Moving, dark, morose and fantastic story telling

Rating: 9/10 (24 November 2014)

I have been truly taken by surprise with The Hunger Games movie series. When the first one came out I knew nothing about it except that the books were quite popular. Needless to say my first viewing of the first one I enjoyed it a lot but also was disturbed that it was considered a story for young adults. Now skip ahead and I loved Catching Fire and for me Mockingjay part 1 is every bit as good as Catching Fire in its own ways. It may not have the action that made the first 2 such good movies but where it lacks in action it makes up for with excellent acting and a compelling story. The war is beginning and the finale looks to be glorious. This is a dark and morose movie. You wont find hardly any smiles and very few laughs but thats not a bad thing.
We are being thrust into a world where the Government is corrupt and a civil war is brewing, it would seem odd if it wasn't occasionally if not mostly depressing. But its not the kind of depressing that is going to make you leave the theater sad, no its going to make you leave the theater hungry for more. I care so much for these characters that I am finding myself heavily invested in their struggle. Katniss is in a dark place in this movie as she finds herself the reluctant symbol of the rebellion against the Capital. Its odd that after all she's done she doesn't realize her importance or at least doesn't seem to want the importance. She's the reluctant hero and Im starting to get a martyr vibe. It was a treat once again to see Phillip Seymore Hoffman grace the screen in what is his last fully completed movie. He filmed all but one scene for the second part. Julianne Moore joins the cast as the leader of the rebellion, President Coin and she is a welcome treat. It's nice this franchise was able to lock in such powerhouse actors, just shows that they believe in the material.
This movie isn't going to satisfy action junkies and some may feel that overall not much happens to move the story forward but I believe there is enough going on here to keep you entertained from start to finish. I didn't want it to end and am not looking forward to the long months of counting the days until I get to see the finale to this brilliant series.