The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

Not so happy Hunger Games everybody.

The penultimate chapter of a four movie series based on a three part book series for young adults proves to be most harrowing yet, Katniss becomes an unwilling symbol in a war between the capitol and the remaining districts yet her head seems more focused on saving her friend Peeta.

Spoilers if you haven't seen/read this yet.

Jennifer Lawrence returns in the role that arguably kick started her main stream career as Katniss Everdeen, two time survivor of the vicious hunger games and all around downer. Living in an underground resistance base after being saved at the end of the quarter quell, here she is introduced to the rebel leader, President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), a no nonsense manipulator who seems disinterested with her associate, Plutarch Heavensbee's (the penultimate role of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) plan to film a propaganda film to stoke the fire underneath the already burgeoning hatred each district has for the capitol.

Despite its target audience the thing that struck me most about Mockingjay is it's somewhat realistic and gritty interpretation of guerrilla warfare, a crew of film makers including Game Of Thrones' Natalie Dormer, are tasked with following Katniss as she visits the remaining districts in secret to put together a propaganda film that will give the oppressed masses a call to arms against the capitol. Lawrence manages to give some weight to her characters reaction to the carcass of her old home and the numerous war casualties, a particular scene involving her losing her stoic demeanor as the result of a makeshift hospital being bombed is perhaps the highlight of the film as it is in this moment she truly becomes the 'mockingjay' and the revolution commences.

Though no good story is without its villain, Donald Sutherland relishes in his role as the suave manipulative President Snow. Playing a psychological chess game with Katniss throughout, he seems to trump her at each turn and uses his greatest weapon, the previously captured Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as a bargaining chip to break her resolve. In all honesty there is very little action in comparison to the first two films but manages to somewhat make up for it with scenes reminiscent of the blitzkrieg from WWII and urban warfare from the violence in the east. You have to respect the stories aim to bring awareness to modern atrocities to its demographic.

Unpopular opinion time but with it's realistic portrayal of war (that gripping first person view of the SWAT infiltration) it's somewhat undermined by the forced love triangle between Katniss, Peeta and her old friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth/baby Thor.) Yes Katniss is a reluctant symbol for the revolution but it is implied her purpose is realised after the hospital bombing and she would become a self sacrificing and resilient force for good, so why is it the love triangle seems like a bigger deal to her? Katniss is a strong and independent role model but between choosing to save Peeta or fighting a greater injustice they had the chance to really show a heroic side to the character yet waded a little too deep into teenage drama, Like I said unpopular opinion but I stand by it.

As I mentioned earlier however the imagery only somewhat keeps you involved but at just over two hours long and the narrative stretched to fit two movies, Mockingjay at times feels a little bloated and unnecessary, naturally this is only my opinion and many fans would combat me on this point but I can't help feeling that the trend of splitting books into multiple films is nothing more than a money grab to extend a franchises longevity. I'm looking at you Peter Jackson.

All in all it's a good setup for the final outing but Mockingjay suffers from its run time and distinct lack of lasting content, I loved Catching Fire however so maybe I'm just expecting a little more from the series. As blockbusters go, Mockingjay is still worth seeing for all audiences.

It's going to kill me if Hoffman's last movie isn't great...

X-Men: Days Of Future Past

Super powered mutants, evil robots, time travel and a whole lot of flares and sideburns going on you wouldn't expect Bryan Singers newest X-Men outing to be anything but groovy, I just wish that was the case.

The latest in one of the longest running comic book movie series going, Days Of Future Past shows our favourite team of exceptional youngsters not so fresh faced anymore. Initially beginning in a dystopian future where mutants and the majority of mankind are all but extinct, no thanks to Bolivar Trask (Peter Dinkalage-Game Of Thrones) an anti-mutant military scientist who created the Sentinel Program, giant morphing robots that seek out mutants to purge them from the earth. Singer begins the film with imagery reminiscent of a concentration camp, bodies being strewn around by machines and the disheveled living wandering through cages. This is where old Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and old Magneto (Sir Ian McKellen) hatch a plan to send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back in time to stop Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) from killing Trask and changing the future they reside in. It's a lot to take in this soon into the movie but just go with it, there's so much else that will aggravate you if you think too hard about it and the plot almost pleads with you just to enjoy the ride.

Wolverine must now bring together a haggard and somehow walking Young Xavier (James McAvoy) now powerless after Beast gives him a serum he can take that takes away his powers but lets him walk again. Apparently injections can heal a broken spine, it's pretty dumb. Also having to find the other side of the morality coin is an imprisoned young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) serving life sentences for the apparent murder of President John. F. Kennedy one of the films highlights stems from his rescue with the aide of the super speedy Quiksilver, It's very reminiscent of the opening scene to X2 but somehow the schoolboy style humor he brings keeps it well in your mind after the credits roll.

As much as the internet seems to be loving Jennifer Lawrence at the minute and her characters development from happy go lucky shy girl to conflicted revolutionary is second only to Xavier's transformation into the wise teacher he'll become, she seems to get an abnormal amount of screen time as apposed to some others who could have desperately used it. For instance Trask's motivation for wanting all the mutants isn't that compelling and he's nothing more than a face for the films villains. As much as I hate the casting of Halle Berry as Storm it wouldn't have hurt to see more of what the future mutants could do, Iceman uses his classic ice slide for a moment and fan favourite Blink fights using portals which I left thinking she had one of the more visually stunning powers.

The film flogs a lot of what you've seen before however, Mystiques eyes glowing yellow while she's transformed and the obligatory Wolverine popping the bullets out of his chest/slow unsheathing of the claws, at times it feels like ideas were running thin in the creative department and even some new things they tried are a little forced (Beast can apparently Hulk out now) Everything aside however the performances are usually convincing, McAvoy and Fassbender outdo their elders and seeing the younger versions of characters you're used to be so flawed and full of youthful rage is a refreshing change of pace.

In it's own right the film is perfectly adequate, an oft confusing plot but full of great dialogue and high octane action pieces will keep you hooked, despite this if you're a fan of the series the contradictions to the other films and lazy wink to the audience will leave you feeling deflated.