The Hunger Games Branches Into New Territory

Rating: 8/10 (14 December 2014)

In my review of "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire", I noted that the first sequel in the Hunger Games franchise was expansive rather than just a retelling of the first film in a new episode of the next year's Hunger Games event.
If "Catching Fire" was expansive in nature, "Mockingjay Part 1" is a full fledged disengagement from the theme of the original film. There is no new "Hunger Games" event, with the story instead focusing purely on developments that happen for Katniss, Peeta, and the variety of supporting characters that are now engaging in a rebellion against the Capitol City.
The good news is that while "Mockingjay Part 1" is very different in theme from its two predecessors, the movie never the less works in a way that is engaging and enjoyable, all while advancing the plot of the franchise well beyond what a more repetitive sequel would have done.
One thing that occurred to me while viewing this film (along with having watched "Catching Fire" again just before seeing it in the theater) is that the franchise itself can be interpreted as a robust criticism of fascism. The Capitol City is essentially a caricature of fascist ideology, and the rebellion against the Capitol can be read as a liberal (in the classic sense of the word) revolt against authoritarian ideology.
At any rate, regardless of what one makes of the political philosophy that undergirds "The Hunger Games" movies, "Mockingjay Part 1" is a great sequel in an expansive, visionary film franchise.
One word of caution, though: It was surprising and shocking to see Phillip Seymour- Hoffman on screen for the duration of the film, with his having died in early February of 2014. After reading up on this, it seems that Seymour-Hoffman must have filmed for "Mockingjay Part 2" before his death as well, and that film (which won't be released until November 2015) will be his last credited film. His performance was fine, but there was just something unnerving about seeing a dead man on screen for so long, particularly given the fact that the film came out nine months after his death.
Still, the movie was great--in my opinion, it was a step up from "Catching Fire", even if the original "Hunger Games" still stands out as the best film in the series. Thus my 8/10 stars.