Movie and game reviews December 2014

Movie Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Woody Harrelson
Highlights: Acting and directing
Recommended for: Fans of the first movie
Verdict: ****

Hope is contagious and too much of it is dangerous, but it is the only thing stronger than fear; it is the only thing that will defeat Snow. Against that cold winter snow that burns beauty white, there will be four simple notes that relay across the lands, carried on the wind. It is the melody of an uprising and the harmony that once reigned is over. All that remains are those damning white roses, which do nothing but cover the graves of the fallen. The people, moved by hope, will crawl over each other’s dead bodies to fight for freedom.

The saga continues immediately where it left off from the second edition, Catching Fire. Be sure to have caught up on the plot, characters, relationships and emotions as there is no narrated preface or montage to remind you.

To grasp the full entertainment value you will need to be a book fan, have recently watched the past two films or just have a really good memory.

In the long list of characters, everyone has their own demons to face and sub-plots to fill. This is where the movie can never show the true narrative so tangible in the books.

Haymitch sobers up, President Coin steps up, Finnick ‘fesses up and Effie returns to dress-up. As for Gale and Katniss; well that could be a whole novel on its own. This all makes for a great evolution in the series, well scripted and moving away from the situational to the metaphorical.

The motivation for Katniss’s actions move away from a response to an immediate danger into a new game of media propaganda, battle strategy and tough calls, but still all about survival.

So the games have ended, but the game is just beginning and now the sacrifices are greater and the stakes higher. But can simple acts of love still win the world over? You will need to wait for November 2015 for part 2. As part 1 ends, you will feel that the wait will be difficult, but that is what all of this is all about, hope for the future.