The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

"Departing from the battle royale format of the two previous Hunger Games instalments, Mockingjay – Part 1 plunges the franchise into deeper terrain. Figuratively, with the pic continuing Katniss Everdeen’s trauma-fuelled mental disintegration and its subject matter becoming bleaker and more violent, as well as the literally underground setting in which much of Mockingjay’s talk of revolution plays out. Against this deep bunker backdrop the cast spend a lot of time sporting unflattering jumpsuits and talking about what is to come in the next chapter, truncated storytelling that hampers this working as a standalone pic."

"For all its obvious smarts and mildly provocative ideas, Mockingjay doesn’t seem to trust its audience quite as much as it clearly trusts its heroine."

"With measure and muscle, Lawrences Jennifer and Francis nail the job of selling the long, twisting road towards revolution."

"While it definitely takes its foot off the action, Mockingjay – Part 1 goes deeper and darker."

"The special effects are limp and the script a little creaky, although somehow it still manages to thrill."

"Unfortunately, Mockingjay — Part 1 has all the personality of an industrial film."

"The drama and tone are powerful and effective and Lawrence makes an exceptionally charismatic heroine, but an almost total lack of action means this is less catching fire than treading water."