Entertainment : In Depth: 'Mockingjay, Part 1'

The Palace rings in the New Year with “Mockingjay, Part 1,” the latest installment in the “Hunger Games” series.

Whether Team Peeta or a faithful Team Gale fan like me – we all know Gale is Katniss’ true love, a tragic unrecognized victim of the Games – be sure to reserve your seats or line up early!  We’ve already sold 25 tickets for opening night.

“Mockingjay, Part 1” opens Friday, January 2 and runs through Thursday, January 8 at 7 pm every night and 2 pm Monday, January 5.

This film sets the stage for the fourth and finale movie, picking up where "Catching Fire" left off, with Katniss and company rescued from Quarter Quell and living in a compound under the rubble of District 13.  Once again Jennifer Lawrence expertly leads a stellar supporting cast, including Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Julianne Moore, Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

“Mockingjay, Part 1” runs just over two hours and is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action violence.  Your upper elementary students should enjoy it, but fidgety younger patrons will probably spend more time in the lobby, bathroom, and concession stand than their seats.

We realize several of you (eh hem, Grace and Lily Horst) could not wait and caught this movie on national opening night at the megaplex.  (They LOVED it, btw.) At just $3, diehard “Hunger Games” fans will enjoy a second viewing.  Palace loyalists, come be rewarded for your patience! 

See you at the Games!