The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014) User Reviews

Why is this in two parts?

[Vartiainen · 6/10 · 31 January 2015]

The Hunger Games story continues with the third installation, Mockingjay. And it's about as padded and needlessly long as every other two-parter we've had since the studio executives came up with this money-grabbing monstrosity of an idea.

Not to say you shouldn't see this one if you've liked the previous Hunger Games films. This continues the story just fine. Jennifer Lawrence still shines as Katniss Everdeen. Her presence and talent hold us through even through scenes you instantly recognize as needless padding and waste of our money. The returning cast is also as talented as they've always been and most of the new characters are also casted without hitches. Julianne Moore is perhaps a bit too... Julianne Moore to play President Coin 100 percent convincingly, but she has certain presence as well, that cannot be denied.

What bugs me is the story. The book itself was the weakest of the trilogy, though not by much, and it seems that its faults bleed into the film. Especially because the iron tight pace of the previous installations is thrown straight out of the window and we spent most of our time building up atmosphere. And building. And building. And... You get the point. There's very little bang for your buck here and even when something substantial happens, it simply lacks that edge.

Plus, they had the perfect closing scene, and for some reason they decided to keep going for about five minutes. Trust me, you know where they should have ended it when you've seen the movie.

This is a good movie. It still looks great, the main actors are brilliant and it has enough depth to impress through its story alone. I just wish they had had the integrity to go with one movie. It very well might have been the best Hunger Games movie of the three. It would have had two movies before it to build up momentum and steam. Instead it lifts up the pedal from the gas and decides to stroll over the finish line. Poor form, extremely poor form.

My least favourite installment.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 15 November 2023]

Having put an end to The Hunger Games forever, President Alma Coin uses Katniss as a beacon for hope. A reluctant Katniss has only one thing on her mind, to save Peeta.

I have to be honest, I have always struggled with this movie, it isn't bad, I just wish they could have got the story done in one go, I like the second part, I find this first half too fleshed out, it lacks any real content. It does get going, but later on, it's all build up for the second.

The visuals are great, there are plenty of action sequences and explosions, and of course sets and costumes look great. Lawrence is very good once again, but the script doesn't offer her the range that Catching Fire did.

Julianne Moore was excellent as President Coin I thought, very strong performance.

I did enjoy that scene where Peeta turned, having been absent for most of the movie, it was good to see him put to good use.

I liked that there was a message at the end for Philip Seymour Hoffman, RIP.

6/10.

Dull as dull can be

[memefactory · 6/10 · 21 December 2014]

Like watching paint dry. Boring to a mind-numbing degree. How many times can we see Katniss be horrified and/or emotionally distraught? Maybe the filmmakers thought they were adding depth to their characters. Well, they were wrong. Instead we, the audience, sit through one scene after another in which really nothing happens at all. This whole thing could have easily been compressed down to 40 minutes and then we could have had the rest of the book as the rest of the film. This felt very much like they were stretching it out so they could make two movies - which is the new thing to do in Hollywood with these franchises. Not good storytelling.

Sadly, this doesn't feel like a complete film at all - but it offers a surprisingly realistic portrayal of a totalitarian society on the brink of an all-out civil war

[gogoschka-1 · 28 May 2016]

It appears I'm in a minority here, because I actually liked 'Mockingjay: Part 1'. Now bear with me for a moment before you rip this review to shreds and please at least hear (or read) me out.

I do absolutely acknowledge that unlike the two previous films, 'Mockingjay: Part 1' doesn't feel like a complete film; it is practically all build-up and doesn't have a proper ending, and I agree that splitting the last book into two films was an inherently stupid, purely greed-driven decision by the studio. Also, due to that idiotic split of the last chapter, the film is largely deprived of the action/adventure elements that so many fans loved in the first two films, which must be especially disappointing to non-book-readers who didn't expect such a drastic change in tone. But if we ignore its most obvious flaws for a moment, the film has actually quite a few things going for it.

For instance, it offers a surprisingly realistic portrayal of a totalitarian society on the brink of an all-out civil war, and unlike other Hollywood adaptations of such tales, it dares to put the emphasis on the human drama instead of the special effects. And it remains faithful to the book: it would have been fairly easy to invent a couple of heroic battle scenes to amp up the spectacle (Hollywood is notorious for such disregard of source material - and such disregard for the fans), and I must say I appreciated the film precisely because of its NOT solely action-driven narrative.

But the most impressive aspect about 'Mockingjay: Part 1' is how layered it actually is. This is not the good-against-evil story of the first two films anymore: this is a really smart study on how propaganda works and how one fascist system is about to be replaced - albeit with the best intentions - by another. This kind of moral ambiguity (and again: faithfulness to the novel) is not what we usually get in blockbusters aimed at teenagers, and for that alone the film deserves some credit.

Also, what the film does masterfully, is showing how Katniss transforms upon the devastating realization that she has helped - or has been instrumentalised - to set a process in motion that she can neither stop nor control, a process which has already led to a terrible loss of human life for which she now feels responsible. She is torn apart by inner conflict because her hate for Snow and everything he stands for is bigger than ever - yet at same time, it begins to dawn on her that the leaders of the rebellion employ methods which don't seem to be all that different. The lines between what is morally acceptable and what is not start to blur. A very wise person once said: "War makes fascists of us all" - I believe 'Mockingjay: Part 1' does an excellent job at getting that point across.

