The Hunger games mockingjay part 1: don't believe the hype. by cameron biddle
Well, it’s time for the Hunger Games…again. After the major successes of the first film in 2012 and Catching Fire in 2013, the series has released the first part of its last film with Mockingjay-Part 1. Now, I really disliked the first film because I felt it hypes up this big event in the Hunger Games, but spends so much time on relationships and drama that the Hunger Games becomes a major after thought. However, I think the second film is great, with the drama and less action perfectly complimenting the story and plot. So basically, the series is 1-1 with me. How does the new movie stack up? Let’s get into it.
Picking up right after the second movie, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is taken to the District 13, and underground facility led by rebels against the Capital. Katniss’ actions during the last film sparked riots and srikes against the Capitol. District 13’s leader President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and former Hunger Games gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) convince her to be the “mockingjay”, or the symbol for the rebellion, and she accepts as long as Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and the other victors are rescued from the Capitol as well. At the same time, the Capitol is attempting to stop the rebellion by having Peeta tell the citizens of Panem that rebelling isn’t the answer. With so much at stake and the fate of Panem on her shoulders, it’s up to Katniss and the rebels to overthrow the Capitol and end the reign of Panem’s President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland)
For starters, there are so many scenes where absolutely nothing happens, and that would be so bad if the scenes weren’t so boring. I’m someone who didn’t like the first film, but at least that one had scenes that actually develop the plot or show character development. This one will have literally something of no importance happen for minutes on end. I understand they only split the movie into two parts because it would be way too long for one movie, but if you take out pointless things like Katniss and Gale going hunting for 3 minutes but not hunting anything, it could be made into one movie.
Some fans may have wondered why I didn’t bring up Gale (Liam Hemsworth) in the description of the movie. Well, that’s because Gale is essentially completely useless and serves no purpose to not only this film, but the entire series. He barley talks, he hardly fights, and basically only serves as a love interest for Katniss and to create a love triangle. I’ve heard he plays a bigger role in the books, but in the movies, he is pointless.
This one doesn’t have as much action, but I don’t feel like this one actually needed too much. In the first film, it was needed because the plot was so based around the Hunger Games, which is supposed to be an action-packed battle, and in the second film, it wasn’t needed as much because there was more of a story besides just the Hunger Games. This one is more centered on the rebellion against the Capitol, and while it does need some action, I think this was the perfect amount
All the actors (except for Liam Hemsworth because Gale is awful) are very good. Jennifer Lawrence is always great in whatever movie she is in, Josh Hutcherson has become a great actor since he started doing more serious movies, and Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks, who play Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket respectively, are always a laugh riot. But I think the films best actor is by far Donald Sutherland. He is truly convincing as the evil leader of Panem, and I think his performance is something that should be talked about more often.
Though Mockingjay-Part 1 has some good acting, a good plot, and some good action, it definetley gets dragged down by how ungodly boring it is at times, not to mention how much it tries to push Gale as a big part of the movie despite how he does almost nothing for two movies. There really isn’t much of an actual reason to see this movie other than if you don’t, Part 2 (which comes out next year on November 20th) isn’t going to make much sense. Basically, you should see it, but don’t get your hopes don’t up
Picking up right after the second movie, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is taken to the District 13, and underground facility led by rebels against the Capital. Katniss’ actions during the last film sparked riots and srikes against the Capitol. District 13’s leader President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and former Hunger Games gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) convince her to be the “mockingjay”, or the symbol for the rebellion, and she accepts as long as Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and the other victors are rescued from the Capitol as well. At the same time, the Capitol is attempting to stop the rebellion by having Peeta tell the citizens of Panem that rebelling isn’t the answer. With so much at stake and the fate of Panem on her shoulders, it’s up to Katniss and the rebels to overthrow the Capitol and end the reign of Panem’s President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland)
For starters, there are so many scenes where absolutely nothing happens, and that would be so bad if the scenes weren’t so boring. I’m someone who didn’t like the first film, but at least that one had scenes that actually develop the plot or show character development. This one will have literally something of no importance happen for minutes on end. I understand they only split the movie into two parts because it would be way too long for one movie, but if you take out pointless things like Katniss and Gale going hunting for 3 minutes but not hunting anything, it could be made into one movie.
Some fans may have wondered why I didn’t bring up Gale (Liam Hemsworth) in the description of the movie. Well, that’s because Gale is essentially completely useless and serves no purpose to not only this film, but the entire series. He barley talks, he hardly fights, and basically only serves as a love interest for Katniss and to create a love triangle. I’ve heard he plays a bigger role in the books, but in the movies, he is pointless.
This one doesn’t have as much action, but I don’t feel like this one actually needed too much. In the first film, it was needed because the plot was so based around the Hunger Games, which is supposed to be an action-packed battle, and in the second film, it wasn’t needed as much because there was more of a story besides just the Hunger Games. This one is more centered on the rebellion against the Capitol, and while it does need some action, I think this was the perfect amount
All the actors (except for Liam Hemsworth because Gale is awful) are very good. Jennifer Lawrence is always great in whatever movie she is in, Josh Hutcherson has become a great actor since he started doing more serious movies, and Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks, who play Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket respectively, are always a laugh riot. But I think the films best actor is by far Donald Sutherland. He is truly convincing as the evil leader of Panem, and I think his performance is something that should be talked about more often.
Though Mockingjay-Part 1 has some good acting, a good plot, and some good action, it definetley gets dragged down by how ungodly boring it is at times, not to mention how much it tries to push Gale as a big part of the movie despite how he does almost nothing for two movies. There really isn’t much of an actual reason to see this movie other than if you don’t, Part 2 (which comes out next year on November 20th) isn’t going to make much sense. Basically, you should see it, but don’t get your hopes don’t up