If Aristotle had seen The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 it is likely his memorable ''The whole is greater than the sum of its parts'' would have been followed by an ''At least, I sure hope so''.
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 1
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci
Rating: (M) Three stars
The third, penultimate, instalment of the dystopian teenage action trilogy (yes, you have read that correctly) continues the evolution of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as the galvanising symbol of the Districts' revolt against the repressive Capitol.
Viewers' expectations are riding high after two thoroughly enjoyable earlier films. And once again all the elements of an epic and entertaining struggle are present. But it largely fails to fire.
Sure, the heroine is as beautiful as ever, President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is unremittingly diabolical and the possibility of wholesale revolution is almost within grasp.
There are several memorable moments, but what lingers longest is a feeling of slight disappointment.
It seems rather cynical to bring to life a story of the struggle against a marketing-driven totalitarian regime and then force fans to pay full price for a heavily padded first instalment of what should have been half of a single pulsating final chapter.
In hindsight, having watched Part 2 this time next year, I am sure most fans will think that on the whole it has been worth it, notwithstanding the unnecessary weakness of this first part.
