The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One

This review may contain spoilers!

This was a lot of set up for not much action, but still a really great film in the quadrilogy. I would give The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One a 7/10.

This film had a brilliant ending; it was really climatic and I think it jolted me right back into the Hunger Games vibe. I was a huge fan of the music in this film; I really think that was such an important thing as many of the scenes I remember vividly in the film I attribute to the music. The cinematography in this film was also really cool, it certainly warranted it's blockbuster standing. The special effects (while minimal) were also great to see in the film.

Jennifer Lawrence, who played Katniss Everdeen, continues to excel in a leading role; she captures the reluctant hero but also the fire of a revolutionary. Josh Hutcherson, who played Peeta Mellark, didn't have heaps of screen time but completely nailed the tortured portrayal of Peeta that the film demanded. Woody Harrelson, who played Haymitch Abernathy, really owned the scenes he was in; frankly he picked up the entire film for a bit. Donald Sutherland, who played President Snow, is really phenomenal as the main antagonist of the franchise; he captures the character perfectly. Willow Shields, who played Primrose Everdeen, is a brilliant child actress; who plays innocent and supportive sister well. Sam Claflin, who played Finnick Odair, brings a whole new portrayal of the character to this film; he really isn't himself anymore and it all builds to one of the best speeches in the film. Elizabeth Banks, who played Effie Trinket, was a welcome return; she made the character of Effie bigger and more invigorating than anything the books even remotely referenced.

However it was the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who played Plutarch Heavensbee, that really owned this film. He was incredibly comedic, so much so that he outshined Banks and Harrelson in that regard. But he also had his character nailed in all the minute details; every little moment on screen he was in role completely and you could see and feel that.

What I really disliked about Mockingjay Part One was that it dragged on; the first two thirds of the film had awful pacing and was very slow.

Liam Hemsworth, who played Gale Hawthorne, does not suit being a major character; I actually miss him acting in a supporting role because he was so awful as a lead. Julianne Moore, who played President Alma Coin, gave a very tiring performance; she lacked emotion and power in her portrayal. Mahershala Ali, who played Boggs, really did not have a lot of depth as a character; he just became another background actor. Jeffrey Wright, who played Beetee, was really not all that interesting in this film; his character dropped away from the major role he had in the previous film. Stanley Tucci, who played Caesar Flickerman, was wasted in his role; he should not have been brought back as his screen time was nearly non-existent. Natalie Dormer, who played Cressida, gave nothing to the film; her dialogue was minimal and her portrayal of her character reflected this.