We don’t see a lot of glitz and glamour in a Hunger Games movie this time! No more crazy eye-catching outfits, no more broadcasted interviews of the tributes, and no more “Katniss Everdeen: the Girl on Fire”. Katniss is leading a rebellion against the Capitol in this year’s film Mockingjay Part 1. The film earned a 7.3/10 on IMDb and 66% on Rotten Tomatoes.

After shooting an arrow into the force field during the 75 annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen has been taken out of the arena by Haymitch Abernathy (her mentor) and Plutarch Heavensbee (the Head Gamemaker of the 75 annual Games). President Coin (president of District 13) and Plutarch Heavensbee ask Katniss to become “The Mockingjay” and convince all the Districts to join the rebellion in overthrowing the Capitol. Katniss speaks out against the Capitol by releasing propagandas to all the Districts. She leaves President Snow with the warning, “If we burn you burn with us!”

One of the hardest things Katniss has to endure is being separated from Peeta Melark and not knowing where he is, while she also suffers from post-dramatic stress disorder. Jennifer Lawrence does a brilliant job portraying Katniss’ mental estate; her emotions on the big screen seem to be effortless and natural. Just by sitting in the audience you can easily feel the horror and pain she feels.

To add to the versatility of the movie, Haymitch and Effie Trinket (the District 12’s escort) crack a few jokes here and there, just when you’re not expecting it. Their sense of humor definitely lightens up the mood for all.

Overall, we have been exposed too much of the action and violence in the first half of the film to keep us hungry for more. The film leaves viewers almost the exact same way it did at the end of Catching Fire. It leaves audiences with the feeling that it’s not over yet… Audiences tend to be satisfied with a movie’s ending that ends with love and the assurance that all is well for the characters. This preference exists especially in movies where there the life of the main character is filled with many struggles and chaos. We learn that the rebellion has begun, but we will only get to see a lot more of it in the second half of the film.

Mockingjay Part 2 will be released next year. Many fans have high expectations on how Francis Lawrence will bring out the final finish to the end of the Hunger Games movies, but for now, you can be sure that Mockingjay Part 1 is just the start of something momentous to come.