Everyone’s favorite post-apocalyptic heroine is back! Yep, Jennifer Lawrence has put her acting chops back into “Katniss Everdeen,” delivering another thrilling installment of “The Hunger Games!” This time around Katniss is no longer the pretend darling of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) and The Capitol, but instead truly becomes the symbol of the growing rebellion within each of the remaining eleven districts. As you might remember, District 12 was destroyed in the prior film in retaliation for Catniss’s sabotage of the latest Hunger Games. She, her family, Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and a few citizens of the district were saved but most were killed in the attack. They are taken in by District 13. This district was long thought destroyed in the previous civil war, but has instead adapted to living underground, growing stronger to be able to unite the other districts in war against The Capitol.
Katniss reluctantly becomes their symbol of the revolution, The Mockingjay, if President Coin (Julianne Moore) agrees to liberate Peeta and the remaining tributes of the Hunger Games. District 13 immediately begins a propaganda campaign to inform Catniss of the atrocities of the rebels suffer at the hands of The Capitol as well as showing her the destruction of her own district. These films and symbols cause the revolution to spread like wildfire in all the remaining districts. Still, as much as Katniss personifies the revolution, Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) stands with The Capitol! She believes he is being forced into helping their oppressors and truly does love him. She will do what it takes to get him back, even if it means offering her self in his place to President Snow!
The Hunger Games definitely went dark in this latest installment. No only does “Mockingjay Part One,” reveal the atrocities of war, we truly understand why The Capitol must be stopped. If forcing children to become gladiators in a high tech arena was not enough; the charred corpses and decimated hospitals will incite you to wrath as well. That fire you will feel in your belly while watching the film is the same righteous fury every rebel, anywhere has ever felt when in the face of an oppressor. Still, I have to admit the film had less action than the trailers seemed to tease and it ends on a slightly infuriating cliffhanger. Nevertheless, the film is wonderfully filmed with stellar actors. Jennifer Lawrence proves why she is Hollywood’s break out It Girl. Every word, every tear, and even when she sings you know Katniss is luring you to her side to fight! Check out the song of the revolution “The Hanging Tree,” song by Jennifer Lawrence below!
