Sunday, November 22, 2015

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)


"Fire burns brighter in the darkness"


Directed by Francis Lawrence
Produced by Nina Jacobson, Jon Kilik
Screenplay by Peter Craig, Danny Strong
Based on "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland
Music by James Newton Howard
Cinematography: Jo Willems
Edited by Alan Edward Bell, Mark Yoshikawa
Production company: Color Force
Distributed by Lionsgate
Release date: 19 November 2014 (France)
Running time: 123 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $125 million
Box office: $755.4 million



"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1" is an action science fiction thriller film directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Peter Craig, Danny Strong, based on "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins. It's the third installment of the "The Hunger Games" film series which follows Katniss Everdeen who becomes the symbol of the revolution fighting for Peeta and the whole Panem.


Cast
  • Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
  • Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark
  • Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne
  • Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy
  • Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket
  • Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee
  • Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin
  • Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow
  • Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
  • Jeffrey Wright as Beetee Latier
  • Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
  • Natalie Dormer as Cressid
  • Mahershala Ali as Boggs
  • Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen
  • Paula Malcomson as Mrs Everdeen
  • Patina Miller as Commander Paylor
  • Jena Malone as Johanna Mason
  • Stef Dawson as Annie Cresta
  • Evan Ross as Messalla
  • Wes Chatham as Castor
  • Elden Henson as Pollux
  • Robert Knepper as Antonius
  • Sarita Choudhury as Egeria


After the ending of the "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" I was waiting for the next part. The rebellious spirit was in the air, the ending of Capitol seemed so close but what more sacrifices Katniss and insurgents were ready to make?

The third installment looks less exciting than the previous two because in fact there are no Hunger Games. However, this fact doesn't mean that "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1" is worse - it's the logical continuation of the events which happened earlier.

Katniss Everdeen has always been the main character of the whole story but never so central. Now she's Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution, even though she isn't allowed to fight - her new responsibility is to propagandize revolting from the screen singing "The Hanging Tree". Jennifer Lawrence's character can't get used to the civil war - all she wants is to see Peeta again, slushy though it may seem. But there's no choice for her - the war turns out inevitable. 

As for the cast, all former actresses and actors returned to their roles and showed their characters even better than before. Speaking about newcomers, I really enjoyed watching Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin and Natalie Dormer as Cressid - they coped with their task to change the usual image of "The Hunger Games".


Advantages
  • Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen
  • Woody Harrelson as Haymitch Abernathy
  • Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket
  • Lenny Kravitz as Cinna
  • Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
  • Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark
  • Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin
  • Donald Sutherland as President Coriolanus Snow
  • Jeffrey Wright as Beetee Latier
  • Natalie Dormer as Cressid
  • Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman
  • Sam Claflin as Finnick Odair
  • Jena Malone as Johanna Mason
  • Music
  • Strong female characters
  • No slushy love lines
  • Not just a teenage film series

Disadvantages
  • Many important moments from book are shown too quickly in the film - unsurprisingly but it disappoints a little.

"Strangenesses"
  • What is the history of Panem? When has totalitarianism begun?

Clue Moments
  • District 13
  • President Alma Coin
  • Peeta Mellark is used by Capitol
  • Jennifer Lawrence as Mockingjay
  • The film team
  • Katniss' speeches 
  • "The Hanging Tree"
  • Peeta's warning 
  • The rescue of left victors
  • Peeta's attempt to kill Katniss


Soundtracks
  1. James Newton Howard - The Mockingjay
  2. James Newton Howard - Remind Her Who The Enemy Is
  3. James Newton Howard - District 12
  4. James Newton Howard - Snow's Speech
  5. James Newton Howard - Please Welcome Peeta
  6. James Newton Howard - Katniss' Nightmare
  7. James Newton Howard - The Arsenal
  8. James Newton Howard - Incoming Bombers
  9. James Newton Howard - Don't Be A Fool Katniss
  10. James Newton Howard - District 12 Ruins
  11. James Newton Howard - The Hanging Tree
  12. James Newton Howard - Peeta's Broadcast
  13. James Newton Howard - Air Raid Drill
  14. James Newton Howard - It's Gonna Be A Long Night
  15. James Newton Howard - Taunting The Car
  16. James Newton Howard - White Roses
  17. James Newton Howard - District 8 Hospital
  18. James Newton Howard - The Broadcast
  19. James Newton Howard - Jamming The Capitol
  20. James Newton Howard - Inside The Tribute Center
  21. James Newton Howard - Put Me On The Air
  22. James Newton Howard - They're Back
  23. James Newton Howard - Victory


Quotations
* * *
President Alma Coin: Any other demands?
Katniss Everdeen: My sister gets to keep her cat.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: I have a message for President Snow: You can torture us, and bomb us, or burn our districts to the ground. But do you see that? Fire Is Catching... If we burn... you burn with us!
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: I never wanted any of this, I never wanted to be in the Games, I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive.
* * *
Gale Hawthorne: Everyone has a choice Katniss, and I'd rather die than say what he just said.
* * *
Eddy: Are you fighting Katniss? Are you here to fight with us?
Katniss Everdeen: I am. I will.
* * *
Peeta Mellark: I want everyone who is watching, to lay down their weapons now.
* * *
Haymitch Abernathy: I like you better without all the make-up.
Effie Trinket: I like you better when you're sober.
* * *
President Snow: Ms. Everdeen, it's the things we love the most that destroy us. Did you think I didn't know your friends are in the Tribute Center?
* * *
Peeta Mellark: Oh, god, Katniss! They're coming!
* * *
Effie Trinket: They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you.
* * *
Gale Hawthorne: I don't get it. They had their guns on us. But they let us go.
* * *
Eddy: You did it Katniss, you showed them. You showed them that no one can stop you. Thank you.
* * *
Gale Hawthorne: I'm in pain. That's the only way I get your attention.
* * *
Finnick Odair: I wish she was dead. I wish they were all dead and we were too. It would be best.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: [When attempting to hunt a deer] He's not even afraid of us.
Gale Hawthorne: He's never been hunted before. It's almost not fair.
* * *
Katniss Everdeen: [upon encountering her sister's cat in the ruins of District 12] Figures.
* * *
Finnick Odair: You don't like hearing a fight song at a funeral do you?
* * *
President Alma Coin: Reduce oxygen to 14% to preserve it!
* * *
You may see the trailer here.


Plot: 7/10
Entertainment: 7/10
Acting: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Music and Sound: 8/10

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