Photo Credit: Meghan O'Shaughnessy[/caption]The latest installment of the Hunger Games franchise roared into theaters November 21, leaving audiences stunned and on the edge of their seats. Mockingjay - Part 1, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, continues Katniss’s story as she becomes the face of the District’s revolution against the Capitol. With an impressive opening weekend of $123 million, Mockingjay has left an impact on cinemas as the film franchise’s rabid fanbase devours this newest installment.
“I thought that Mockingjay portrayed the book fairly well,” said OHS junior Grace Brehler, adding that the film “stuck with the book’s plot for the most part, just like they did with the other movies.” Critics have generally approved of the film, which currently holds a certified Fresh rating on the popular movie review site Rotten Tomatoes. USA Today critic Claudia Puig called the film “the best Games yet,” praising Lawrence in particular for adding “greater depth and emotional layers” to her portrayal of Katniss. However, some critics have lamented the lack of action in the film, as opposed to the nail-biting thrills the previous films in the franchise had created. Critics and fans alike have also disagreed with the decision to split the Mockingjay adaptation into two films, a popular trend many young adult book-to-movie adaptations have followed in recent years.
Mockingjay is an emotional ride that will capture audiences completely, from the first scene to the final, shocking conclusion.The ever-brilliant cast, including star Lawrence and co-stars Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as Katniss’s dueling love interests Peeta and Gale, shines as desperate revolutionaries, with Hutcherson’s Peeta delivering a gut-wrenching performance sure to stick in the minds of audiences for weeks to come. Fan favorites Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson also delivered as Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy, lightening the film’s depressing tone with needed comic relief, and Sam Claflin played the tragic Finnick Odair with deft skill, complimenting Katniss as she slowly loses herself in the face of the revolution.
Fans of Suzanne Collins' original book will not be disappointed. Mockingjay - Part 1 sticks closely to the original plotline, changing very few details and leaving the plotlines essentially alone- which ultimately serves the movie well. One scene in particular will delight fans, as Lawrence's rendition of Katniss’s revolutionary song "Hanging Tree" cuts over an unforgettable scene of rebellion.
Dramatic, emotional, and smartly political, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is an impressive installment into the Hunger Games franchise. Although the split into two movies seems slightly unnecessary, the terrifying cliffhanger that concludes the film will leave audiences breathless, waiting and ready for next year’s conclusion.
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