The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Grading & Discussion

[Unicron]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Tsj_wTJkQ[/yt]

Sypnosis: After being rescued by District 13, long thought destroyed in the first revolt against the Capitol, Katniss has to make the choice of whether to become their Mockingjay - the figurehead and voice of open revolt. But the Capitol still has Peeta and several other tributes from the previous games, and is more than prepared to fight for control.

Personally, I enjoyed the first part. It's not perfect, and I agree with some of the criticisms that the film didn't really need to be split in two - that's more of following previous trends to make more money. On the flip side, I disagree with some of the reviews complaining that since there are no Games in Mockingjay, and what's seen here is more the opening moves of District 13's assault, the movie moves too slowly and doesn't have enough action. I think what's there works okay and I actually think the political aspects are a nice change of pace from the previous movies.

 

[Sakrysta]

I was engaged through the whole movie. I thought they did a good job of presenting the book. I would like to hear from someone who hasn't read the books. Is it as depressing and futile-feeling if you don't know what's coming in the second half?

 

[tomalak301]

While not as good as Hunger Games or Catching Fire i still loved this movie. Yeah it's set up but I suspect (while not having read the books) the next one will be worth it. Also, I've had the song that Jennifer Lawrence sings stuck in my head almost all day.

Speaking of Jennifer Lawrence, I love this Jennifer Lawrence, not the one who was in American Hustle. Katniss is a character we need more of, the strong willed but grounded character you can point to and say that yeah she is a hero. Jennifer Lawrence and Katniss is why I've really enjoyed these films and why Mockingjay was one of my most anticipated films this year. Also, I didn't realize she had a nice singing voice, but that scene was beautiful.

B

 

[Gaith]

I've seen the prior movies, haven't read the books. It kept my interest, and Lawrence and Hoffman and Harrelson were great as usual. I was a bit weirded out by Julianne Moore, though. Was she playing a totally uninspiring, weak-seeming leader on purpose? Because even in her strongest military decision-making moments, I only just barely bought her as any kind of leader. She overall seemed far too soft and soft-spoken.

Also, I've never really been comfortable with the sci-fi elements of the series. Do we really need all these futuristic hovercraft and holograms and stuff? Seems to me the world of Panem would be more believable and more sinister, albeit not as visually flashy, if technology had largely reverted to a 1950s level, with only a few digital cameras and TV production elements up to current standards. It's just hard to embrace this as a really plausible future whenever one of the genetically engineered creatures or holo-TVs show up.

On a similar note, District 13 just felt too pre-fab, too shiny. More grease and grit in the production design would have been welcome.

Lastly, I was surprised the movie didn't end with the colonel dude whacking Peeta on the head. The following scenes (you say he's been brainwashed? well, no shit, Phil; that, and Moore's speech) were completely unnecessary, though I admit that final shot with Katniss' reflection was pretty good.

So, it was fine. Katniss still seems a bit slow on the uptake, whereas Lyra Belacqua would be commanding a division and carrying out strikes by this point if she were around, even when she was only twelve. That said, I get that the idea is she's a more or less ordinary girl, albeit a great archer, thrust into all this.

B-

 

[knine]

The book should not have been split into two movies, but they did a heck of a better job keeping me interested through part 1 of this movie than part 1 of the last two Harry Potter movies did.

 

[Forbin]

I'm curious about these films, but I'm not sure if I should indulge. Are they strictly "young adult" stories? How would a 57-year-old sci fi fan, who's a big kid at heart, like them?

 

[Unicron]

While not as good as Hunger Games or Catching Fire i still loved this movie. Yeah it's set up but I suspect (while not having read the books) the next one will be worth it. Also, I've had the song that Jennifer Lawrence sings stuck in my head almost all day.

Speaking of Jennifer Lawrence, I love this Jennifer Lawrence, not the one who was in American Hustle. Katniss is a character we need more of, the strong willed but grounded character you can point to and say that yeah she is a hero. Jennifer Lawrence and Katniss is why I've really enjoyed these films and why Mockingjay was one of my most anticipated films this year. Also, I didn't realize she had a nice singing voice, but that scene was beautiful.

B

I forgot to mention Katniss' song which is great. Jennifer has a lot of talents. I think she did okay in American Hustle, but I agree with you that I think one of Jennifer's strengths is her ability to put a lot of emotion into her roles. Katniss at this point is a very tortured character in some ways, and I think Lawrence accomplishes that very well. It's also somewhat amusing that Katniss has so much difficulty trying to do a scripted propos, unlike her actress. I rather liked the discussion about how Katniss's potential as the Mockingjay works far better when she's left to her own devices.

Spoiler: Katniss' singing

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCzX_6kOgVY[/yt]


I thought I'd put this in code since the context of the song might be a bit spoilerish. Katniss sings this while the D13 crew is filming at one point, and it eventually segues into a rebel group in D5 destroying the dam and power plant there. Parts of that are shown in the trailer. The song is reused again on the end credits, after Lorde's "Yellow Flicker Beat."

I'm curious about these films, but I'm not sure if I should indulge. Are they strictly "young adult" stories? How would a 57-year-old sci fi fan, who's a big kid at heart, like them?

I'd say, for my part, they represent a level of grittiness and maturity that's above the film adaptations of, say the Divergent series. Mockingjay is in several respects darker than the previous films, and I think some of the deeper plot points would be less noticeable to children. But you might enjoy them Forbin.

