The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 | Teen Ink

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1

August 22, 2015
By AlaNova ELITE, Naperville, Illinois
AlaNova ELITE, Naperville, Illinois
257 articles 0 photos 326 comments

Favorite Quote:
Dalai Lama said, "There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called YESTERDAY and the other is called TOMORROW, so today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly live..."


District 13 has risen from the ashes, and just in time. Rescued from the shattering conclusion of the Quarter Quell, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), “Girl of Fire,” finds herself trapped in another explosive war, this time between ideologies on a crash course for destruction. And this is the final game she cannot escape. Leader of the underground forces, President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) wants Everdeen to embody the symbol the rebels need to wash the Capitol in victory: the Mockingjay. But only she and Finnick (Sam Claflin) are devastated knowing that since the 75th Hunger Games, friends Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Johanna (Jena Malone), and Annie (Stef Dawson) remain under Snow’s (Donald Sutherland) control. And as they slide inevitably towards total chaos, Katniss will need to find the strength to lead a people who are readying for a final battle.

Fans of the book Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins will revel in the first half of the dystopian epic’s final chapter. It’s a read on read, as director Francis Lawrence faithfully portrays the tone of the last novel in the series: shell-shocked, desolate, and heavy breathing for battle. Mockingjay – Part 1 is arguably no less war movie than the best of them, if not even grayer. And it’s a mature move for both director and screenwriter to tell a story that doesn’t cut too many shortcuts about war. Sci-fi or not; several disturbing, casualty-for-the-common scenes etch in stone Panem as a complete atmosphere.

Likewise, it won’t please everyone. The film rubs off as dark, moody, and military drab, topped with the colors of an underground bomb shelter. There’s the slightly awkward question if part one and part two could have done better together, but it’s honestly a little muddled. While Lawrence does a lot of emotional blanks, she truly impresses as a soldier faced with intensely real war and real loss. Anger and hurt pulls through her to further define character readers/watchers have come to idolize, and they should; once again, Lawrence proves untouchable. With that said, though the prized love triangle pokes its head into several scenes, it’s clear the movie isn’t for the kisses. And yes, you’ll see the real Peeta at the very end; it might just scare you enough to come back for Mockingjay – Part 2.


The author's comments:

What does "THHRe" stand for? Good question! It's THE HOLY HITCHHIKE’S REVIEW...A shorter version of the Hitchhike, reviews principally concerning books, movies, and music. Enjoy, and let loose your commentary and suggestions below. A new column of THH every Friday!


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on Aug. 26 2015 at 11:30 pm
ClassyToe BRONZE, Sicklerville, New Jersey
4 articles 0 photos 7 comments

Favorite Quote:
The good thing about pain is the relief you feel when it's done.

I'm really torn on the whole discussion on whether or not it was necessary to split it into two movies. It's the longest book and very detailed, but not not as long as Deathly Hallows or Breaking Dawn for that matter. Nether less, this movie could have been shorter, and this really shows with the "President Snow, President Snow, it's Katniss, can you hear me?" A lot of people hated it, and I kind of understand why. I can say I liked. I enjoyed it more than the first half of the book, I was humming "The Hanging Tree" when I got home, and I found Josh Hutcherson's portrayal of hijacked Peeta to be pretty convincing. I thought at any moment he would get up from his chair and punch Tucci in the face. It is definitely my least favorite movie in the franchise, though. By the way, did anybody else laugh when they first heard that rebel remix of "The Hanging Tree"? I heard while I was at my workout class, and I completely lost focus because I couldn't believe it.