THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 – Francis Lawrence

It’s Thanksgiving this week, and you know what that means? Yes, Turkey, but it’s also the start of the holiday season blockbusters at the box office, with some of the best films of the year we will see right into the beginning of 2015.

We kick this season off with the third installment of one of the biggest franchised films since the Harry Potter Series and Twilight. I’m referring to the mega-hit, The hunger games. Based on the bestseller books by Suzanne Collins, this latest sequel, The hunger games: Mockingjay, is the third in the series, but not the last. The film is split into two parts, with the second half coming to theaters in November 2015. However, until then, here is my review of, The hunger games: Mockingjay part 1.

The hunger games: Mockingjay part 1 takes places right after the events of The hunger games: catching fire. Our returning young hero, Katniss Everdeen, (Jennifer Lawrence), is cut, bruised, and feels emotionally damaged from the events of the Quarter Quell, (the games in the last film). After destroying the games, Katniss is transported to a medical recovery center which is based well below the surface of District 13. It’s there she’s told that her home, District 12, has been completely destroyed by President Snow, (Donald Sutherland), because of her actions in the last games, and as a repercussion for the rebellion that is brewing in the other Districts. Riots and strikes are breaking out everywhere thanks to her heroism.

When President Coin, (Julianne Moore), asks Katniss to be the symbol for the rebellion, (a Mockingjay), Katniss flat out refuses because of Peeta, (Josh Hutchenson), being left behind in the last games along with several others. Katniss is taken to District 12 to witness the devastation to her former home, and its people. This is too much for her, and she decides to join in fighting back against the ruin and loss of life caused by President Snow.

Katniss agrees to help President Coin, and Plutarch, (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), but only if her demands are met. She insists that any remaining survivors from the last games who were captured be rescued from the Capitol. Meeting her demands, Katniss becomes their ,”Mockingjay”, and so begins the rescue for her friends. A rescue team including Gale, (Liam Hemsworth), Victor Beetee, Finnick Odair, and several others, set out to bring them back.

While this is happening, Katniss becomes the official, “Mockingjay” for Panuem. To find out how the first half of this third installment of, The hunger games: Mockingjay part 1, continues, you need to head to your local theater.

So, after you have your fill of a wonderful Thanksgiving feast, why not treat the entire family to a great way to end this weeks Thanksgiving holiday, I guarantee you won’t want to miss the excitement of this third film,The hunger games: Mockingjay part 1.

So far I have enjoyed The hunger games series of books brought to life on the big screen. I find them entertaining, exciting, and well done. But lately one of the new trends in the film industry is to split one book into a double film adaptation, as they did with the last Harry Potter installment, and this film as well. This allows the film to keep closer to the story, however it makes the wait for the viewer a bit anxious at times. This is one thing I personally find annoying.

The film did have a few slower moments, but overall, it was everything I expected. The acting was still spot on, and the more, “exciting/action-packed”, scenes were fun to watch. All the actors from the previous films are back: Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and others. I know Part 2 will be that larger than life finale to this franchise, and I look forward to it next November.