THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 Review

*Goofy whistling noise*

THE HUNGER GAMES is truly an oddball film franchise: it's a YA adaptation series that I feel a large number of the moviegoing public aren't taking seriously. People lump them into the same category as TWILIGHT; that is, a terribly written mess adapted to film only to appear to the fangirls who will obsess over either "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" and all that nonsense, only with "Team Gale" and "Team Peeta". And while I think the Suzanne Collins-written book series is hit-or-miss at best, I feel that the film series has been, for the most part, quite good.

The first film, directed by Gary Ross, is the movie closest to the original source novel, and consequently, it is the one that most feels like a YA novel adaptation. It also doesn't help that it suffers from a flat visual look, shaky-cam in order to avoid graphically depicting onscreen child murder, a cast of interchangeable YA-type actors who come across more as high school bullies more than actual physical threats, and a fairly low budget that leads to some rather dodgy CGI. However, the sound structure of the first book also translates to the movie, and the strong themes and casting of Jennifer Lawrence together essentially keep the movie pretty good, despite those shaky surface elements.

For the sequel, CATCHING FIRE, Ross exited the director's chair, and his duties were taken over by Francis Lawrence, a director with more big-budget experience than Ross (albeit bad experience; suffice it to say that I am not a fan of I AM LEGEND), and he took the template that Ross laid out for him and bolstered it with a more colorful visual palette, a bigger budget (courtesy of the first film's gross) that allowed for better visuals and more coherent action sequences, and the same strong performances that drove the first (with delightfully villainous turns from Donald Sutherland and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman). It also felt far more adult, leaving the YA feel behind for a more sophisticated form of sci-fi action. You could make a case that CATCHING FIRE was one of the better blockbusters of the past decade (and this is coming from a guy who basically despised the book).

And so, in YA tradition, the series finale, MOCKINGJAY, was split into two parts, bringing the grand total of HUNGER GAMES films to four. I have not read the novel, as I decided that I prefer the films anyway, and would like to see the ending on the terms of the movies first. Lawrence earned my confidence with the second movie, but making what is essentially half a movie compelling is something other talented filmmakers have had trouble with before (looking at you, DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1). So, my verdict on THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 (henceforth called MOCKINGJAY 1) after the jump.

Even with the makeup, Jennifer Lawrence does NOT look 35.

Yes, MOCKINGJAY 1 is half a movie, but what a half a movie it is. Even on its own, it's a crackling political sci-fi actioner, one where the supposed selling points of a YA franchise (aka the action and the romance) are the least interesting parts of the film. That stuff takes a backseat to the political machinations of Hoffman's Plutarch Heavensbee and franchise newcomer Julianne Moore's President Coin, as they play the game of propaganda with Sutherland's President Snow, with Lawrence's Katniss hanging in the crossfire as the Mockingjay symbol of the rebellion. Sure, it's stuff that's all essentially been in a bunch of movies before, but it's all packaged in a way that still makes it feel exciting and relevant. It's certainly the most compelling movie ever where large sections of it revolve around a bunch of characters in a cafeteria watching television.

The biggest complaint I can level against it (other than that it lacks a proper structure due to its Part 1-itis) is that it strips away much of the color and personality of the Capitol from CATCHING FIRE, in favor of a more subdued, sterile landscape in District 13. This is actually by design, as Lawrence is showing how the gray uniforms and steel walls of the underground militarized complex contrasts with the over-the-top ostentatious fashion and digital window views of the Capitol, but the added color is still missed. Nevertheless, Lawrence's direction is even more assured this time out, with some strong tasteful CGI mixed with some very sci-fi practical sets. Danny Strong and Peter Craig were well-chosen screenwriters for this one as well, with Strong's political drama experience translating well to Plutarch and Coin's machinations. The performances are also top-notch (nearly) across the board. Lawrence is incredible once again as Katniss, showing her character's mental instability in a frighteningly real way. The supporting players are all tops as well, from the aforementioned Sutherland, Hoffman, and Moore, as well as Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci. The least interesting players in this YA adaptation are, oddly enough, the love triangle players. I've never really enjoyed Josh Hutcherson as Peeta... until now. Crazy Peeta is far more interesting than Normal Peeta, whether he's exhibiting douchebag mannerisms on Capitol TV or psychotically jumping about in a mental ward. Liam Hemsworth as Gale, though... yikes. He had some line deliveries that were near-Hayden Christensen level bad, and he's just so BORING. He has none of the charisma of his Asgardian older brother, and Gale is just such a mopey milquetoast that you never buy him as a love interest for Katniss. Easily the weakest part of the movie.

It'll all really work on how MOCKINGJAY 2 shakes out next year, but for now, MOCKINGJAY 1 is a strong continuation of one of the best big-budget sci-fi franchises coming out today.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 gets an 8. We'll see whether PART 2 raises that score in retrospect.