For weeks, thousands of fans impatiently anticipated the arrival of November 21, 2014.  This was the premiere date of Part 1 of “Mockingjay,” which is the last part of the Hunger Games movie franchise. When the wait was finally over, and the theater doors were opened, you have to ask: Was the movie worth the wait? Or was it a waste of the viewers’ time, money and patience?

Though it needs no introduction, “The Hunger Games” franchise began as a book series, a trilogy, by Suzanne Collins. Once producers took note of its success, they made the decision to turn those thrilling books into movies. Viewers have many different opinions about whether the movie producers have done these books justice. In my opinion, having both read the books and watched the movies, I have no doubt that the books were just better. When you are able to read exactly what a character is feeling or wanting to say, or when a setting can be described in such detail that you can paint a picture of it, you feel more connected to the story. So trying to compete with these literary insights can be a challenge. However, the film producers gave it their best shot. The cast of “The Hungers Games” is brilliant. The main characters, Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), and Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne) are perfect choices for their roles. And I must give the graphic artists props for the animations.

Although there are lots of positive things to say about “Mockingjay,” there are certainly some negatives. Overall, I guess you could say the movie did its job. It did set up a platform for Part 2 and it did explain the plot’s underlying conflict. But what the movie didn’t do was give me the emotion I was looking for. “Mockingjay” was supposed to be the movie where the characters’ emotions were dark and overwhelming. This was the movie where the characters’ hatred for the capital was evident, a hatred that stemmed from the oppressive and outrageous rules that drove them to rebellion. Peta, the love of Katniss’ life, was captured by the enemy! I wanted to see anguish! Yes, there were some scenes where she shed a tear or two, but I didn’t feel it. And I don’t know about anyone else but I felt her long “empowering” speech about revenge sounded like a whole lot of “blah blah blah.”

Now let’s talk about the romance in this movie. Oh wait, there wasn’t any. Enough said.

My last critique would be that the acting done by some of the minor characters were a little over the top. For example when Katniss visited the hospital in District 8 there was a boy who asked her whether or not she would fight with them. This scene was supposed to be a dramatic but it came off a little bit comical because of how he delivered the line. The acting just wasn’t where it needed to be to deliver the needed emotional oomph.

Overall the movie “Mockingjay” was decent, but it was definitely the worst out of the three. I am hoping that “Mockingjay” Part 2, the last movie of the series, will prove to be superior to not only Part 1 but to “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire,” as well.