Unlike in most popcorn movies, there are no mere black and white characters here (well, except maybe for Snow); instead, we get a story that - for once - hasn't been dumbed down and functions as a sincere exploration of an escalating civil war that threatens to consume everyone. And unlike most YA adaptations, the film doesn't shy away from showing what that means: the audience is left in no doubt about the human toll this revolution will take in the end.

Maybe the current situation in countries like Syria after the initially peaceful revolution that was the Arab Spring made this film resonate more with me than it should have, but I was surprised at how un- Hollywood-like this was done. And I can't stress this enough: Jennifer Lawrence MAKES this film; the whole franchise, really. The emotional intensity she brings to Katniss feels so real; it's the kind of performance that, in this kind of film, sadly often gets overlooked, but I sincerely doubt a better Katniss could ever have been found.

So my final verdict on the film: 'Mockingjay: Part 1' offers intelligent entertainment that doesn't solely rely on special effects and one mindless action scene after another. It's a fitting continuation of Katniss' journey, but - and that is the one serious downside to this film - it doesn't lead that journey to its logical conclusion. That the studio wants you to pay once more to see how the journey ends may be understandable from a financial standpoint, but it is a major flaw in the storytelling of an otherwise very good film. Likewise, the final chapter in the series (Mockingjay: Part 2) will likely suffer from having to do without all the dramatic build-up that Part 1 offers.

Still, there is a lot to like in this film and it is far from the boring mess so many reviews made it out to be: 7 stars out of 10.

Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/

Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/

Sprint to a dull crawl

[vistheindian · 6/10 · 23 November 2014]

Quickie Review:

After the events of 75th Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is rescued and brought to District 13 where the rebellion is brewing. Now she must become the face of the rebellion as both sides use propaganda against each other. Meanwhile, Katniss is overwhelmed by balancing her responsibility to the people of Panem with her desire to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Mockingjay Part 1 is strong when it comes to the acting talent involved and showing the behinds the scenes propaganda of war. However, the decision to split the story into two parts has really hurt this movie by making it feel incomplete and filled with overstretched melodrama. While it is not a complete failure, it may be better to hold off watching this movie till Part 2 is released.

Full Review:

I never read the books but I enjoyed the last two movies in the franchise, especially Catching Fire. While I can't say I was aching to go see Mockingjay Part 1, I was interested to know how the story progressed after the cliff-hanger of the last movie. I was concerned that splitting the story into two parts may have been a detrimental choice, unfortunately my concerns were legitimate.

I know I'm coming off really negative but there are definitely some gems in the movie. Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss and Donald Sutherland as President Snow, were the best part of the movie. Watching them clash and play strategic moves against each other was intriguing. The rest of the cast do a good job in showing how they have been affected and changed by this war. This is the first time we see the world outside of the actual Hunger Games and District 12, which helped enrich this movie's universe. Uniquely we get see how propaganda plays an important role in the war. I can't remember the last war movie that delved into that aspect. On top of that, these propaganda pieces were very moving thanks to the rage fueled words of Katniss and the fear mongering of Snow.

A lot of the problems for this movie stem from the fact we are spending 2hrs on half a story. This led to us having an entire movie where Katniss keeps crying and moping about either Peeta or the people of District 12 being dead. The feeling that the movie is overstretched is only compounded by how several scenes are just a rehash of a previous scene, for example the recording of a propaganda (3 times) and multiple scenes per character sulking about the people suffering. Look I'm not heartless, I understand those are devastating things to happen to a person, but we want to see the story move forward. I can honestly say that apart from Katniss becoming the face of the rebellion, there is no significant plot development since Catching Fire. There is all this slow build up but that's all it is, a build up to an end that is unsatisfying. Essentially this is a 2hr preview ad for Mockingjay Part 2, and quite frankly I felt mad about this when I left the cinema, and that doesn't happen often.

The pathetic cash-grab moves by studios to split the movie into two parts is the root of all the problems for Mockingjay Part 1. To fill the run time the movie is stuffed full with melodrama without much weight to make you care for long. All the momentum that the previous two movies had built has now come to a dull crawl. I'd recommend skipping this movie till Part 2 is released and hopefully enjoy a more complete story.

Check out more on my movie review blog The Stub Collector: http://thestubcollector.wordpress.com/

A realistic drama in dystopia

[DLSchindler · 7/10 · 17 December 2015]

This is not the mediocre first two movies that were a fun-filled joy ride in the spirit of Running Man, Battle Royale or Blood of Heroes. This is a realistic version instead, with a character-motive driven plot. Unlike the first two films this one actually matters. I hope the creators of this film are proud of their accomplishment. Instead of a cheesy thrill ride we have been introduced to the realities of war and rebellion and we were given good acting, good screen writing and characters we can identify with and care about. After watching hundreds of movies in the post apocalyptic genre this one stands out as significantly better than the others, especially the first two films. Thank you for making the Hunger Games series into something meaningful.

Please stop comparing these films to Battle Royale!

[jimscant6901 · 7/10 · 20 March 2015]

They're totally different in mood, feelings, and content. Hunger Games gets to see a female lead and one who doesn't have to use sex or promiscuity to be powerful! That alone makes this book/film franchise a winner in America. People, please remember that most stories are merely adaptations of other stories told before, just like with Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, etc. There have simply been too many creators writing for too many years for anything to be truly fresh and original anymore. Almost every story you read or film you watch is lifted from a story told before (think about Disney-Almost none of their films are original, yet everyone loves them!). So while you're bashing all of the Rip-Off artists, like Suzanne Collins, just think about how many of your favorite books or films may have been stolen from someone else's idea, perhaps even hundreds of years ago.

