Feature | Lights, Camera, Action! – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (Movie Review)

Interesting. Expected this to not be that good. Trailer looked a bit too full of explosions and like it had gone down a lot of notches. Really liked the first movie, but sequel wasn't as good and ended abruptly. Still not gonna go in expecting much from this one anyway, and maybe it'll surprise me.

Interesting that, Az - I much preferred the sequel to the first movie! I felt it had much more to the story, whereas the first one seemed a bit flimsy at times.

The sequel does seem to have been received more favourably. I think I liked the first one a lot because I hadn't really seen the idea done before and had no idea what to expect going into it. Been ages since I seen them both, so should give them a rewatch tbh.

The first one...well, I kept thinking of Battle Royale (I think that's the name) - a Japanese survival movie where it's kill or be killed. That was rather epic, if somewhat gruesome, so perhaps I was comparing the two too much. Whereas No.2 developed the story side more and I liked the fake love relationship and how it actually developed as the movie went on.

Excited to see this one, although after abrupt endings in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, I'm not looking forward to that again...jars a bit too much, especially having to wait a whole YEAR for the next part.

Ahh yes, I'd heard a lot about Battle Royale only after I'd seen Hunger Games. I think if I'd seen BR before HG I'd probably feel like it wasn't as good as BR, too. I should try to watch that. I don't think I knew HG was based on books either, so the abrupt ending in Catching Fire was bloody frustrating when it happened.

Watched this today...and...hmm...I really didn't enjoy it anywhere near as much as THG2. In fact, I'd go as far as saying I felt I wasted my money. I've not been to the cinema since Noah - yes, THAT long ago - and I thought the money spent on that was more justified than this.

It's good but very slow because it deviates from the main story of the first two. This is all about building up to a battle with the Capitol, but it lacked real punch. I'm guessing Part 2 will be the one to have a greater impact. I walked away today, £34 down (for two tickets, two hotdogs and one large drink ), wishing I'd waited to watch this on DVD next year just before Part 2 hits the cinema.

Next on my list - either the new Hobbit, or wait for Exodus...

My assumption was accurate then, it seems. Will still watch eventually, but yeah, not expecting too much from it.