NEW MOVIE: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay--Part 1

Ever since the Harry Potter film adaptations showed what a blockbuster gold mine young adult literature can be, it seems as if they've been coming at us non-stop. Some have fared better than others; the Potter and Twilight adaptations are among the top grossing franchises of all time, joining the ranks of Star Wars and James Bond. Others have been forgotten like chaff in the wind, such as The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, or failed to surpass mediocrity, like Divergent. However, with the past two installments, The Hunger Games film series is shaping up to be not only an adaptation on par with Potter, but also a film series demanding respect from the most avid film buffs.

Rated PG-13 (intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images and thematic material)

I have never sat down and watched the original film nor have I sat down and read the series despite the countless requests for me to--I make no guarantees on the latter. However, I saw Catching Fire, the previous adaptation, with a group of buddies and quite enjoyed what the franchise had to offer. Despite some uproars about the two-way split of the final chapter, Mockingjay--Part 1 does not disappoint in the least.

We're quickly caught up with what has happened since the final moments of the previous film, which ended on the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers, and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle, X-Men: Days of Future Past) is still in shock and mourning over the potential loss of her friend in the Quarter Quell. However, the government of the rebel community she and thousands others have taken residence in (Philip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore) hope to use her as a propaganda tool-- or rather, the Mockingjay-- to incite the fires of rebellion among the districts against the evil and autocratic Capitol, led by President Snow (played to villainous perfection by Donald Sutherland). And that's the film really. We see propaganda being made, and we see how evil the government is, while also growing to care for these characters, so that Part 2 makes a huge emotional impact.

Even though the film deals a lot on propaganda production, which many critics have called boring, lending to its 66% on Rotten Tomatoes, but through the propaganda we see Katniss's evolution from reluctant hero to angry revolutionary; it's absolutely invigorating. She questions the consequences of her actions: if I shoot this piece, who will it affect? who will die? what will happen? We see very quickly that while the Capitol plays along in the propaganda game, they mean serious business in some very shocking action scenes. As Katniss comes to realize the how appalling the Capitol is to its people, she cries in anger, "If we burn, you burn with us!" and gives us a very moving revolutionary movement in vein of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" from Les Miserables. The latter was easily the best scene in the entire picture, mixing James Newton Howard's subtle yet powerful musical capability, Jennifer Lawrence's skill as an actor, and director Francis Lawrence's solid direction and sense of buildup as we see the districts starting to feel the fires of revolution. If the song is not utilized at all in the final film, whether in promos or in the finished product, Lionsgate is doing themselves a huge disservice. That's not to say there's no action. There are scenes of explosive scale, but they feel a natural part of the film as they make us more emotionally involved. There's also a well-cut bin Laden-style raid that sets us up perfectly for the final chapter. Try calling that boring!

Despite the lessening of action since Catching Fire and the fact it's only half of a film (it is the first part, after all), the film keeps us occupied, ogling at the performances of this movie. I've never been the biggest Julianne Moore or Josh Hutcherson fan--I found her useless in the second Jurassic Park film and really annoying in Non-Stop, and Hutcherson's passable in everything else--but they were really, really good in this movie. Hutcherson disturbs us with his performance, as we fear for his safety and sanity--is he being controlled by the Capitol? Are Katniss's actions going to do well for him?--and Moore is subtle but grand as the president of the rebel movement. There is not one bad performance in the film (except maybe an extra on screen for 5 seconds playing with her hair at the most predictable moment, but what does that matter?). Lawrence and Hoffman also bring humor to their roles despite the somberness of their situation (war). Not to be forgotten are Woody Harrelson and Elizabeth Banks, who are pretty outstanding. If there's one reason to see the movie, it is because of the acting. I'm not saying an Oscar is coming their way, but I'm still in shock as to how good everyone was.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) witnesses the horror of the Capitol.

All in all, this is the best Hunger Games movie yet, heads and shoulders above its predecessor (why did we need monkeys?). There's very little to complain about, except that it ends abruptly. It's part of the poison of making a film two parts, but that's not to say it can't feel like a whole movie. The first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I felt, left us better satisfied and equally ready for the grand finale. Though let's be honest here: it doesn't matter. I give the film 4.5/5 Stars. I'm excited to see the final part, and I wouldn't complain about seeing this film again.

Have you seen the other films? What did you think? Do you plan on seeing this one? Whatever you have to say about me or the movies, comment below!