The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

Rating: 8/10

Directed by: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

For the millions of faithful fans who had been ardently anticipating this moment, solace lies in the fact that this movie reels you in from the very beginning. “Mockingjay” explores a bleak terrain that is accentuated further by the dark cinematography, gloomy colour themes and motifs that immediately teleport the audience into the war-torn nation of Panem.  
After her arrow brings about the destruction of the arena in the electrifying (literally) final scene of “Catching Fire”, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) was rescued and brought to the underground sanctuary, District 13 – a city that was presumed to be extinct. Under the leadership of the formidable but magnetic President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), the residents of the forgotten city have been involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the oppressive Capitol and its tyrannical ruler, President Snow (Donald Sutherland). The first few minutes focus on how President Coin, alongside ex-Head Gamemaker turned right-hand man, Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman), convince a PTSD-stricken Katniss to embrace her fate as the symbol of the rebellion, the Mockingjay. Although initially hesitant, Katniss agrees and is sent into battle to star in a series of propaganda videos to fuel the fires of rebellion across Panem. This is interspersed with scenes depicting her grief over the imprisonment of Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and her subsequent horror when she discovers that the Capitol has turned him into a poster child for their anti-rebellion movement.
In comparison to “Catching Fire”, “Mockingjay” has a subtle yet more powerful visual effect on the audience. Jennifer Lawrence is stunning and it's refreshing to see Liam Hemsworth (playing Gale Hawthorne) finally be a part of the drama. Although some may argue that their appetite for fast-paced action flicks hasn't been satisfied, this movie stays fairly true to the original plot. Those who are unfamiliar with the trilogy will still be able to follow the story due to its seamless transition from one plot to the next. It's intriguing how the film realistically depicts the way propaganda is used to set into motion events that can unite or divide a nation. It reminds us that charismatic leaders aren't necessarily born; image counts just as much as action in this age.
With so many brilliant movies marking the end of 2014, “Mockingjay – Part 1” still managed to make an impact, and that's saying something.