How Not To Split a Book into Two

Rating: 7/10 (6 April 2015)

I am very disappointed in 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1'. So angry, frustrated and furious that in fact I wanted to forget I had ever taken the time to see it. Which is why this review is four months late. I've always considered myself an avid fan of the series and I still do. When I saw the first film I felt the need to read all of the books. Then came the film adaptation of 'Catching Fire'. I loved it and will continue to watch it throughout the rest of my life. But I remained split in two about whether I would like 'Mockingjay' in the weeks leading up to its release. Francis Lawrence directed the previous instalment, but I do not consider myself to be a fan of the last book. Would splitting it in half detract its flaws or add to them. Unfortunately, it piles them on and there was me thinking the book had its fair share of problems, wait until you see the film.
This time around Katniss Everdeen having survived two rounds of the fatal Hunger Games is to lead a revolution. The Capitol and President Snow have Peeta and Johanna captive and are seemingly brainwashing Peeta for their cause. However, things are going to be anything but easy, except easy money for Hollywood that is. Katniss initially refuses to join the Rebel's cause and become the Mockingjay. A decision the President of District 13, Alma Coin takes with anger. Coin is portrayed by Julianne Moore who gives a worthwhile performance. She shares plenty of screen time with Plutarch Heavensbee played (in one of his last roles) by Philip Seymour Hoffman. The two provide perhaps the only bearable element of 'Mockingjay', believable and interesting performances from the both of them.
Eventually, Katniss leads a rescue mission to bring back the captives and take revenge on the Capitol; except the last part does not even happen. Instead Francis Lawrence gives us the cinematic equivalent to watching grass grow. For all of its 123 minutes, make no mistake, this Hunger Games is one dull, dreary dragged out affair. With no real beginning, middle and end. It feels like a botched job. We watch and wait restless in our seats with bated breath, waiting for something, anything in fact of consequence to happen. All this build up and nothing. No tension, no real drama and no emotional heft or pay off. I would rather fight to the death in the arena than watch Part 1 again.
The problem does not squarely rest on the Director's shoulders though. The writing, cinematography, music, most of the acting and the plot all contribute to give audiences one of the worst major releases from Hollywood in 2014. Save for 'Transformers: Age of Extinction'.
'Mockingjay' is written in such a way that it drags out scenes for far too long just to pass the two hour mark. There is a scene, I am not kidding that lasts for a good minute or more, where Katniss inexplicably shines a torch at a cat and watches as it tries to attack it. She laughs. We don't. Hollywood does. This is clearly for the cutting room floor and any great Director would know this. Lawrence does not have a clue. Even the cinematography is as bland as they come. The whole film is bathed in shades of grey and any colour is washed out in favour of murky blues and dull blacks. It is a very depressing experience to watch 'Mockingjay'. Especially when you realise that Katniss only fires one arrow, which is the films only legitimate action.
James Newton Howard phones it in using his music cues from the previous instalments, he should think of himself as a disgrace. Sadly, Jennifer Lawrence is no good moping, crying and whinging; wherever the old Lawrence is I want her back now! To cap it all off, the film could have been finished in twenty minutes. I am worn out now and I know you don't need me to tell you to avoid this film and to not be fooled by cynical marketing strategies from Hollywood and its hack Directors.
In 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' Francis Lawrence provides the fans with everything that they do not want; a disengaging story, mainly awful performances, dreary cinematography, repetitive music and plodding directing. It is in my eyes time for a revolution against bad film making and bloated runtimes. I have a message for Francis Lawrence if you direct another film we will boycott it.