The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

In my younger days i always looked up to female actors like Sigourney Weaver. Powerful women on the cinema screen was important for many reasons. Mostly because so many male actors got more attention than female actors. Sigourney changed that in my world, showing that women can be just as tough as men, and have big balls, just like Efva Attling .If there is one female actor i really like, considering how great she is at making characters in her own way, it is Jennifer Lawrence. Ever since i saw her in Winter's Bone, i could tell that she is a damn good actor. She proved herself once again in Silver Linings Playbook, where she really proved that she can do a very complicated character. If you ask young people, most of them will most likely say they know Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games. The movie adoption, based on the novel of Suzanne Collins.  The novel were sold in millions of copies,  so there was no surprise that Hollywood decided to make movie adoptions, based on the novels. I remember being skeptical about these movie adoptions, considering how much i hated Twilight. Luckily the 2 first films turned out to be a nice surprise.  Nothing unique, but from an entertainment perspective the formula worked out just fine. The story of a young woman trying to survive, and learn to face her biggest fears, turned out to be a great role model for young women. So here we are with the final film of The Hunger Games,  split into 2 parts. Since the first 2 films were good,  is this first part of the final film a worthy ending or is this just a sequel made to make fans buy tickets?

Katniss Everdeen ( Jennifer Lawrence ), Beetee ( Jeffrey Wright ) and Finnick Odair ( Sam Claflin ) were all rescued from the destroyed arena of the 75th Hunger Games. They are all taken to District 13, where Katniss is reunited with her mother Mrs.  Everdeen ( Paula Malcomson , and her sister Primrose Everdeen ( Willow Shields ). As Katniss is recovering, she is introduced to President Alma Coin ( Julianne Moore ), the rebell leader. Alma explain to Katniss that her actions in the arena, caused riots against the Capital. Katniss is offered to become the " Mockingjay ", the symbol of the rebellion.  Katniss decline,  because she reminds the people that they left her lover Peeta Mellark  ( Josh Hutcherson ) alone at District 12. Plutarch Heavensbee ( Philip Seymour Hoffman ) suggest that Katniss should travel to District 12 and see what is left since the destruction. Katniss finds out that the Capital use Peeta to try and quell the rebellions. Katniss change her mind and agree to become the Mockingjay. When she also finds out Peeta is kidnapped, she prepare herself to battle against the Capital.

I enjoyed the two first Hunger Games films, especially for the perfomance of lead actor Jennifer Lawrence.  Unfortunately, Mockingjay Part 1 is the worst of the films so far. And there is a reason why i found myself feeling dissapointed. The story is so drawn out that i could not stay awake at certain moments. I dont see any problem with the actors, but this is simply a very boring sequel, split up into 2 parts ( just like the last Harry Potter film ). I dont mind that Mockingjay was split into 2 films, but this first part does not deliver on the same level as the previous films.  This is not Jennifer Lawrence fault, she is still really good as Katniss Everdeen,  but she cant save the flaws that director Francis Lawrence have layed out on the table. He directed Catching Fire,  so you would expect him to give us something special. Philip Seymour Hoffman did one of his last perfomances in this film, and as always he knows how to make a great perfomance. There are no surprises here, that never happens,  instead it feels like this first part is just a sequel without the same passion as the earlier films. Maybe Mockingjay Part 2 will deliver much more,  we will have to see. I am dissapointed, Mockingjay Part 1 should not have been made like this. With so few action scenes and too much talking,  this is not what i expected. I still have hope for Mockingjay Part 2,  lets just hope the final chapter give us a worthy ending.

Rating: DD