Film Review: Fans of the Hunger Games franchise will lap up Mockingjay Part 1

Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Julianne Moore, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland
Rating: ***

What's it about: Following the events of Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1 sees Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) in District 13 as she wakes up to the realisation that while District 12 (where her home is) is "gone", her family  - sister Prim and mother survived. She is convinced to become the Mockingjay, the face of the rebellion against the tyranny of the Capitol and of President Snow (Sutherland). 

What's hot: This is one of the last films the late Philip Seymour Hoffman shot for. Lawrence balances the fine line between doubt and fear and poses as the reluctant charismatic mascot convincingly. Sutherland has brief appearances, but is impactful in the few times he's on screen. Julianne Moore as the cold President Coin gives you the chills. Would you trust her or not? Fans of the franchise will lap this one up, too.

What's not: The problem with inbetweeners like this instalment is that they use films like this to introduce unnecessary characters who really might not be part of the next film. And precious little even happens in films like these. The big one isn't this one, it's the one that comes next. 

What to do: First, watch the first two films in this franchise. You will have to or you will be scratching your head through parts of the film. And it won't be because of the dandruff.