DVD Review: Latest ‘Hunger Games’ entry adds extra features

The third of four films based on Suzanne Collins’ “Hunger Games” trilogy, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1” follows the book — or roughly the first half of the book — reasonably closely. Collins managed to come up with a logical excuse to set up the second book’s reiteration of the Games, but she also knew that a third time around would be one too many trips to the well. So “Mockingjay” abandons the Games themselves and follows Katniss’ not-entirely-willing conversion to an inspirational symbol for the upcoming revolution.

As in its predecessors, “Mockingjay — Part 1” is nearly perfectly cast. Jennifer Lawrence is unsurprisingly great as Katniss, and she’s surrounded by returnees Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, and almost everyone else whose character made it out of “Catching Fire” alive. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman returns in what appears to be his last performance (along with the upcoming “Part 2”); he is joined by newly minted Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, with whom he also worked in “Boogie Nights,” “The Big Lebowski,” and “Magnolia” — iconic films all.
Judging from the Blu-ray, the transfer has no problems with either sound or image. The video release of the second film was a little short on extras; the new film (like the first in the series) has roughly three hours worth plus (unlike the first in the series) a commentary track with director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. There is a two-hour-plus “making of,” which, other than its length, is pretty standard stuff. There are nine deleted scenes (totaling about 11 minutes), only a few of which would have added much to the feature. Finally, there is a touching 11-minute tribute to Hoffman.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Blu-ray/DVD combo, $39.95; DVD, $29.95)

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ANDY KLEIN is the film critic for Marquee. He can also be heard on “FilmWeek” on KPCC-FM (89.3).