A tale of two films from Meteoric to Meh.
Some of the performances were top tear while others were inconsistent. Tom Blithe absolutely nailed
his performance. He makes you care and root for him. Another standout is Peter Dinklage. Who stole
scenes whenever he was present on the screen. Viola Davis was animated at times, but it worked for her
character.
The first two chapters of this film are gripping, intense, full of suspense and thought provoking. It was
nice to see The Capital from this side of the coin, however, things were not always as they seemed. The
third chapter felt disjointed and somewhat like a completely different film. Had the movie been 40
minutes shorter, this could have easily been the perfect launch to a new trilogy. Instead, it leaves you
with a lack luster taste in your mouth forgetting all the excitement and lure that proceeded it.
The directing and cinematography brought an atmosphere that felt lived in and tangible. The dystopian
overtone and the political aerosphere brought nostalgia yet freshness to the world of Panem. The CGI
was a bit dodgy at times but didn’t affect the overall experience.
All in all, I can’t overstate how great the first two chapters of the film are. I am so disappointed that the
third chapter completely derailed the film. The last 40 minutes rapidly moved the narrative while
laboring with the audience at a sluggish pace.