The Hunger Games: MockingJay-Part 1
Writers: Peter Craig, Danny Strong, and Suzanne Collins (novel)
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Donald Sutherland (President Snow), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee), Julianne Moore (President Alma Coin), Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen), Sam Claflin (Finnick Odair), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), Mahershala Ali (Boggs), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), Jeffrey Wright (Beetee), and Natalie Dormer (Cressida).
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her family, along with Gale (Liam Hemsworth), has been brought to an underground facility, district 13. Katniss (Lawrence) has nightmares, torments of her ordeal in the arenas, her co-tribute Finnick Odair (Sam Clafin) is also part of the base of operations in 13, he suffers from post traumatic stress, fearing for the life of his girlfriend, Annie.
The General Boggs (Mahershala Ali) approaches Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), tells her that 75 years ago this district was bombarded by the Capital, the location is now an underground bunker. The President is Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), former Capital Gamesmaker who is a turn-coat, and ally to the rebels. The President believes by filming propaganda, she could 100% win over the people, by showing the symbolic MockingJay. The power that the symbol, represents as the MockingJay will be the draw that she needs to win the war. The rebellion will use Katniss as a tool to bring the people together, in preparation for the war.
The President prepares a speech, as his image is broadcasted everywhere, he says that anyone from the districts that participates or in anyway has connections to the MockingJay symbol will be put to death. He even continues to address the nation, many rebels have been captured and as a show of faith and his strong convictions, he terminates the captured rebels for all to see.
Meanwhile beneath the ground, district 13 main base, and home, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) reunited with her family, she gives that cat to her sister, Primrose (Willow shields). The cat belonged to her sister, while they were living in district 12, the building was left untouched, the only building standing in the devastation. A message on screen displays over the thousands that live in the district. Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), an exclusive interview by Caeser Flickerman (Stanly Tucci), Peeta seems as if he has been mistreated, the signs are over his face. Peeta goes on and implies that Katniss had been planning to sabotage the Hunger Games, and is working with the rebels all along. Surrender, and lay down your arms, he urges the people to take notice at the injustices Katniss has caused.
Rant: The trilogy is set, the characters are all there, we know who the protagonist are, and the antagonists, alike, but do we really? The film has to many themes, and the unique thing about this part is the way it's delivered on film. Slow movement, but compelling at most, this film has underline meaning, what i mean is simply, big government will become the big antagonist, a picture we see as the Capital. The theme has the government controlling it's people, the pure power and destruction coming from the governmental control is depicted well in the MockingJay. The President executing some rebels to prove a point, is mastered in the story, almost to well, a hardcore scene, when the rebels are executed.
The actors did there job, the gut wrenching scene with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) singing, and the rebels giving their lives for a cause, really killed me inside. The overwhelming feeling of desperation, was felt inside my stomach. Remember when the hospital was being bombarded by the enemy aircraft, that particular part where she recognizes the Capital's plan, she then takes down a craft, although by then it's to late, the camera team record her saying, "I have a message for President Snow: You can torture or bomb us, blast our district to the grounds. But do you see that? Fire is Catching..If we burn, you burn with us!," Katniss Everdeen.
Another great scene is when she is given her attire by Effie (Elizabeth Banks), the clothing, and many different arrows designed by Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) are done well, with taste, love how they explain the survival, how they got to 13, what was the motivation behind everything. Not all of the characters were explained, but there was enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. The presence this film gives is amazing, very little action, but the story is driving the film,not the other way around. The special effects, and
everything else the background, the stories backbone, it helps you stand and walk but, not 100% control.
The film ideas come from the novelist, Suzanne Collins, although i have not read her books, she is established, and judging by the films content, a wonderful writer. That being said, i would think the film did well, even if it is the slowest of the three, it collected a whopping 708,703,873 world wide, so numbers don't lie, this film did well, in fact it was just right so they two parts, the first half is the introduction of new characters, and build up, and then comes the end which is part 2. I have to say the build up leading to this moment is not only done well, you want more of it. The powerful moments in the film leading to the ending is done beautifully, there comes a time when you have to just except that this is a good trilogy, it delivers on all , levels, this film will probably end up as a classic.
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