The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

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When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 after District 12 is destroyed. She meets President Coin who convinces her to be the symbol of rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol.

I saw this movie today, and honestly, I’m very disappointed. There are two words I can use to describe this movie: cash grab. The filmmakers split Mockingjay into two movies just for the money, obviously, and this one just feels like a trailer for Part 2. Once again, Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as Katniss, and her emotion is so well-portrayed, but none of the other actors are so good. The movie is really short on action, and the plot isn’t so intriguing. Director Francis Lawrence, who directed the previous installment in the series, is back, but he doesn’t do an amazing job like in Catching Fire. He adds some shaky camera in part of the best action scene of the movie. It’s only for a minute, but it’s really disturbing, but not as bad as the shaky cam in the first Hunger Games. The movie itself is definitely better than the first film, but nowhere close or comparable to Catching Fire, which is still the best of the series. I wouldn’t say it’s the worst of the series, but it’s the weakest. The movie starts out as a really good film, but as it goes, it goes down from good to OK. I think the ending sucked, and unlike Catching Fire’s ending, it wasn’t a cliff-hanger, it was just a tease. Mockingjay would have been better off as one movie, if the filmmakers weren’t so greedy! I hope Part 2 will be much better, and make up for the disappointment of this one.

Overall, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is a big disappointment, that turns out to just be a cash grab, and isn’t as entertaining and rewarding as Catching Fire. In a way, it’s also weaker than the first one. It feels much more like a teaser than a movie. It’s enjoyable, but disappointing and definitely not a must-see.

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