A Two Hour Preview of What to Expect in the Final Movie.

[prospectus_capricornium · 6/10 · 19 November 2014]

You may want to save your money and time seeing this movie and wait for the last installment to come out next year, instead. Aside from Jennifer Lawrence, this movie offers nothing more than just a long and tiring tale of preparation for an impending rebellion.

Readers shouldn't get surprised: Mockingjay's first half chronicles District 13's efforts to groom Katniss as their heroine against the ruthless ruling Capitol. The process of transforming her into what they call the 'Mockingjay', a symbol of revolution, is engaging enough to ignite interest, but only up to a point, when long speeches and depictions of what the Hunger Games' downfall has caused, have almost become the only few things eating up the biggest slice of the movie's airtime pie. There is nothing much to see here, and while its refreshing to finally see the landscapes to have finally shifted away from the arenas, lack of action eventually makes the scenes that are almost only showing the events in the confinements, hard to appreciate, not to mention difficult to extract sense from.

Fortunately, it has Jennifer Lawrence, and that alone, is enough to pull the entire movie away whenever it leans toward making the audience fall to sleep. Jennifer's charm proves to be the biggest asset of this movie, and she alone, singularly saves the film from being a total nonsense. Toward the end, it isn't clear whether the makers of the film have made their point (aside from making more money of course) in splitting the book into two movies. This first half only presents a preview of what to happen next in the other half, only stretched into two hours of tiring sameness and boring exchanges of bland dialogues. The new characters are interesting yeah, but I'm not sure if anyone of them has offered something more than Lawrence, to spark further interest. Well, at least we can take comfort from the fact that the last movie next year will certainly offer a lot more, gripping action and drama, and that's really something to look forward to.

Mockingjay Pt.1 falls below the heights reached by the previous two films. Minus Lawrence, this film is a real bore, and its hard to seek something more than her to recommend. I give this film 6 of my 10 stars.

CHARLIE WHITE

[sofusenpetersen · 10/10 · 7 November 2020]

I love this movie, especially the part with Charlie White. He moves this film from an alright b-film to a masterpice. Imagine this movie without him

Satisfyingly Surprising!

[aceofspades96 · 6/10 · 21 November 2014]

First off I'd like to say that I have long been a fan of the hunger games books. I have read all three of them, and after reading this book, I despised it! The book just didn't have a satisfying plot for me and no real suspense. But enough about book reviews, this is a movie review. I mention my disgust for the book because I went into the theater ready to hate the movie. I thought it was going to be the same plot with the same old characters, and I was going to be disappointed plus out 18 dollars for paying for my other critiquing buddy.

I am glad to say that I was wrong! Wow! I'm not going to lie, but this movie blew me away! Usually books based off of the movie have a lot of details left out of the final product. I guess you can say that the book is always better than the movie. This movie disproves that rule! There is actually more detail and more feelings in this movie than what was in the book.

Now obviously they can't keep every detail the same as the book, but they did a great job compensating for what they couldn't do, for they could do. In the book you are just thrown into district 12 ruins and you don't have a clue why Katniss is even there in the first place. In this movie, she wakes up in the hospital and is suffering from her recurrent nightmares again. She hasn't seen the ruins of district 12 or doesn't have any idea how many people died. This gives her the fuel to become the mocking jay for the rebellion. In the book she just does because she wants to get peeta back. Jennifer Lawrence does a stupendous job of giving the feeling of being petrified when she sees the ruins in district 12. You feel the exact way Katniss would if you saw what she saw!

For the first time ever, the writers are giving the people who actually read the books a treat when they watch this movie. The first being something small, but still satisfying. The cat! You never really get the vibe of how much she hates that Cat in the previous two movies. In the book she hates the cat to death and she wanted it to die. Half of the audience laughed when they saw the cat, and half didn't. The second treat you get from the producers is the hanging tree song. In the movie it is just a song that she sang from the top of her head and all the districts sang it but not the capital. In the book, it goes so much further than that. People who don't read the book don't know that her father was a great singer and that her dad would sing that song to her. The song gave you chills when you heard it and it made you honk so harshly about her dad.

The movie does a great job with staying true to the book while adding adjustments to make the story better. The book is from Katniss' perspective making what happens in the other districts unknown unless she is told. There is a lot of boring talking that happens in the book before any real action goes on because of this. This goes for the rebellion at the dam, the forest, or even the tribute rescue mission. Katniss simply doesn't know what goes on. The producers got to cheat with this and show you what really happens alleviating a lot of the boring filler pain from the book. There was true suspense and even boom readers didn't know what was going to happen at times!

This isn't something that I can really use to promote seeing this movie, but I will say that my perception and image in my mind was damn near identical to what the film crew put together. I was amazed on how the hospital looked! I figured it was like they were taking my mind and putting it on screen!

I will say that they fell short on making peeta look different after every time you see him on TV. Katniss kept saying his voice sounded different and that he looked different, and she was worried what they were doing to him. He didn't look any different. And I didn't see why she was flipping out.

