By Gabriella Rodriguez | Staff Writer
A tale of revolution and tyranny, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” is the third of what will be four installments in the dystopian film series. “Part 1” is a stunning adaptation of the first half of the third novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins. Returning to their roles are Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, while Julianne Moore and Natalie Dormer join the cast for the first time.
Directed by Francis Lawrence—known for notable films such as “I Am Legend” and “Water for Elephants”—the film follows the story of a young woman named Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) who has become the face of the revolt against oppressive President Snow (Donald Sutherland) who rules over Panem. Following the events of “Catching Fire”, Katniss finds herself in the rebellious District 13, a place most presumed to have been destroyed nearly a century ago. She and her newfound allies, led by President Coin (Julianne Moore), must keep the spark of the revolution going and rescue Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), who has been taken captive by President Snow in the Capitol.
Released on November 21, 2014, the film has since grossed $504.8 million worldwide. During its opening weekend, “Mockingjay, Part 1” raked in $273.8 million, making it the sixteenth largest opening of all time—surpassing both “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire”.
“Mockingjay, Part 1” lives up to the success of its predecessors. It is an artfully done film, featuring beautiful cinematography and intense action. Countless scenes are so emotionally charged and suspenseful that they will send chills down your spine, notably the scenes which depict the citizens of Panem revolting against their tyrannical government. Every aspect of the film is beautiful and breathtaking, including its soundtrack.
If I were to offer criticism of this fantastic film it would be that the first half is much less action-packed than the second, though this does not detract from its overall quality. Most of the film builds up towards a conflict we will see more of in “Mockingjay, Part 2,” next year, which has drawn criticism from some viewers. Although it is understandably aggravating to wait a full year before the conclusion is released, splitting the final Hunger Games novel into two parts is ultimately beneficial. The quality of both films will be increased, as they will stay true to the book and more fully explore all elements of the story. I believe that, though “Part 1” was excellent, we have much to look forward to in “Mockingjay, Part 2”, which will surely surpass the first three films of the Hunger Games franchise.
