IMDB Summary : When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 after District 12 is destroyed. She meets President Coin who convinces her to be the symbol of rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol.
After kicking ass in Catching Fire (so great that I regret I didn’t see it on the big screen), Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is dealing with worries and nightmares knowing that Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) could be dead in the Games. Her healing process wasn’t fully cured when President Coin (Julianne Moore), the President in District 13 and Heavensbee (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) asks her to be the Mockingjay, the rebel icon for Capitol’s colonialism. After seeing how Capitol destroyed District 12, Katniss is triggered to stand up for the hopeless people. It was later she found out that Peeta is still alive on Capitol’s broadcast video, but he’s forced to influence people and mainly Katniss to stop the fight. Which makes him labeled as traitor by people in Panem. Katniss agree to be the Mockingjay as long as Peeta and the people who survived in the Games would later be saved and free from law in District 13.
To respond Peeta and Capitol, Katniss is set to do a video to trigger people to fight and she needs to improvised to look natural. When she was sent to District 8 and see the injured people in hospital, Katniss learned how people have their hopes for her to fight. Capitol immediately knows she’s in the location and bombed the hospital, which makes Katniss even more torn. But it successfully release her passion to fight, and nicely recorded for people to see. They even managed to paralyzed Capitol’s electricity.
Peeta looked tortured in Capitol’s new video, but he managed to spill that Capitol would attack District 13 at night, which saves time for people to save themselves. President Coin learns that Capitol don’t know that they are hidden in the save place and intend it to keep that way. But for Katniss sake, some volunteers including Gale (Liam Hemsworth) go to Capitol to save Peeta and other Hunger Games survival. Tactics are made and strategy is set, but is it wise to save Peeta and others?
“Miss Everdeen, it is the things we love most that destroy us.”
The possibility of Peeta and many people killed has cause a bigger emotional impact for Katniss that made her to be less powerful. This ‘injury’ it seems indicate a deeper bond between Peeta and her more than from their first Hunger Games. The question beneath Katniss’ worries of him is : does she now have deeper feelings for him? The love triangle between them and Gale shown just a bit in the movie. I kind of wish there’s more, but not too much to make it corny.
But it has made Katniss’ warrior score to be lower than before, and that’s why Mockingjay Part 1 feels a little bit mellow and sad, as she is hurt. Added with the fact that all Districts are injured because of Capitol’s attack. But at the same time, it indicates her value as a leader and protector, as she concerns and fight hard for people’s freedom and her selfless tendency. I like the emotional layers shown by Jennifer Lawrence, from a sensitive and hurt young woman to a brave fighter.
In addition to Katniss’ greatness is President Coin’s cold hands and motherly figure as District 13 leader, which Julianne Moore able to bring. Beside her is the wise and smart Heavensbee, some of the last roles of Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who died earlier this year. Effie (Elizabeth Banks) and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) are in the District 13 too (I kind of confused because I thought the two belongs to Capitol), also with Katniss sister, Primrose (Willow Shields) and mother. These other characters make a great brick on the wall, all of them are a perfect chain. I can’t help but laugh when Effie was shown without make-up, wig and couture dress, but Banks was awesome. But Moore is the best addition to the movie.
Just like the first edition of Hunger Games, I liked this one but not love. Perhaps all the big action is put on hold to Part 2, and this movie is about Katniss’ recovery and preparation for the final fight. Knowing that there’s seeds of love between Katniss and Peeta, and probably Peeta should look like an average guy (possibly to emphasize Katniss), but I wish that someone with more chemistry and match for Jennifer Lawrence could play him.
The real star surely is Katniss, and probably it wouldn’t be as great without Jennifer Lawrence. Even when she is confused and worried half the time in the movie, she still looks integrated and determined. The make-up artist did a great job to show her look more mature and more of a woman than a teenage, also able to make her look modest but beautiful, even just with a simple army overall. I definitely have more respect for Katniss than Rosalyn in American Hustle (2013). I guess it showed Lawrence’s acting range either.
The soundtrack is darker and more gloomy than before, syncing with the tone of the movie. I’m not a fan of the music, with Lorde’s multiple singles (the girl curated the soundtrack) and more. But I do love Katniss’ Mockingjay song in the movie; simple, soothing but powerful.
If you’re a fan, you surely won’t miss the preparation of the big final, like this one. If you’re just up for entertainment, it wasn’t half bad but not the best from all either. Francis Lawrence able to keep the tone of the whole series after also directing Catching Fire, and should do as good for the next part of Mockingjay.
Final Score :
