'The Hunger Games' franchise is by most means a sensible one.
Two successful films have proven that a well-balanced approach to the book-to-film adaptation process combined with smart casting and high end production value pays off handsomely. It’s worked for many other big ticket items, and with most people agreeing that 'Catching Fire' improved upon its predecessor, we could expect to see continued success in the series’ last chapter, 'Mockingjay'. Of course, that’s not the film’s full title, nor is it the last chapter. But we’ll come back to that.
Using the full title, 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1' resumes almost exactly were the previous instalment left off, with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) swept up in the early stages of an uprising she inadvertently started in the Quarter Quell events of Catching Fire. The oppressed districts have finally had enough of sending bright young souls off to slaughter in the barbaric Hunger Games ritual, and have begun to stand up to the opulent President Snow (Donald Sutherland). Riots have broken out, with rebels fighting back against the Capitol’s stormtroope- sorry, against the foreboding men clad in white plastic armour who follow orders blindly and can’t shoot straight to save their lives. Don’t know how I got those two confused.
Katniss is tasked by rebel leader Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) to rise up as a symbol and inspire the suffering people of Panem, but she is torn between her new role as celebrity heroine and her concerns for family and friends, most notably captured lover Peeta Melark (Josh Hutchinson), whose parents are hopefully deceased for spelling his name like that.
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Quality acting is well and truly present, with Woody Harrelson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, 'Game of Thrones’' Natalie Dormer and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman all playing their roles comfortably. Lawrence struggles with her evolving character at times, but only when forced to try and sell the ‘I know the world needs saving but I like two boys so here’s a tantrum’ elements of the plot. This is where the film’s weakness lies – in its stretched out story.
I'm sure there’s plenty of faux reasons that 'Mockingjay' was split into two parts. But let’s be brutally honest for a minute – this was about the payday. Suzanne Collins’ novel checks in at 390 pages, which means you’re getting roughly 195 pages worth of material in this first serving. That kind of math leads to unfortunate scenarios of creative licensing and conversion of the book’s source material. What am I talking about? Roughly five to ten percent of this film’s storyline is driven by a cat.
This isn't a major issue, of course. 'The Hunger Games' franchise will no doubt continue to do well, and 'Mockingjay – Part 1' will do swimmingly at the box office. And that’s a fair outcome, because this is a good movie with great production values and more of director Francis Lawrence’s captivating moments. But ultimately, this path will lead to audiences paying twice for two good films, instead of paying once for what could've been one excellent conclusion. And call me a three-finger saluting radical, but that kind of mercenary approach hits a little close to home in this arena.
3.5/5
'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1' is in cinemas now.
This review first appeared on This Is Film.
