Fire burns brighter in the darkness
Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), victor of the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, has been brought to safety in a large underground facility together with Gale (Liam Hemsworth), her mother (Paula Malcomson) and her sister Primrose (Willow Shields). She is being tormented by nightmares from her double ordeal in the arenas. Her co-tribute Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin) is also at the base, apparently suffering from post-traumatic stress, while fearing for the life of his girlfriend Annie. Katniss is summoned by general Boggs (Mahershala Ali). He tells her that District 13, where they are currently residing, was bombed by the Capitol 75 years ago in retaliation over their part in the rebellion. However, unbeknownst to the Capitol, the survivors managed to build an underground bunker below the ruins. Katniss is brought to District 13's president Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) and Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), former Capitol Gamemaker who turned out to be an unexpected ally to the rebels. Coin expresses her admiration for Katniss' bravery, as well as her sympathy for the destruction of District 12. She explains that Katniss destroying the live feed during the previous Hunger Games has sparked a mass rebellion in the Districts. However, she believes that a war can only be successful if all Districts are fully united against their common enemy, the mighty Capitol. Since Katniss has become the embodiment of the Mockingjay, the unofficial symbol of the rebellion, they want her to do a series of propaganda films to win over those people who do not yet dare to take sides against the Capitol. Katniss angrily refuses, reproaching Heavensbee for leaving Peeta in the arena at the mercy of the Capitol. He convinces Coin that Katniss should be allowed to take a look in the ravaged District 12 to see the importance of her participation. When she leaves, Coin voices her doubts about Katniss' resolve.President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is preparing a speech to address the nation. He decides to downplay the significance of the rebellion in order to show off his strength, according to his philosophy that one should never be seen bleeding by one's enemies. Furthermore, he has several captured rebels publically executed and proclaims that any association with the Mockingjay symbol is henceforth punishable by death.Katniss learns that District 13 has been stockpiling weapons for years, preparing for a possible war with the Capitol. She is taken to District 12 by plane, where she discovers to her horror that hardly any building is still standing, and the bodies of numerous dead people are still lying between the rubble. Her former house in Victor's Village has been spared; she finds her sister's cat, some personal belongings, as well as the white rose given to her by president Snow the year before. She returns to District 13 and gives the cat to her sister, stating that she probably cannot keep it. Suddenly, there is a broadcast from the Capitol; Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) is giving an exclusive interview to Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci). Although apparently in good health, he shows signs of being mistreated. He implies that Katniss had been planning to sabotage the Hunger Games and incite rebellion all along; he urges people to surrender and lay down their arms, and is immediately branded a traitor by the inhabitants of District 13. Katniss goes to Coin to tell her she agrees to be the Mockingjay, on the condition that Peeta and the other prisoners of the Capitol are rescued and pardoned. Coin refuses, as District 13 believes in fair trials, and Peeta should answer for his betrayal. Katniss furiously retorts that the Capitol may be abusing and torturing him into cooperation, and refuses to participate if he isn't rescued; her determination convinces Coin and Heavensbee that she has re-found her old vigor. Coin agrees to her terms as long as Katniss provides results (she also grants Katniss' request that Primrose can keep her cat). That night, Katniss learns that Coin's husband and children have died several years back during an epidemic that plagued the facility. Coin officially announces Katniss as the face of the rebellion to a cheering crowd, although the people seem dismayed by her intention to pardon Peeta.Katniss starts a series of propaganda films under the direction of Heavensbee, but her improvisation skills are far from convincing. Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), who has been following a mandatory rehab program, notices that Katniss always makes the strongest impression in spontaneous situations, so he suggests that she be sent into the field as a soldier, under protection at all times, where a crew can shoot propaganda footage of her while in action. Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), who has also been brought to District 13 where she loudly complains about the lack of luxury, is summoned to be part of Katniss' stylist team. She brings clothing designs from Cinna, who was killed by the Capitol, but not before he designed a Mockingjay costume for Katniss that emphasizes her role as the symbolic leader of the rebellion. Beetee (Jeffrey Wright), Katniss' other fellow victor who is now wheelchair-bound, reveals that he once worked on designing the Capitol's defenses and broadcast system, and has therefore found a way to hack into the Capitol's news channel. He has also made a sophisticated bow and explosive arrows for Katniss to use while on tour. Gale will come along as her bodyguard.Katniss meets her film crew, led by Cressida (Natalie Dormer) and her team of Capitol refugees. They fly over to District 8 where she visits a hospital full of wounded rebels. They are visibly surprised and delighted by her visit. One person asks about Katniss' baby; after some hesitation, she answers that she has lost it. She praises the rebels for their courage and encourages them to continue the fight, but then an incoming squadron of Capitol jets starts bombing the compound. Katniss and Gale successfully fight off the jets, but the planes manage to destroy the hospital, killing everyone inside. An emotionally devastated Katniss gives a powerful speech to the camera, telling Panem that president Snow