The courage of one will change the world

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Helmsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Miss Everdeen, it is the things we love most that destroy us." - President Snow

Why watch this? Another solid entry in the Battle for Panem.

Plot Summary: Katniss Everdeen is recovering in the supposedly destroyed District 13, which has become the center of the growing rebellion against the Capitol. Reluctantly, she agrees to become the symbolic leader, or "Mockingjay," inspiring the districts to unite against President Snow's tyrannical rule. Amidst this fight for freedom, Katniss also grapples with the Capitol's capture of Peeta Mellark, who is being used for propaganda and mental torture through a process called "hijacking".

Dad's Preview: Thematically, this is a tonal shift to focus more on the Second Rebellion and the war. Katniss is taken to District 13, and there finds her mother and sister. She also meets Alma Coin, the rebellion's leader who presses Katniss to become a Mockingjay, the symbol of the rebels. She agrees and we see Katniss' become a fine leader and recruiter. The stakes are higher, and it's hard to watch Peeta's betrayal. Part 1 is a great set-up for an epic showdown.

Color Force; Lionsgate