The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – More About the Hero than the Revolution
As part of their cause to raise funds for the benefit of the Virlanie Foundation, The Rebellion staged a block screening of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 at SM Megamall, and we were there to get a first look at what the new installment of the dystopian saga is all about. Â
The movie picks up where Catching Fire left off – Katniss escaping the Games and finding herself inside a militarized underground cave run by members of long-lost District 13 who are on the verge of waging a revolution.
The leaders of the community President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), as it turns out, are in search of a living embodiment of the Mockingjay, the revolt-symbolizing bird. Enter Katniss Everdeen.
Instructed by Coin and Heavensbee, Katniss takes part in the cause by making promotional recruitment videos that would engage people from other districts to join the rebellion against the Capitol.
I was quite disappointed by how much the plot of Mockingjay Part 1 catered to this – portraying Katniss as a hero than her actually being one. The movie falls in love with the protagonist rather than focusing on the actual war. But I guess that’s why they split the book into two movies.
In terms of visuals, this film looked grimmer than the first two films in the series. Gone are the fruitful and vivid trees, nicely designed buildings, and all the glitz and glamor that came with the Olympic-like Games. All we see in Mockingjay Part 1 are rubble, dark rooms, and demolished landmarks. Even Capitol TV was dull.
However, there were some light moments that came from fashion guru Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) who showed a ton of charisma even without all the makeup, wigs, and accessories that we’ve been accustomed to seeing on her. I couldn’t say the same for Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) who was far too sober to be even talking.
Jennifer Lawrence does a fine job as Katniss again, but I’d rather see her shoot arrows and kill people than have her talk and shed tears.
For a movie that revolves around a revolution, Mockingjay Part 1 sure lacked plenty of action.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 – More about the Hero than the Revolution
