Mockingjay Part 1

[owlmoose]

I saw it this afternoon with R&S. Quite liked it. I continue to prefer the movies to the books, largely because I prefer the broader focus of the movies, not being quite so deeply inside Katniss's head. I've noticed a number of reviewers saying negative things about the decision to split the book into two movies. While I rolled my eyes pretty hard when the split was announced, I actually think it was the right choice. And I don't agree at all with criticisms that the movie seemed bloated, too exposition-y, not enough action. I felt like the pace and level of detail was just about right. Maybe the decision to make four movies instead of three was financially motivated, but it's working on an artistic level for me as well.


Major spoilers follow for anyone who hasn't read the books.

The other criticism around the choice to make two movies seems to revolve around the cliffhanger ending. The film ends right after Peeta and the other captured victors are rescued, and I can't think of any other spot that would have made sense. R pointed out that one of the main plot arcs of this movie was the question of what had happened/would happen to Peeta, and this arc is in fact resolved before taking an entirely new direction. Yeah, it's a pretty extreme cliffhanger, but Catching Fire ended on one just as intense, and I don't remember people taking that movie to task. It worked there and it works here.

Good movie, good performances. Great casting -- Julianne Moore is pitch-perfect as President Coin. Recommended.

Comments

[pete_thomas]

THis is coming from someone who hasn't read the books (and thus, has not read the above spoiler) but just simply adding input into your comments, I, too, rolled my eyes super hard when they talked about splitting the last movie. Harry Potter, Twilight, and now this? This is DEFINITELY a marketing ploy.

But, as I watched Mockingjay, I realized that having the information in that first movie for you to absorb is crucial. I was expecting MJ to be the tear jerker, and I imagine it will be still, but now it's only going to be worse. This first movie pretty much teed me up, and I imagine its going to knock me out of the park, emotionally. I don't expect to leave part 2 with dry eyes in the least.

With that being said, I agree that the casting is still very spot on, with everyone having something to love about them, and again, coming from someone who has ONLY watched the movies, I'm really, really enjoying the flicks. I think most people who are expecting a lot of big details out of MJ will definitely be disappionted (as I was) but, when you leave it, you realized that it was just a knife that created small cuts all over your body. Part two is going to pour out the rubbing alcohol and it's going to burn like no other.