is still very much the focus of the story and Jennifer Lawrence is as compelling to watch as ever – in fact, you’d swear the character was written just for her.

Despite some gripping final scenes, the film’s climax suffers by rousing the audience but leaving them short of a grand showdown – ‘Part One Syndrome’, if you like.

Tempting as it is to get fired up by her speeches and songs, the weight of her decisions and her struggle to commit to the cause are always shown for balance. Scenes between Katniss and her sister (Willow Shields) capture the humanity behind the rising icon and it’s nice to see Primrose upgraded from plot device to fully-fledged character. Things get tense when both Katniss and Peeta are used as propaganda tools on rival sides and Josh Hutcherson plays his character’s deterioration well, despite only appearing in a handful of scenes.

Mockingjay is the third and final act in the Hunger Games story and this film is just the first part. As a standalone film, let’s face it – the odds were never in its favour. Due to the sequence of events in the novel, much of the action will have to wait until Part Two. Despite some gripping final scenes, the film’s climax suffers by rousing the audience but leaving them short of a grand showdown – ‘Part One Syndrome’, if you like.

Additionally, those who aren’t up to speed on the series should be able to follow the plot but may find it difficult to get invested at this point. It’s definitely one to watch/read from the beginning.

Many eyes rolled at the decision to split Mockingjay into two parts – no wonder moviegoers were cynical, considering recent literary adaptations. We’ve had two Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows films (one average, one good), three lengthy instalments of The Hobbit (ironically, the shortest book in The Lord of the Rings series) and two entire movies devoted to Twilight: Breaking Dawn (a story in which nothing happens, twice.) Mockingjay: Part One bucks the trend by staying focused and well-paced with a refreshing lack of filler. Had Mockingjay been a single film, many worthwhile scenes would have felt rushed or been left on the cutting room floor. All things considered, it’s the best Part One in recent memory.

What’s truly admirable about Mockingjay is its handling of mature themes, particularly for a series aimed at teens. Author Suzanne Collins was careful to avoid glorifying violence and to show that no political agenda is above manipulation, regardless of how it’s justified.

The first Mockingjay film certainly does her work justice and through Katniss, viewers can rationally consider each side of the story. The imagery often pushes the boundaries of the 12A certificate. Little is shown of actual conflict, yet the scenes of charred corpses in bombed-out towns are arguably far more haunting. And it doesn’t end when the credits roll.

Recently the Katniss ‘salute’ has been adopted by Thai protesters and banned by their military. This demonstrates that the impact of this series should not be underestimated because of its target audience.

Once again The Hunger Games provides food for thought, for adults both young and old. Mockingjay Part One might be only half a story but it’s an intelligent, well executed half-story in a series that continues to impress.

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