The two-part finale trend that has been pushed lately, most recently with Mockingjay: Part One, really needs to stop.

The excitement of Mockingjay disappears early on in the film as dull scenes and filler material take over. Some might disagree, but I do not believe that the Hunger Games series deserves a two-part finale compared to other franchises.

Fans are introduced to a shaken Katniss Everdeen in District 13 at the start of the film, following the traumatic events of the quarter century Quarter Quell game in Catching Fire. The most notable cause of Katniss’s stress is the capture of Peeta Mellark, her partner in crime and love interest. The guilt that Katniss feels for not being able to rescue Peeta is apparent all throughout the film in an over-the-top-manner. Their relationship was rushed in the book and is rushed even more in the movie. Whether it’s the fault of the actress or the character, her obsession with locating and rescuing him seems kind of insincere and laughable.

District 13, the last of the districts that was thought to have been destroyed by the Capitol long ago due to rebellion, is the underground setting of the film. It is decided early on that they need a symbol for their newest rebellion. They turn to Katniss, the “mockingjay,” for her passion and smolder. Still deeply affected by the loss of Peeta, however, Katniss at first refuses to be spotlighted. This is another flaw in her obsession with Peeta; she only thinks about him. Everything else that holds significance is suddenly unimportant to her.

This all changes when Katniss gets a glimpse of Peeta on Capitol television. He appears healthy and well, but urges the rebels to drop their weapons and embrace peace. Katniss is fueled with anger at the Capitol’s manipulation of Peeta and agrees to be the mockingjay if two conditions are met by District 13: all tributes are rescued from the Capitol at the first given opportunity and will face no retribution. You would think there would be some excitement after this scene, but there isn’t. The pace of the rest of the film remains slow.

I have heard the argument “There’s so much stuff that happens in the book!” but it is forgotten that Mockinjay is only 390 pages, whereas Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows for example boasts 759 pages. The Mockingjay book was incredibly dull and void of a lot of action, which is why I was extremely confused when I heard it would have two movies. I guess that is what happens when a film company wants to milk a franchise dry.

There is only one prominent action scene in the film, and even then, it isn’t too exciting. Katniss shoots down a Capitol fighter hovercraft alongside her other lover interest, Gale. The flames and fast-paced music are cool, sure, but for a movie that falls under the “action” category, it is quite embarrassing.

Overall, Mockingjay: Part One is a film whose only purpose is to set up the finale in the Hunger Games series. Fans of the books will appreciate the detail of part one, but that is the film’s only redemption. The book really should have been one two-and-a-half hour movie.