This is either Juliane Moore's fault or the directors fault, but the character of Coin was not the same as it was supposed to be. Coin is more sinister, and not fully understood in the book, while in the movie, she is very well respected and she's kind of a badass! You can't help but like her. I don't want to like her because of what she does to.... I guess I'll save that :)

The movie does a great job of creating this feeling of helplessness and suspense. The best example is when the capital bombs district 13. You panic just as much as the citizens do when you see the citizens, and when the shot changes to Coin, you are pretty much begging them to do something about it. You feel so helpless when they realize that all they can do is wait it out.

Overall I give it a 9/10 for how good a movie this is! The acting was great, the cgi was great, the the music was great, and it's loyalty to the boom was great! I take one star off to the mess up with the makeup on peeta, and the wrong portrayal of Coin. Other than that this is by far the best hunger games movie to date, and I would recommend this movie to anyone!

A Lackluster Follow-up to a Promising Franchise

[xx-slay-n-xx · 5/10 · 13 May 2020]

If Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2012) was an archetypal example of how to one-up an original movie and create an enthralling and captivating movie franchise, Mockingjay Part 1 is the all too typical way of crushing that excitement. What was shaping up to be a memorable franchise that would become logged in the public discourse and be mentioned in the same breath as Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia was unceremoniously extinguished by a completely lackluster third installment. Disappointing in many regards, it lacked so many of the things that made the first and, especially, the second movie so fun to watch. Whatever momentum the series had before this was lost in something that was simply a mediocre sequel.

What made Catching Fire so good? It was the intense and unique action in The Games that never let you relax for a moment. It was the reliance on heavy hitting talent in Jennifer Lawrence, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Donald Sutherland. It was the beautiful imagery of The Capital and the contrast to the bleak existence in the cities. It was the sense of fulfillment in seeing an oppressed society rise up against its oppressors. Most of this was lost, or at least made bland and boring in Mockingjay Part 1.

One of the most unfortunate critiques in this movie compared to the last is the fact that it is entirely generic and forgettable. It feels like you could plug this movie into almost any science fiction fight-against-the-man type of film series. Was this The Hunger Games or was it Maze Runner? Or was it Divergence? One could imagine a nearly identical course of events in almost any anti-establishment narrative. Clearly, the story couldn't just repeat the Hunger Games for a third time or it would become stale, but these are not the only things that make the world unique. You have the exorbitant extravagance of The Capital Citizens. There is the uniqueness of each of the 12 districts and how they interact with each other. There are the Gamemakers and their sleuthy, creative killing methods. All these things and more were forgotten in place of a plug-and-play rebel alliance story.

Another disappointment was the onscreen chemistry of the actors and the lack of use of some amazing actors. In Catching Fire, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and Finnick (Sam Claflin) play a strong supporting role to Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), who puts in a masterful performance in being a broken, scared girl to growing up and accepting the challenge and becoming the heroic figure. Plutarch (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) is an enigmatic wildcard with a sly smile who keeps us guessing. In Mockingjay Part 1, Lawrence gets very little time to shine. The intense action scenes which she does so well are few and far between. Hutcherson is rarely in scenes and when he is, his acting abilities are subdued. Hoffman is made to take a backseat as only a mere pawn in the grand scheme of things. And unfortunately, Julianne Moore (who plays President Alma Coin) put in a less than inspiring performance as the aspiring leader of a rebellious uprising.

Catching Fire gave us a sense of purpose as audience members, when we could cheer for the gradual uprising in the districts mirrored by Katniss' success in The Games, both her physical defeats of Capital sympathizing stand-ins from the first districts, and her emotional grapplings with killing and its repercussions. Once we are introduced to District 13 and the underground rebellious movement, headed by Alma Coin, it seems to lose its luster. This is no longer Poncho Villa versus the oligarchical dictatorship, it's the Allies versus the Axis, a feeling of an even playing field. Gone is that feeling of an underdog that's building up to something special, led by an unexpected hero. Instead we jump-cut to the point where the Districts have an established military system and a next-in-line dictator who doesn't seem to care much about her people. It's a fight without a face and heel, just machine against machine.

There is something that feels artificial about Katniss and her Mockingjay persona in this film. The film itself is almost a meta-critique of this. The Mockingjay is quite literally an artificial construct used by District 13 to inspire the rebellion. Katniss, however, wants to be genuine and passionate in the propaganda videos and has the opportunity to make grand speeches in the face of real crisis. However, even these moments of supposed truthfulness feel like a reenactment. This whole idea of having film cameras follow around Katniss, and especially the propaganda films they make, feel like something from a cheesy satirical comedy. It recalls images of "I'm doing my part!" from Starship Troopers (1997). Starships Troopers has the benefit of not taking itself too seriously, being purposefully lighthearted in contrast to the dark reality. Mockingjay Part 1, on the other hand, attempts to be only darkness, a bleak reality of war. Scenes with that comedic spin feels forced and out of place rather than tension breaking.

In the end, what we all wanted this movie to be, and what the studio needed it to be, was a setup to the inevitable conflict and resolution in the final movie that we all already knew was coming. The audience should be on the edge of their seat in anticipation for the finale after watching this film. However, that feeling is not something I expect many people would be left with. Having split the final book into two parts, the film is left with many voids of space compared to the first two films which were so jam packed with action and plot progression it almost felt rushed. It is a slog to get through this, and the final film can only hope to compensate in some ways.

Writing this review a few years after the movie was released, and looking back on it in retrospect, it seems unfortunate that the series has exited public consciousness for the most part. You never see Hunger Games themed toys at the store, and people don't usually bring it up in conversation. This pales in comparison to the extreme hype when the first film was released. Perhaps this is the natural progression of things, that a series should run its course and have its day in the sun. Not everything can last like certain stories. It is just disappointing to know that something that started with so much promise will end with a whimper and not a bang.

