Even though you KNOW that the movie version of the final HUNGER GAMES book has been split into two parts, it’s still jarring when it actually occurs…
A sigh of disappointment swept through our screening audience.
However it sure isn’t the first time Hollywood has split a major franchise finale into two parts. It happened with, among others, HARRY POTTER and the TWILIGHT SAGA as well.
This cliffhanger type ending gives the studio the opportunity of double dipping—getting twice the bang for their bucks, especially since the movies were filmed back to back.
Hey, it’s called ShowBUSINESS for a reason!
More to the subject at hand, THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINJAY-PART 1 is probably the weakest of the bunch thus far. But remember, it leads into Part 2 which should make for quite the rousing conclusion come Thanksgiving—2015, that is.
In PART 1, the districts are now well organized. The rebellion is on the move and Katniss Everdeen is being recruited by the rebels to become the face of the resistence and symbol of hope for the nation of Panem.
Reluctant to take the position, Katniss finally agrees knowing the stronger the rebellion, the better the chances of Peeta being released from the Capital.
But what has REALLY become of him?
“13 is alive and well. And so am I!”
If there’s one major observation to be made of this third outing of the franchise it’s that it’s definitely more emotional and less entertaining than the previous two. It takes nearly 50 minutes to get beyond the setup and into real action.
And for someone to stumble into this movie without either having read the books or seen the previous two films…..well, let’s just say they’d be hopelessly lost.
I guess I was surprised to still see so much of Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee in the movie. But Hoffman had finished his filming before his untimely death this past February.
Talk about a power cast here.
Besides Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss and Josh Hutcherson’s (Peeta) in the lead roles, there’s Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, Woody Harrelson back as Haymitch Abernathy, Elizabeth Banks returning as Effie Trinket, Julianne Moore as President Alma Coin, Stanley Tucci, Jeffrey Wright and President Snow, again ably portrayed by Donald Sutherland.
If there’s one quote from the film’s soundtrack that sticks in my mind, it is:
“If WE burn, YOU burn with us.”
My prediction?
The movie will mark the top opening of all of for 2014.
A $155+ million dollar opening weekend at the domestic box office is not out of the question.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY-PART 1.
Special premier engagements open tonight (Thursday) beginning at 8:00 p.m.—then everywhere tomorrow.
My rating: B-.
(Reviewed at AMC Barrywoods)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1 KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.
