Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read the Hunger Games series again from start to finish over the summer, and I gotta say I really have developed an even stronger admiration for the series. The same can be said for the two previous movies: The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games Catching Fire respectively. And one of my most anticipated movies of 2014 was none other than Mockingjay Part 1. Time has passed since Katniss sent her arrow flying into the base of the arena in the 75th Hunger Games. And Katniss is not quite the same person she was. Peeta is a captive of the Capitol, her home District 12 is in ruins, and an offer has been proposed for her to become the new leader, a template to show the President Snow and the Capitol that she is in fact The Mockingjay. 3 is the number that sometimes doesn't work for a movie trilogy but thankfully for The Hunger Games movies, Mockingjay Part 1 DOES. Starting first with Jennifer Lawrence, she once again shines in her role as Katniss; she definitely fulfills the necessary emotions of fear, depression, and resilience throughout the course of the movie. And she does harmonize the "Hanging Tree" tune very beautifully. Liam Hemsworth does well in the movie as Gale; going to extreme lengths to keep Katniss happy. This time around, Finnick is a man who has lost something so precious to his heart, and Sam Claflin nails it. Josh Hutcherson definitely deserves attention for his role as Peeta in Mockingjay Part 1. He is being tortured and made to tell Katniss and the Districts that no one is safe. And Peeta is assuredly NOT the same boy from the past two movies. Woody Harrelson returns as Haymitch and does a good job. Elizabeth Banks plays Effie Trinkett and does really well, even without all her makeup. And Donald Sutherland's role as President Snow is a lot more effective. He is wicked and determined to destroy Katniss and her Mockingjay image and strip any thought/symbol of hope that people in the districts may have. Julianne Moore plays President Coin and Phillip Seymour Hoffman returns as Plutarch. Characters like Boggs and Cressida were cast well as Mahershala Ali and Natalie Dormer prove in the movie. More importantly, the whole of the cast led by the direction of Francis Lawrence did great. Much like The Hunger Games Catching Fire, I Really appreciate the way the writers were able to script the movie with some things that were in the novel, while also adding a few other pieces to it. The themes in this movie, especially with the whole political conflict and fight for justice/freedom feel relevant to our times. And if anyone were to ask me if I was ready for the 2nd part of this finale I would most certainly say YES I AM. I had sheer enjoyment watching Mockingjay Part 1 today, and while you wait for Part 2 to release, my final words would be GO SEE Mockingjay Part 1. RIP to Phillip Seymour Hoffman 4.5 Stars Rated PG-13 Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Mahershala Ali, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Evan Ross, Stanley Tucci, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Claflin, Jena Malone, Natalie Dormer,