The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 Review

Grade: A-
One-Liner: Finally, the girl is on fire.

Don't get me wrong, I love The Hunger Games franchise, but as a diehard Harry Potter fan, it's been hard not to compare the first two books in the trilogy to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The plots and characters all centered around one big event, not allowing for much development or differing storylines. Mockingjay took its protagonist Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) away from the confines of the Capitol's arena for the first time, giving her an opportunity to be a leader instead of a lone ship.

It made for the most impressive adaptation the series has seen to date. Splitting the final book into two movies seemed like a purely financial decision on the part of the production staff, but none of the two hours dragged in the slightest. Departing from the book and showcasing scenes from the different districts' revolts helped build the world of Panem even more. The fight was always bigger than Katniss, and by adding this insight into the districts, the film showed that rather than mentioned it.

Lawrence was on her game, as per usual (props to her bluesy singing voice), but her costars were forced to up the ante without the familiarity of the Games. Elizabeth Banks' Effie Trinket (who did not appear in the third book) proved she was more than her makeup and wigs with her dramatic makeunder. She provided the only bright spot in the underground fortress of District 13, cracking the few jokes in the otherwise dark film.

Hell-bent on getting Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) back, Katniss is blinded by her love — enter Plutarch (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) and President Coin (and overly-endearing Julianne Moore). They help build her into an arrow-slinging, threat screaming propaganda machine. Meanwhile, the Capitol is using Peeta as its own weapon. It all culminates in a climatic reunion between the two former lovers for which the CGI department deserves to win numerous awards.

What's most concerning about this first installment is the knowledge that the second will force Peeta and Katniss together to once again, proving they still have the chemistry of sibling besties. #prayformockingjay2