Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
Another victim of the 2010’s trend of splitting a book into two movie adaptation parts. We already talked about The Deathly Hallows in the 100 Days, 100 Reviews series, but Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is only a bit less egregious.
Just like Deathly Hallows Part 1, Mockingjay Part 1 is one of the worst-paced movies you have ever seen. And that is because they decided to split the one book that has barely any action in it. Unlike the tense political thriller that it adapts, the movie somehow creates a situation where you are just waiting for something to happen. Katniss has no character development; she just sits around in District 13 for the entire movie, with the exception of a trip to district 12 that will make you fall asleep. She is also just living a pretty normal life, apart from the fact that she is in this bunker-type place. The one action set piece in this movie is two minutes long, and we barely see any of it!
I can’t blame the actors, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence, who do a great job portraying these emotionally broken people, and I will always remember that haunting final scene of Katniss walking up to Peeta, going crazy while strapped down to the chair. Everyone else does a great job too, but sadly, they can’t make up for this horrible decision, probably by the executives, to split the final book to make more money. The prime example of a well-executed but boring movie. Movie Munchy gives Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 a 42%.
