I was not a fan of the last Hunger Games movie as you can see right there. Thankfully, Mockingjay – Part 1 turned out much better. It’s quite a bit different, but everything still rides on Jennifer Lawrence’s very capable shoulders.

At the end of Catching Fire, Katniss pretty much put an end to The Hunger Games with one final act of defiance. She gets rescued, but Peeta does not. Everyone thinks he’s dead until he appears on Capital television as a tool for propaganda to try and quell the dissent for the government that is spreading.

Mockingjay, the first half at least, is much more of a political movie than an action one. There’s a lot of push and pull as Katniss is again thrust into the spot light as the mascot for the resistance. The Capital pushes back hard at every step for freedom and the weight of the slaughter of innocent lives weighs greatly on her. Jennifer Lawrence is easily the best part of the movie, she’s able to control the emotional pitches and rolls with great skill. Good to see some characters returning (Elizabeth Banks as Effie in particular, she adds some much needed levity to things). The movie is pretty narrow, there are very few locations, and it mainly sets up the finale (which should be huge). Was it necessary to split the last book into two movies? Probably not, but the box office numbers show that the studio has been greatly rewarded for doing so.

Catching Fire really turned me cold to the franchise, but this entry has brought me back. Looking forward to them bringing this one to a conclusion later this year.