I finally got to watch The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1, and if you haven't seen it... I highly recommend it! I really liked the first two movies, but for me this one was the best so far. I can't wait to see the second part.
Jennifer Lawrence does an exceptional job as Katniss Everdeen, as she did in the first two installments of this franchise.
When the movie begins, Katniss, along with survivors of District 12 are in the long thought destroyed District 13. Among the survivors of District 12, which was destroyed by the Capitol, is Katiss's mother and sister, Gayle and many others. Katniss was rescued after the last games abruptly ended when she shot an arrow at the force field surrounding the arena knocking it out. Katniss tries to adjust, but can't seem to get over the fact that Peta Mellark was not rescued with herself, Finnick, and Bee Tee.
After seeing a propaganda spot by the Capitol in which Peta is asking the resistance to stand down, Katniss realizes that he is being made to say those things. She begins to become what everyone wants her to be... The Mockingjay! Katniss takes a huge leap, or push, forward to becoming the Mockingjay when she visits a hospital in District 8, and minutes after she leaves the hospital is destroyed because of her. Katniss, along with Gayle, who is being filmed takes out the hovercrafts that destroyed the hospital. While watching the still burning ruin of the hospital, knowing there are no survivors, Katniss turns to the camera and tells President Snow (Donald Sutherland) that "If we burn, you burn with us!"
But, the best performance I saw throughout the whole movie was from Josh Hutcherson as Peta Mellark. In the first two installments Peta is a mild mannered boy trying to survive or make sure Katniss does. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. In this movie you can visibly see that something is off in Peta. Sure he is still mild mannered, and at one point he warns District 13 of an attack, but you can see the strain of him being imprisoned is taking a toll. It isn't until after he is rescued that the truth is revealed. He was being brainwashed with Tracker-Jacker venom. The brainwashing told him to kill Katniss, and that is just what he tried to do. One of the last scenes is of Katniss approaching an observation window to Peta's room, where he is strapped to a gurney. Peta is, for the lack of a better word, going nuts trying to escape... straining against the restraints... bouncing around on the gurney...
I give this movie 10 stars out of 10 stars. Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Donald Sutherland and Julianne Moore all give great performances in their respective roles. As does Sam Claflin as Finnick. Jennifer Lawrence even sings in this installment; she sings The Hanging Tree, which was written by Suzanne Collins when she wrote the book this movie is based on.
If you haven't seen this movie yet, hurry...
