A Good Setup for the Finale

Rating: 5/10 (28 November 2014)

My first reaction to Mockingjay Part 1: wow, this is going to be long.
My second: wow, this is good.
Those two thoughts pretty much sum up my experience viewing Mockingjay Part 1. I really didn't care for Mockingjay the book as much as the first two parts of The Hunger Games trilogy, so when I heard it was being split into two parts, I knew this was a good possibility. Taking the same cast and crew as Catching Fire plus a few additions was a good idea, but making Mockingjay into two movies made me think of other young adult series that have suffered the same fate and not turned out as well as they could have if it was one film.
That being said, Mockingjay Part 1 gets off to a good start for this two-part epic, mostly because of the script. The pace is a little deliberate, and there's not much action; however, the film turns into a war film shortly after it opens and begins poking fun (in a completely legitimate satire kind of way) at propaganda films. This makes it the darkest of The Hunger Games movies yet, which suited me quite nicely. This being the first of the series without the actual Hunger Games, it felt like a natural step forward for the franchise, and I quite enjoyed its highly political themes. Many times, Mockingjay Part 1 feels more like a political exploration of war and its logistics rather than a battlefield epic, making it quite interesting and thought-provoking. I am fairly confident in saying that Part 2 will have far more of the battlefield epic fans expect and less of this "boring logistical stuff"; however, Part 1 works very well as a setup for an action- packed conclusion.
Speaking of being dark, Mockingjay Part 1's aesthetic is very dim. Most of the film is set in the tunnels and underground chambers of District 13 or takes place at night. I personally felt that District 13 was a more than adequate adaptation of Collins's world from the book that also blended in with Panem as we are familiar with it in the films. The outlandish costuming and extravagant makeup is gone; however, this is the way it is supposed to be, so I didn't mind it one bit.
The acting in Mockingjay Part 1 is solid to say the least. Jennifer Lawrence once again commands the film in her role of Katniss; however, she and Donald Sutherland as President Snow are the only characters who actually remain static from Catching Fire to this film. Josh Hutcherson's Peeta is very different (sorry, no spoilers), Woody Harrelson's Haymitch is sober for the first time since his youth, Elizabeth Banks's Effie Trinket is deprived of her Capitol fashion, and Philip Seymour Hoffman's Plutarch is less double-crossing and more commanding. Liam Hemsworth also gives one of the better performances of his career as Gale due to his increased role. The various newcomers from District 13 perform admirably as well, especially Julianne Moore as President Coin. However, I sometimes feel that Haymitch and Katniss are not given enough moments to shine in Mockingjay Part 1, making this film not quite as enjoyable as it could have been.
The direction of Mockingjay Part 1 is very similar to Catching Fire, mostly due to the retention of the latter's director, Francis Lawrence. The cinematography brings a little of the first film's shaky camera-work, but it's just the right amount, making the film feel a little more raw and personal. While I didn't think I would like this, it was done in a very tasteful manner. The pace feels a little off sometimes, especially in the beginning; however, as a rule, this is a well-directed film that sets up its sequel well.
Overall, Mockingjay Part 1 is a good film. It's not a drastic improvement on its source material (and definitely not its predecessor Catching Fire), but it does what any first-half movie is supposed to do in setting up the ending. Fans of the Hunger Games franchise should like it; however, those unfamiliar should at least view the previous two films before seeing this one. It does feel a little long at times; however, Mockingjay Part 1 is a delightful political war film that beautifully sets up the finale to the Hunger Games saga.