By now, the story is familiar: in the dystopic future, the rich control the poor by separating them into districts, once annually forcing one of their young into a fight to the death for the amusement of all. Young Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) fights for District 12, and her victory in the Hunger Games leads to uprisings, and soon we suspect something larger is at stake.
If you’re a fan of these films and the books they’re based on–and why not, really–you probably know what’s coming next. It’s middling sci-fi YA fiction, but elevates itself with a strong cast, including Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman.
The intrigue continues, and the larger plot, and the government’s attempts to quash the uprising, decisively and violently if possible, lead only to harder uprisings, more death and more unrest.
“Mockingjay, Part 1” will make boatloads of cash, continue Lawrence’s hot streak and lead into the climactic final entry next year. It’s an entertaining series if not a weighty one, though for the target audience (read: teens) it’s an important civics lesson couched in a sci fi action epic starring a hot chick in a tight costume. I only wish my 9th grade Government was like that.