Mockingjay would've been a rushed mess as one movie

[PyroSikTh · 8/10 · 22 November 2014]

When it was first announced that Mockingjay was going to be split into two movies, I gawked. It's one book. How can there possibly be enough to fill two movies? It didn't help that my sister also found it weird, having read the book. She couldn't see any obvious place for the split. Despite what feels like everyone else on the internet is saying, I actually support the split now. Mockingjay marks a massive tonal shift in the franchise, so it would have been a bit jarring introducing this tonal shift for the final movie, leaving you no time to settle into the new status quo left from Catching Fire. The biggest reason for my support though is how rushed everything would have been. When a book is adapted into a movie, there are certain time constraints to be taken into account. That inevitably means things are cut, which leaves many fans unhappy with the final product. With Mockingjay they decided to give it time to flesh out the characters; give everyone a bit of limelight, expand on various elements in the book, and just generally make sure it doesn't frenetically jump from scene to scene or cut out important plot points. Having now scene Mockingjay Part 1, I can't imagine it being compressed into half the running time without sacrificing the emotional resonance or rushing through everything. The emotional resonance is the big selling point of Mockingjay. For some it might be seen as boring, drawn-out melodrama, but for me it made Mockingjay a darker, more harrowing movie than the previous two, which says a lot about a franchise hinging on a fight-to-the-death between children in order to keep the tyrannical dictatorship in place. Katniss has lost her district, lost Peeta, and now lives in hiding with a group of rebels intent on overthrowing the Capitol. To not dwell on how that affects her and the people around her would have been a massive misstep. The franchise needed to slow down and focus on the characters. To say it's only half a movie is misinformation as well. It feels like a complete movie, at least more complete than Catching Fire ever did. As I mentioned, Peeta is kept prisoner by the Capitol, and he's being used as a propaganda weapon in response to Katniss' propaganda by the rebels. The whole plot of the movie is about this cat and mouse of propaganda as the two opposing sides try to get an upper hand on the people of Panem. The big final climax feels like the big final climax of a story, bringing this cat and mouse to an end. It's final moments are a resolution to the beginning and middle, and in that respect it absolutely has all three acts. Of course it has a cliffhanger moment right before the credits to segue into the next movie, but so did Catching Fire (and Desolation of Smaug, and Fast & Furious 6, and every Marvel movie etc. etc.) Everything else ticks all the right boxes as well; the acting is top-notch, especially from Jennifer Lawrence and Philip Seymour Hoffman (with a little memoriam for him in the credits). The visuals are on the nail. District 12 is now depicted in ruins, the CGI of the various ships and futuristic cityscape of the Capitol is flawless. There was also some fantastic use of CGI on Josh Hutcherson to make him look progressively thinner and beaten up as the movie goes along, showing the torture he must have been enduring. The musical score is fantastic, with the Mockingjay theme coming well and truly into it's element, as well as a fully fledged song that brings the rebellion to full strength in the propaganda war. Mockingjay proves that milking extra movies out of a franchise doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing (looking at you, Desolation of Smaug). It slows the franchise down and gives you time to breathe before the big conclusion next year, injecting plenty of heartfelt emotion to the whole situation, fleshing out the world, developing the characters etc. However it's not without it's higher-octane moments. There's a number of action scenes despite it's calmer narrative, which expand what was in the book to blistering effect (the fantastically suspenseful climax is apparently just a few lines in the book, largely glossed over). It's tense, unpredictable, emotional, yet has it's light-hearted moments. I give Mockingjay Part 1 a very good 8/10. It's made me very excited for next year when I can marathon the whole franchise in one go.

Solid Film Given The Content Of The Book

[lindsey_n · 7/10 · 20 November 2014]

If you have read the books, you may agree with me that Mockingjay was by far the weakest of the trilogy. The first half (or maybe even more) was painfully dull for me to read.. it wasn't until it got to the finale at the end the book picked up. This being said, I think they did a good job with the movie considering this. Yes, the movie lacks the excitement of the games that the other two had. If you had read the books you would know to expect a more political film than action-packed. I felt they played up the events in the first part of the book enough to keep the movie from being boring but it didn't feel over the top all the same. The cast delivered great performances. Jennifer Lawrence was amazing and Hemsworth proved himself with the larger role he played in this movie. Julianne Moore was a great addition as Coin (and my god she's beautiful!). Philip was incredible and it warmed my heart to see his smile on the theatre screen. The dedication at the end of the film to Philip made me very happy and sad all at the same time. I say go see Mockingjay. It may not be on par with Catching Fire but it sets the tone for a very promising part 2. The end with the return of Peeta was exciting and although it was the predictable place to end the film, it helped to preview just some of the intensity the 2nd part of the movie will have.

Very Slow Pace; Almost 2 Hours of Melodrama with No Payoff

[coatic · 3/10 · 20 November 2014]

Let me first note that I am an avid movie-goer, but not a reader of the books. I did, however, watch the first two Hunger Games movies and was pleasantly surprised by them. They kept my attention, with plot and performances intriguing and action-packed enough to get from one scene to the next without a dull moment.