 

[tomalak301]

The problem I had with Jennifer's performance in American Hustle was I thought she was high for most of the movie. Overall though I thought that whole movie was overrated so maybe that opinion is a little biased but it was my least favorite performance from her. One of these days I would like to see Winters Bone again, considered that was her first big role.

 

[Gaith]

I'm curious about these films, but I'm not sure if I should indulge. Are they strictly "young adult" stories? How would a 57-year-old sci fi fan, who's a big kid at heart, like them?

All the movies are more adult than Harry Potter or Star Wars, and at least as adult as the MCU films. The plots and themes are so dark and mean-spirited that the PG-13 tone and content level that works fine for those lighter-hearted series sometimes feels inadequate, as these movies could easily be R-rated, but if you're not completely opposed to a late-teens heroine, I don't see why your age alone should be a dealbreaker.

 

[Mr Light]

I thought the third movie was very good.

There were some structural problems inherent to the book though; Katniss literally stands in a room and watches the climax of the film happen; Haymitch has nothing to do; Peeta is only in a couple scenes.

But there were some extremely effective sequences. The bombing of D13 was very well done. The ending sequence where a hovership slips into the darkened Capitol, intercut with Katniss watching in the war room, intercut with Finnick's speech, was really well shot. Especially the shots of the soldiers rappelling down into the dark building. I also really liked the scene where Katniss is trying to act against the green screen and doing horribly, it broke the fourth wall in a great way. I liked all the scenes with Plutarch and Coin.

I read the books a few years ago and I remember the third one being my favorite because it was a civil war and not some silly gladiator games. I'm really looking forward to the last film.

As for where Hunger Games ranks, I'd say it's my favorite non-Harry Potter young adult series because it's legitimately about dictatorship and war and it gets very dark and bloody and doesn't pull it's punches.

 

[Forbin]

I'm curious about these films, but I'm not sure if I should indulge. Are they strictly "young adult" stories? How would a 57-year-old sci fi fan, who's a big kid at heart, like them?

All the movies are more adult than Harry Potter or Star Wars, and at least as adult as the MCU films. The plots and themes are so dark and mean-spirited that the PG-13 tone and content level that works fine for those lighter-hearted series sometimes feels inadequate, as these movies could easily be R-rated, but if you're not completely opposed to a late-teens heroine, I don't see why your age alone should be a dealbreaker.

Thanks. I think we'll do what we did with the Potter and Bourne films - wait till they're all out on BluRay, buy a boxed set, and watch one a week for our Sat night movie.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Pretty enjoyable but I don't have much more else to say. I haven't read the books, but like the previous two films, I could tell there were missing parts.

I half expected the film ending with Peeta strangling Katniss (before Brooks hit Peeta over the head). In a small way, I'm kind of disappointed it didn't despite how nihilistic of an ending it would've been.

I loved Katniss' song and agree that Jennifer Lawrence has a beautiful voice. However, I'm disappointed that the song isn't on the soundtrack. Does anyone know if it'll be released in some form?

 

[Mr Light]

Speaking of strangling, I thought it was really graphic and brutal that her eyes were completely bloodshot after that... you don't normally see that in a movie

 

[John Clark]

Pretty enjoyable but I don't have much more else to say. I haven't read the books, but like the previous two films, I could tell there were missing parts.

I half expected the film ending with Peeta strangling Katniss (before Brooks hit Peeta over the head). In a small way, I'm kind of disappointed it didn't despite how nihilistic of an ending it would've been.

I loved Katniss' song and agree that Jennifer Lawrence has a beautiful voice. However, I'm disappointed that the song isn't on the soundtrack. Does anyone know if it'll be released in some form?

Yeah, I was expecting it to flash up "To be continued" at that point.

I haven't seen the OST yet, but I'm surprised that the Katniss song isn't on either of them.

 

[Unicron]

I kind of felt that way with the theatrical version of Abraham's Daughter from the first film, which is significantly different (and better IMO) than the Arcade Fire version that was put on the Hunger Games soundtrack.

 

[Bisz]

The book should not have been split up, but that said Part 1 was still a decent movie, B-. What it really is is the first two hours of a four hour movie, accepting that and not having expectations of this being a self-contained movie are key to enjoying it.

 

[thumbtack]

What's going on in Hollywood that $123 million is a "stunning disappointment"?

I wonder now what Avengers 2 is projected to do and how "disappointing" its opening will be.

 

[Mr Light]

Basically, inflation and ticket prices are constantly rising, so if a sequel makes as much money as it's predecessor it's a disappointment. The expectation now is for every sequel to open higher since more people discover the original on home video and would then go to see the sequel in theater.

 

[Mr Light]

http://file.answcdn.com/answ-cld/im.../9c7f4687ee487dfb9557388629db7d5f0fe962ac.jpg

Finally, a map of Panem! I'm assuming this is official.
13 is New England. 12 is Virginia/Carolina. The Capitol is Cheyenne I assume.

 

[Sakrysta]

I went and saw the movie again last night, & now I kind of wish I hadn't. Not that it wasn't good, but I was really too tired to enjoy it. It was late, so the theater didn't have many people, and I ended up curling up in a ball over two seats with my coat for a pillow trying to find a comfortable position while not falling asleep. I wish I hadn't spent the $13.