By Mackenzie Hill, Staff Writer
“Mockingjay Part One” is filled with suspense, action, and dramatic emotions making an exciting film. The movie centers around Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and her struggles with being the face of a rebellion in her country of Panem.
“Mockingjay” is filled with emotional conflict causing sympathy, anger, and sorrow. Throughout the film, the actors constantly embody obvious, and intense emotions that are easily seen in their actions.
Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) displays a solemn suffering as the capital tortures him through emotional and physical means, yet he pushes through to help District 13 by means of distraction and warnings. Peeta is also seen as getting progressively worse in his promotional videos from the capitol to the districts.
Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) can most clearly see his pain and horror which causes more distress to her as well. Katniss ranges from manic depression, to burning anger in sequences of the film. As the movie starts off, she is seen in many scenes crying and screaming from the emotional pain of losing Peeta to the capitol and being placed in two Hunger Games. However as the movie continues, she is seen in several battle scenes as displaying a burning anger towards the capitol and their oppression in all the districts.
With this intensity of emotion also came intensity of action. The emotions the characters felt caused them to react and speak out. Katniss at one point was even placed into a situation where she was forced to physically and emotionally react to senseless acts of violence by the capitol in order to create propaganda for the rebels.
Action scenes were common in the film and equally placed between emotional parts. Scenes of fire bombing, victor rescuing, and rebellious protests were all present in the film. All of these scenes added to a sense of craziness and disorder which was a major part of the entire film. The scenes were not at all distracting, but added onto the suspense and emotion.
The movie was certainly “sit on the edge of your seat” worthy as well. As a futuristic, science fiction movie, “Mockingjay” was able to keep up with a constant turn of events. One moment the story was underground in the cafeteria with District 13 and the next it was in the middle of rebel government combat in District 8. The suspense and unknown of what was to come in the movie added to the overall quality.
The acting and portrayals of characters were phenomenal. With the combination of emotional appeals, action, and suspense the actors did a marvelous job. Hutcherson and Lawrence were especially able to capture the essence of the characters emotions through anger, pain, and perseverance. Peeta’s fight through the capitol’s torture proved his strength and determination. Katniss and her push through emotional pain and distress to help District 13 and become the face of the rebellion was proof of her unending fight for a better country.
However, for those who read the book and then saw the movie, there might have been some confusion of the chronology. There were a few scenes displaced and left out that could have been made into important scenes for the movie. The beginning especially seemed to be out of order in some places. However, the movie overall ended up being fairly similar to Suzanne Collins’ original work.
Overall, “Mockingjay Part One” is a definite suggestion for teenage and young adult viewers. It leaves viewers feeling emotional and especially for the final installment of the series.