This latest installment is the exact opposite. The movie opens with some melodramatic scenes where Katniss (JLaw) suffers from previous trauma, then scene after scene just keeps rehashing the same weepy look on her face partnered with some sentimental background music. "Remember how President Snow tried to kill everyone in our district? Sniff." followed by "How could he do this again in this district? Sniff." then "Why is he doing this to my friends? Sniff." over and over until the end. Imagine that for 2 hours. That is essentially this movie.

Other scenes later on are just variations of the same - different scenery (a town in ruins, a mountain lake, a bomb shelter), different characters to ruminate with (the old flame Gale, old allies like Finnick and new ones like the District 13 folks, the sister Prim) - but they essentially are the same scene. I really wanted to tell the director the whole time: "Ok I get it, they are all angry and hurt. Now what? Please advance the story." I understand this treatment is beneficial at the start to provide some exposition on how the characters are brewing in their discontent and how it all boils over later on, but that's also what the first two movies already established. To fill 2 hours of the supposedly climactic final chapter with further exposition is just too much, perhaps unless you truly are a solid fan and have the patience to wait it out.

There was one final part in this movie that was intended to be a climax of sorts before the cliffhanger. It's the only scene that promises some sort of cathartic, action-packed sequence, but they skip the meat and flash-forward until after the event concludes.

There were, however, some good scenes of rebels rousing here and there that were quite entertaining even if they were also just more exposition fodder. At least they reminded me to wake up from time to time.

I think this is the unfortunate fault of the cash-grab strategy of trying to split the last book into two parts. The movie just feels so out of place with regards to momentum, which was a very positive thing going for the storyline in the first two movies. Even though Catching Fire was essentially just going back to the Hunger Games, it still felt fast and different enough to keep me tuned in. This movie managed to rehash itself endlessly and leave me feeling like nothing of gravity happened after my viewing experience... and it tried so hard to make me care via the melodrama, yet I am left unsold.

Boring but not bad

[DansLeNoir · 3 July 2018]

In general, the drama part of the story is the movie. It is off by the action. Again new characters were included. The film is not able to spend permanent staff. The song "The Hanging Tree" was very beautiful. Also the sarcastic bird melody is already perfect. It was a troubled film that could have been nice.

Decent but it needed to be completed.

[Bruce722 · 7/10 · 30 November 2014]

While still a good movie, Mockingjay Part 1 was clearly only a portion of a story and the actual film suffered for it. Everything about the movie was done really well. The special effects and action sequences were top notch and the continually increased budget is evident here especially. The acting was fantastic and the setting was detailed and felt incredibly real. Even all of the little emotional elements delivered perfectly. The real problem is that, as I previously mentioned, it's only half of a story. The movie builds to something that never really occurs and the void in action will be even more obvious when the extreme action in the next film comes to fruition. Yes, I understand that the Lord of the Rings films do something similar. The difference is that those films manage to build towards their individual climax without actually failing to develop the overall story arc. I think Francis Lawrence tried to accomplish that with this film but the source material wasn't made for that to be done, where as the Lord of the Rings movies were. Mockingjay Part 1 is still a good film and ultimately will be incredibly important in setting the stage for what should be the best film of the franchise but it is still incomplete.

Transition Episode

[charliep14 · 7/10 · 23 November 2014]

This episode serves to move the story along - and does it well. It is served by a great cast : we're happy to see the now familiar faces and some new characters are introduced with good casting. The high point of the movie is the usage of propaganda from both sides of the conflict - this will what one will remember from this installment of the series While it is a good episode for the Hunger Games saga, it is not as exciting as the first two - the action that gripped us is simply not there. Also, definitely do not start Hunger Games with this movie; I imagine it would be virtually impossible to enjoy if you don't know the characters and context. Not a disappointment but definitely can't wait to have a stronger episode next!

broader, nuanced but a bit long

[Garcwrites · 7/10 · 21 November 2014]

There are layers upon layers on every aspect of the movie. I'm not just talking about the photography but also with the performances. Katniss Everdeen becomes the mockingjay in the film. It's slow but Jennifer Lawrence conveyed Katniss' growing confidence with a touching sensitivity. She brought a real nuance and depth. Jennifer could play the role in her sleep, and sometime it felt like she was, the performance was not flawless but it was very good. President Alma Coin and Katniss' relationship is interesting, and in each scene they have together you easily read what's going on. Julianne Moore brought to the silver screen the strength, in Alma Coin, that transpired from the books and gave a memorable performance. Finally Katniss and Gale's relationship is developed in this one. They've drawn on the rich history between the two and explored how it evolved. They understood each other but now Katniss went through two games and things have changed. The change in their relationship started in the second movie but now it's full on. Katniss and Gale are both adjusting to district 13 but also to each other. It is different from the books though, because I did not have the impression that Gale stood a chance of being with Katniss in that film but it is just the first part of the movie so maybe it will be more obvious later. In my opinion they shouldn't, they were right to down play it, the movie is a lot better that way.

