Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 1

If you haven’t seen or Hunger Games and Catching Fire Or read the trilogy by Suzanne Collins then I suggest you do so before you decide to watch Mocking Jay.  While some may argue that a movie has to be evaluated independently, those who haven’t seen the prequels will never be able to understand the story completely.

As luck would have it, both prequels are making their presence felt on television.  If not, I recommend that you use the privileges that technology has provided to all of us.  If you are a person who prefers reading then you will find Suzanne Collins to be quite easy to read and surprisingly not teeny bopper.

Mocking Jay Part 1 (and that’s probably the first thing that I find wrong about the movie) begins with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), in a state of delirium, trying to come to terms with her exit (or should we say escape) from the Quarter Quell. She has left Peta (Josh Hutcherson), Joanna and Annie behind and is unable to accept it.

The Leaders of District 13, President Coin (Julianne Moore), Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Beatty (Jeffrey Wright) know that they are running out of time.  They need Katniss to be the face of the revolution. Katniss on the other hand is struggling to come to terms with the loss of Peta and the other tributes.

Most of Mocking Jay is the story of Katniss’ struggle with herself and how she eventually does become the face of the revolution.  As a result, the second thing that people may find wrong with Mocking Jay is the pace.  It seems to constantly flirt with your tolerance to boredom.

One can choose to split a short book into 2 parts but just because Peter Jackson could make magic in 3 parts it doesn’t mean that everyone can.  Mocking Jay is well made per se.  The effects are fantastic.  The performances are equally good if not better and the pace for all purposes does enough to build the interest towards a Grand Finale in store.

If only they had restricted this to say about an hour and a half and concluded it with a fast paced ending and we could have viewed a great movie.  Instead we are left with definitely less than great.  But watchable.  Don’t forget to watch the earlier parts if you haven’t.  You will not get some aspects otherwise.  7 on 10.

Watch the trailer at http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi675262233/?ref_=tt_ov_vi