This ranks with the Last Jedi, should have stopped at 2

THE HUNGER GAMESMOCKINGJAY PART 1why? people really don't like this film i'll tell you why. people didn't like the mocking jay films, because of the lack of action katniss being less powerful then in the first 2 and a lot of propaganda BUT mocking jay is a war film and would have stuff like torture, PTSD and propaganda that is what the main theme of the mocking jay films are about. anyway, i'll tell you my opinion. its gritty tone and music suits the film perfectly 10/10its action is a little bit lacking but like i said the film is about propaganda and the uprising of the Districts. 7/10its direction PERFECT! Francis Lawrence is an amazing director and all ways will be. 10/10the acting in the film is also really strong just like catching fire and hunger games i really mean it, its the best acting i've ever seen and the films have some of the best actors i have scene in other films! so anyway i give this film a 9/10 its very realistic and gritty and violent.now go see mocking jay part 1 now! its brilliant!

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1 suffers from exactly the same problem as HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1; it's an adaptation of the first half of a book in which very little happens, the calm before the climax if you like. So instead of plot movement you get an absolute ton of exposition, flashback, and general scenes of Jennifer Lawrence moping around in the most objectionable way ever.This is just as poor as the previous movie in the series, despite the amount of famous faces popping up in minor supporting roles and the wealth of CGI and effects used to bring a futuristic society to life. Instead of getting on and leading the rebellion, Lawrence instead grieves for her lost love, held prisoner by the other side. Whenever you see Josh Hutcherson's eminently punchable face you wonder what all of the fuss is about. It's a film with no beginning, middle, or end, over-obvious throughout, simply treading water before the last in the series. In other words, it's a total bore.

As said with the first two 'Hunger Games' films (which had its plus points but didn't do much for me), the books are fun, scary, thrilling and moving though because being so rich in detail and characterisation they are difficult to adapt.Generally the films, while all with their good points, don't do them justice, following the basic details but with the spirit watered down to blandness and the characters nowhere near as fascinating. Judging the films on their own terms is to me a fairer way to judge though, and will be done here because they are problematic on their own. Of the four films (which all have good points but just as enough problems that stop me from caring for them much), 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part I' is the weakest, it feels too much like set-up and set-up that's very tame and really struggles to justify its length.There are certainly good things. The production values, some dodgy special effects aside, are very well done with the nightmarishly dystopian production design faring best, it's lit with atmosphere and luckily the cinematography and editing is not the sloppy and frenetic kind seen in the first film. The score is thrilling and emotive, and there are some good performances here. This is particularly true of a terrific Jennifer Lawrence, dastardly Donald Sutherland, moving Philip Seymour Hoffman, smarmy Stanley Tucci and classy Julianne Moore.Not all the cast work. Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson are still lacking charisma and expression, while Elizabeth Banks (a high point of the first film) and Woody Harrelson have nothing to do.Lack of character development and halfway-decent writing plays a large part here. The characters had a lot of meat to them before but here are pretty bland stereotypes with non-existent development or direction, Katniss excepted. Didn't find myself caring for the relationship between Katniss and Peeta, mainly because of Peeta being written and played so blandly but also the chemistry didn't seem to be there. The writing does feel under-cooked, with some cringe-worthy moments and lacks edge or any kind of emotion a lot of the time.'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part I' could have easily been shorter, because the story feels far too thin and over-stretched which makes some scenes interminably dull and dreary. The film is basically set-up and after finishing on a note every bit as abrupt as the ending for 'Catching Fire' it feels like set-up that doesn't lead or go anywhere. Atmosphere-wise, it just feels rather tame in alternative to tense and leaden rather than edgy. The direction is pretty pedestrian here.In summary, bland and over-stretched despite some good performances, production values and music. 4/10 Bethany Cox