The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1

As we enter that time of year when we become that much close to the holiday time, we typically see films that are geared toward those that will be out of school and those that are centering on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and what would be a better film to release than a movie based in a franchise. Hollywood has in the offing just the one that will thrill many in the form of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 1".

This installment of the franchise finds Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) in District 13 after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the leadership of President Coin (Julianne Moore) and the advice of her trusted friends, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) and others, Katniss spreads her wings as the Rebellion forces' Mockingjay symbol against the Capitol lead by President Snow (Donald Sutherland), and fights to save Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and a nation moved by her courage.

Others to round out the cast are Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen, Katniss' sister, Mahershala Ali as Boggs, Jena Malone as Johanna Mason, Jeffrey Wright as Beetee, Paula Malcomson as Katniss' mother, and Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman.

This was directed by Francis Lawrence ("Constantine" '05, "I Am Legend" '07, "Water for Elephants" '11, "Gotham" (TV movie) '12, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" '13), and as he also is slated to direct Mockingjay- Part 2, his style in being able to team his actors in ways that causes them to depend on each other that much more, is amazing. It was written by Peter Craig and Danny Strong adapted by Suzanne Collins based on her novel, "Mockingjay". Even though these writers are strong when writing films with developed characters, this had a bit too many characters to have to 'keep track' of. But suffice it to say, the story was still able to flow as easily as anyone could expect. As franchises go, this is one of the better written ones--certainly many other franchises are suspect in their writing at best. The next installment is released in 2015, and is a continuation of this movie, and as this ended abruptly, the anticipation toward the next installment, Part 2, will assuredly be driving people crazy until that time. Curious to see what the filmmakers are planning to do with the unfortunate demise of Philip Seymour Hoffman, unless they were insightful enough to have both Part 1 and 2 filmed simultaneously.

If you are a Suzanne Collins fan, you'll obviously being in franchise heaven. Not everyone will run after this, but believe me, Hollywood is all too cognizant of that. But considering the mammoth demographic of this type of film, I don't think Hollywood is shaking in their boots.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                  Rated: PG-13                               123mins.