For the Most Part - MockingJay Soars!

Rating: 9/10 (21 November 2014)

"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1" is third installment in the Hunger Games Movie Series, based on the popular young adult trilogy of novels. As per the title, the 3rd novel is being split into 2 movies, ala recent other young adult novel series last installment being split in two movies. As someone who has read the books, I felt there was more than enough material to justify two movies. The movie picks up where the last one – "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" left off, with protagonist Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence, living in District 13, after being liberated from the Arena by the Rebellion. District 13 President Alma Coin, played by Julianne Moore & former Game Head, revealed as a Rebel at the end of Catching Fire, Plutarch Heavensbee, played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman, want Katniss to literally be the MockingJay, the face of the revolution. Katniss is still mad over the failure to rescue Peeta, by Josh Hutcherson, from the Arena, but as one would expect, she eventually acquiesces with a couple of conditions. Jennifer Lawrence is once again outstanding as ever playing Katniss. In the last movie, Jena Malone was the scene stealer as Tribute Johann Mason. This movie it would be Natlie Dormer, as Cressida, the Director of filmed propaganda pieces, that Katniss has agreed films to help spur on the rebellion. In her fairly brief scenes, she portrays a power and confidence in her character. Elizabeth Banks, returning as Effie Trinkett is also a stand out, and Woody Harrelson, also returning as Haymitch Abernathy continue his great performance in the series. For the most part I liked it, particularly the mending of scenes in the book in one of the final sequences in the movie, which effectively build tension, and other variations of things in the book. My rating may go up on second viewing, for now - 3 ¼ stars out of 4.