Liam Hemsworth did an amazing job with Gale, maybe a better job than what we've seen in the other movies. You can see how he evolved, how Gale is ready to fight and is completely invested in the rebellion with any means necessary. We see more of him, him without Katniss, the wedge between them is subtle but there. We also get to see more of Primrose (Willow Shields) and like Katniss she's coming into her inner "warrior. There's very little room for her to grow in this movie, which is sad because giving what's to happen we should have seen more of her, so we get to really connect with her as a character and not connect with her through Katniss. Turns out Peeta (Josh hutcherson) is more present in this movie that I would have imagined and even when he's not on screen there are reminders of him. For once I am completely sold with Josh Hutcherson's performance he really went for it in this movie. I can't wait to see what's to come. Adding Effie (Elizabeth Banks) in district thirteen was an interested bit of the movie. She's out of her element but she kept her individuality. It's obvious in her clothes. Effie added a little bit of sass, shallowness, and obviously fashion to district 13. I just loved how she looked at Coin, when they first meet, it's a priceless moment. Effie added the sass, Haymitch came with the comedy, the film was starting to get heavy before he came in. Woody Harrelson brought a lightness and grounded the movie. The writers have even thrown in a spark between him and someone else. Among the new addition in this movie, the capitol rebels bring an interesting point of view of the Capitol. They're showing another side of the capitol residents because they are not, in their behavior, like what we've seen before. They might be a little eccentric but they're much more down to earth. District 13 is a character of its own it was much more about the entity than the people in it. The cafeteria looks like a prison, well the whole place looks like a prison, which is maybe one of the boring elements of the movie. The district 13 inhabitants are one of the oddest additions in the movie, so far they're extras, really angry extras, for the story purposes it was smart but for people who have always lived underground I did not expect any of them to be so angry. I mean they had to live through some pretty hard stuff, epidemics and living underground for 75 years old. But they did not have to send their kids sent to the reaping and the the Hunger Games, they were not particularly starving so those angry extras kind threw me off a bit. Why are they angry? because they were prison clothes and basically live in a dictatorship? They are very much on the opposite end compared to what we've seen of the Capitol but the people already feel like they're the same. They are ordered but also warriors. There's a ruthlessness about them that makes them as dangerous as the Capitol people are, maybe even more so. Unlike the Capitol residents, people in district 13 know what they're doing but they feel righteous about it whereas in the capitol it was entertainment. I am really excited to see more of that in Part 2. The Katniss-Snow relationship is interesting. The story created this relationship between them that oozes respect. Sutherland clearly infused a form of admiration for Katniss in his portrayal of President Snow. They're playing, mind games, a game of chess, where the more experience player may have found a worthy adversary. The little details added the final touch to the movie, like Snow's granddaughter undoing her Katniss-like braid, it helped set the tone Sutherland's on screen presence brought. Effie's chipped nail polish showing how D13 was different from the Capitol and countless other small details that brought this movie together. The film is really about a fracture, how the games and the blooming rebellion impacted the different relationships and how it's affecting the new ones. Francis Lawrence showed once again that he can direct a smart action-pack movie. It took the story to new heights, the stakes are high and Lawrence put the bar a little higher with this movie. He grounded the movie, broadened the scope and made this crazy world resonate with people. tweet @wornoutspines

'Mokingjay Part 1' Continues The Good Fight

[callumnmacleod · 7/10 · 23 November 2014]

If you were a Hunger Games fan already, then you will continue to be one after watching 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1'. Jennifer Lawrence is yet again a fantastic Katniss Everdeen, supported by a great cast which includes the late Philip Seymour Hoffman - who adds humour to an otherwise dark outing.

The story continues the build up/formation of a rebellion against the Capital and President Snow, who captured Peta and the other surviving tribunes and destroyed District 12 at the end of 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'.

Katniss is reluctant at first to be the face of the rebellion but quickly changes tune when she sees what remains of District 12. Mt favourite part of the film is the message Katniss sends to Snow: "If we burn, you burn with us". However becoming the Mockingjay does not come without it's back-lash, as the Capital resort to drugging and using Peta as a weapon against Katniss - which also produces another great quote, this time from Snow: "it's the things we love the most that destroy us". My favourite scenes in each film comes in the form of the back and forth between Katniss Everdeen and President Snow.

Just like 'Catching Fire', the film is left on a cliff-hanger with the captured tribunes free and with Peta restrained in what appears to be a psych ward. I for one can't wait to see how this whole thing ends! (I've avoided reading the books to keep myself in the dark).

"Are you are you coming to the tree..."

[katarinamandic3 · 8/10 · 26 November 2014]

Despite negative reviews from some fans and critics, I found this movie one of the best movies I've watched this year, and so far the best part of this trilogy. It is the part with most action and it made me even emotional (which didn't happen with "Hunger games" or "Catching fire") because it reminded me on current situation in the world and how it could end. I liked the fact that Katniss and members of other districts stood up against Snow and his Peacekeepers, although some people died for it which shows that they've had enough of Capitol's torture. I must admit I haven't read the book so I'm not sure if dividing movie in two parts was good idea, but it seems that if they made Mockingjay like one movie, it would be all messed up, so I think this was maybe even good idea.

I don't know why are everyone being so critical about J.Law, but I think her performance was stunning. She's the same age as I am and it's hard to believe that at the age of 24 she can be that great actress and that she can merge with her character so deep. I truly admire her. Part where she sang "The Hanging tree" song was amazing, and when rebels started also singing it before they attacked dam gave me chills. I can't wait for the 2nd part next year!

