Movie Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 sets the scene for an action packed finale.

Let's face it -- if you saw the first two instalments in this mega franchise, the proverbial wild horses aren't going to keep you away from the first part of the Mockingjay finale.

We have watched in awe as brave Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) survived two brutal episodes of The Hunger Games.

Katniss, an ordinary girl from District 12, just wanted to protect her sister. Little did she know she was to become the hope of a nation.

Following the dramatic end to Catching Fire, where Plutarch Heavensbee (the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) orchestrated a plot to free Katniss and ultimately bring down the tyrannical Panem government in the Capitol, we rejoin Katniss as she wakes underground in District 13 and realises that she is safe but Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) has been captured by President Snow's (Donald Sutherland) troops.

She and Peeta have been through so much, Katniss cannot bear the thought of continuing without him.

Plutarch and District 13's President, Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), have other ideas for Katniss and want to enhance her role as the Mockingjay - the face of the rebellion.

Reluctantly, and after a little convincing, Katniss takes the fight back to President Snow and finds herself in a battle of wills with the Capitol's new mouthpiece - Peeta.

Katniss is torn between her affection for Peeta and her desire to bring freedom to her people.

President Snow has only one aim - to destroy Katniss and crush the rebellion as quickly as possible.

Before the uprising can progress too far, Peeta must be rescued from the Capitol to allow Katniss' focus on the rebellion to be complete.

Mockingjay -- Part 1 is different from the first two instalments in that the action quota is much lower and it is more about the characters and dialogue.

It is also very clearly about setting us all up for what promises to be a spectacular finale next year.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
(M), 135 minutes
Rating: 4/5 stars