Disc Reviews

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Review Review

• 10th Mar 2015

Katniss has finally broke free from the powers that be that would see her and selected others, fight to the death in the much maligned Hunger Games. But now as an outsider, an outlaw and a threat to the Capitol – she is now being used by a resistance front (lead by Julianne Moore) as a propaganda icon to help raise awareness and to actively work on breaking the efforts of President Snow (Donald Sutherland).

But living on the outside of the law comes with various setbacks, and not everyone is living in this supposed freedom.

This is the first of a two part story adapted from the third and final book of the series. It still runs at a two hour length, and despite having the second half of the story lopped off, there is plenty of character work for the actors to get their teeth into. The returning cast sell themselves well – although some parts are very much reduced (We hardly ever get to see Peeta) – but it is a very mature approach to the story, relying on the characters within. There is a desperate lack of action though which really sets it apart from the first two instalments of the franchise, and likely from the second part yet to be released. It is testament then to the actors on screen how well they hold our attention for what is essentially development and set up for the next film.

Mockingjay Part 1 may lack the power and impact we are likely to get from the final part of the franchise later this year, but it has decent dramatic threads that are building tension ready for that pay-off. It is a film lacking the whole of its parts, and is likely to be the least revisited among the films – but as far as all of the “Part 1” book splits we have seen on the big screen thus far – this one bests the rest.

Steven Hurst