Greed Hollywood

[tinovalkki · 6/10 · 22 November 2014]

The Huger Games has clearly grown up in Mockingjay. Social criticism is much stronger than previous movies. Films theme is much more brooding and ominous than before. But that doesn't save this picture totally. Dividing the movie in two parts is clearly a huge mistake. Many scene are way too long and some of them are clearly just vain. Topmost feeling is just making more money. It would be much better to make only one movie instead of two. One three hour long movie is much easier to keep together, than two over length movies. It is clearly Hollywood's greed to capitalize on movie (and book) series fans. How many times more the audience will accept that? Jennifer Lawrece is great at her role as Katniss, but somehow Josh Hutcherson as Peeta's role as brainwashed puppet doesn't convince. There is a lot of good elements in this movie so it is a shame that Hollywood want just get few more money from the fans. Mockingjay part 1 is despite that quite eligible movie that end up in green money making. Good movie ends up to mediocre action flick and that is shame.

Is there such thing as a set-up movie?

[jmacdavidson · 4/10 · 21 November 2014]

I had never heard the term "set-up movie" before today. There has definitely been a trend of splitting up a story into multiple movies. These movies don't have a beginning-middle-end the same way other movies do but at the very least there's some progress.

The problem with the Mockingjay Pt 1 is not that it's boring or poorly made. In fact, there is a lot of excitement in this movie. The problem is that from beginning to end there is hardly anything that changes. If you look at where the characters are in the beginning and where they are in the end there isn't much that's changed except for what happens in the very end. Katniss has been doing things but we haven't seen much of the effects of her actions.

I didn't dislike this movie that much despite it's slow beginning. I just can't give this my seal of approval when I left the theater feeling like I saw half a movie. By the time the story gets its payoff my memory of this movie will be worn-off.

Love it!

[kelthietruong · 10/10 · 24 November 2014]

I wasn't that excited for Mockingjay at first, with all of the new movies-from-books coming out. Also, it didn't sound that great, since it was only HALF of the third movie. But, once I watched it, I was all in. Nearly everything from the book was actually in the movie so far, and the acting was incredible. The movie seemed quite long though, but it's not like I ever wanted it to end. The movie had a lot of exciting action, even though the games did not take place in this movie. I was so happy seeing the characters that I had imagined in my head come to life in this movie. I can't wait for part two! *I want to say though, that someone had a seizure in the theater because of a scene with bright flashing lights, so be very careful, please!*

Isn't as fulfilling or exciting as the first or second entries

[ersinkdotcom · 7/10 · 25 November 2014]

Although it's been done before several times now, I can only imagine how hard it must be to decide exactly where to split a book in half to make it two or more movies. Most novels have a beginning, middle, climax, and an end. What can a filmmaker do to leave audiences feeling satisfied when there's no big payoff or conclusion to what they're taking in? Here is where the problem lies for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1."

Katniss has brought down the Hunger Games. President Snow and his forces look to stomp out a revolution that could end his reign. Katniss reluctantly accepts her place as the symbol of freedom for the band of rebels quickly rising in each District. She must also find a way to save Peeta from certain doom as he's been captured and is being held in the Capital.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" feels exactly like what it is. It's half a book and movie that leaves you starved for more. Many will say that's exactly what it is and I understand that. However, I've seen several other franchises do the exact same thing and it felt way more satisfying. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and "Twilight: Breaking Dawn" immediately come to mind.

Jennifer Lawrence is definitely one of the "It" actors of the moment. I must say I was surprised at her performance in many of the more emotionally charged scenes in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1." It was as if she was having difficulties connecting with the character of Katniss Everdeen when it came to her crying or showing anxiety over the events she's dealt with. It was as if she couldn't find that place within her that helps to muster the tears or empathy it takes to appear convincingly tormented.

As the series moves forward towards its epic finale, I'm impressed with how they expand on social issues we're dealing with in real life. The one that stood out to me in "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" was Finnick's revelation that the President uses the attractive tributes as sex slaves to serve his political purposes. Sex trafficking and slavery is something that's happening today in our own backyards and not many people know how serious or prevalent it is.

With the continuing success of each film before it, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" ups the ante when it comes to special effects and visual splendor. The CGI and what appear to be location shots are fabulous and lend an air of authenticity to the movie. Whether filmmakers shot more in actual settings or just utilized improved computer animation, the outcome is a grander piece of art.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic material. It's no more graphic than either of the previous films when it comes to battles. There are scenes of charred and burned bodies twisted in the ruins of District 12 which many might find uncomfortable. The only other warning I would give concerns Finnick exposing the President for using him as a sex slave.

If you go into "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" knowing it isn't as fulfilling or exciting as the first or second entries in the franchise you'll be alright. Entering the theater with the expectation that you're watching the first half of a movie which will provide no sort of closure or satisfaction is your best bet. Maybe it does exactly what Lionsgate and Director Frances Lawrence wants it to do. It leaves you frustrated and wanting the rest of the meal immediately.

Too Long and Disappointing

[claudio_carvalho · 5/10 · 7 March 2015]

After the bombing of District 13, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) finally accepts the request of President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and her adviser Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and becomes the symbol of the rebellion, the Mockingjay. However, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the Capitol broadcasts a message of Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) live contradicting Katniss. She believes that his life is in danger and convinces President Coin to rescue Peeta and the others Victors. But she has a surprise with his reaction.

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1" is a disappointing movie too long for a short story with a lead character hysterical and too sentimental. In the other two movies, the plot was tense and full of action. Katniss is irritating with her reactions and despite the destruction of the Districts by Snow's army, her major concern is with Peeta. Prim's attitude leaving the bunker to save her cat is ridiculous and why Peeta's broadcasting is live is hard to understand. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Jogos Vorazes: A Esperança - Parte 1" ("Hunger Games: The Hope - Part 1")