will stop at nothing to win, even killing innocent victims, and can only be stopped if everyone supports the rebellion. She also assures him that all his acts of cruelty will be avenged. Back at District 13, the video is broadcast and Katniss and Gale are allowed to go hunting outside. Katniss takes aim at a large elk, but refuses to kill it, as the animal has apparently never been hunted before and refuses to run. Katniss admits that she is having a hard time being the poster girl for the rebellion, drawing thousands of people into the war and into their deaths. They share a moment of intimacy before returning home.The next stop is another visit to District 12. Gale tells on camera that on the night of Katniss' victory at the 75th Hunger Games, he heard how all the Peacekeepers withdrew from the area. Knowing what would come, he tried to evacuate as many people as possible, but as District 12 was bombed, many of its population of 10,000 perished in the destruction. While taking a rest near a river, the crew notices a flock of mockingjays flying nearby that imitate every melody. Katniss is asked to sing a song, and she is filmed while singing "The Hanging Tree". The footage is broadcast on the news channel, and within a day, all rebels have adopted the tune as their protest song. An entire squad of Peacekeepers is wiped out by rebels in District 7, while another group destroys a large dam near the Capitol that provides electricity to the city. The main power of the Capitol is cut off, and with only back-up generators working, the city's defenses and broadcast capabilities are severely weakened.That night, Peeta gives another interview to Ceasar Flickerman. He looks emaciated and abused, yet again, he calls out at the rebels to stop their fighting and submit to the Capitol; however, when he notices that Beetee is disrupting the broadcast with another one of Katniss' propaganda films, he suddenly realizes she is still alive, and warns her that Capitol planes are flying towards her location. He is silenced and the broadcast is suddenly interrupted. All inhabitants of District 13 are quickly evacuated to the lower levels where they will hopefully be safe from the bombings. As the bombs start falling, Heavensbee urges president Coin to fire back; however, Coin chooses to sit the situation out, not yet wanting to reveal to the Capitol that they aren't as defenseless as they may seem. Meanwhile, Katniss notices that her sister has not come along to the shelter. She gets back to the upper level to find Primrose having returned for her cat. They get back into the shelter just before it locks down, with a long night ahead of them.The next morning, the bombs have stopped and District 13 has survived the attack. President Coin tells Katniss that thanks to Peeta, they had an eight-minute head start, ensuring a successful evacuation. In recognition of the personal risk he took, Coin has authorized a rescue mission to the Capitol to save Peeta and the others, with Boggs leading and Gale coming along. In the meanwhile, Katniss will tape another promotional film. While going outside into a bomb crater, Katniss notices that hundreds of white roses have been dropped into the area. She interprets this as Snow reminding her of his threat last year, promising to kill all of Katniss' loved ones if she would not put up a charade. She immediately fears for Peeta's life and refuses to do any additional filming. Finnick takes her place, and as the rescue team crosses into the Capitol by helicopter without resistance, he tells the nation how he, as a victor of the Games, has learned many secrets. One of them is that president Snow rules by poison; during his rise to power, Snow systematically killed all those who could oppose him by offering them poisoned drinks, which he himself drank as well in order to not arouse suspicion. He used counteragents to neutralize the poison, but their effect was incomplete, leaving him with permanent sores in his mouth; to neutralize the smell, Snow is always surrounded by scented flowers.In the meanwhile, the rescue team has arrived at the Tribute Center. They enter and while making their way to the tributes, they traverse a sophisticated lab that seems to contain several torturing devices. When arriving at Peeta's location, the power to the Capitol is suddenly restored, and Beetee can no longer get into the power grid. Fearing the worst for the rescue team, Katniss wants to make an attempt to distract president Snow. She allows Beetee to connect her to president Snow himself, who eventually responds. She tries to convince him that she isn't the Mockingjay everyone claims her to be. It was never her intention to sabotage the Games and incite a rebellion, she just wanted her family and friends to be safe. Snow seems almost sympathetic to her words, but cryptically remarks that it is the things one cares about that becomes one's downfall. He tells her that he no longer believes this charade of innocence, and makes it very clear that he knows about the current rescue attempt being undertaken. The transmission is cut off immediately; Katniss is devastated by his words.Hours later, she learns that the rescue team has miraculously returned and was successful. Boggs and Gale have rescued everyone, but they are at a loss to explain why the Capitol allowed them to escape unharmed. Joanna Mason (Jena Malone) is back, apparently mistreated but feisty as ever, while Finnick is reunited with his girlfriend Annie. Katniss is being taken to Peeta, who looks emaciated but is otherwise fine. She tries to hug him, but he suddenly assaults her and chokes her within an inch of her life; Boggs can just barely knock him unconscious.Katniss awakes, badly bruised. Heavensbee tells her that Peeta has been 'hi-jacked': through psychological torture and hallucinatory tracker jacker venom, he has been conditioned to experience nothing but fear and hatred at the sight of Katniss, as Snow's ultimate revenge on her. They will start to work on him, but his recovery, if any, will be long and arduous. As Coin announces the return of the rescue team and the successful liberation of the prisoners to the people of District 13, Katniss sneaks into the medical facility where Peeta is being treated, and realizes to her horror that he is kept in isolation, complete psychotic and screaming in agony.The End
Score: 66 %
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