Movies.com Weighs the Pros and Cons of Having Francis Lawrence Direct Mockingjay 1 and 2

Lionsgate has already announced that they chose Francis Lawrence to direct Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, which will be out by November 2014 and 2015. The news was received differently by different fans and movie critics - some may like it and some may not. Now, let's listen to Movies.com's opinion on having Francis Lawrence continue directing "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" Part 1 and Part 2. 

Pro: Continuity

Continuity is key to any franchise in every respect – costume design, set design, tone, etc. Yes, Hunger Games has some solid source material at the core for guidance, but individual imagination and vision can still differ vastly from person to person. By keeping Lawrence on board for films two, three and four, we’re almost guaranteeing that every iteration of the franchise will maintain consistency.

Con: Continuity

Yes, continuity is key to keeping moviegoers immersed in a world throughout the length of a franchise, but hey, mistakes are made and sometimes things have to change. When you’ve got the same director neck deep in the same material for three films in a row, it can be tough to trade the old for something new, even if the old didn’t end up working all that well. And, should that happen, it wouldn’t even be Lawrence’s fault. Filmmaking is a lengthy and intense process and sometimes the key to making a movie work is stepping away for a bit. However, for Lawrence, with three films coming out and each only a year apart, he’ll likely be living, breathing and eating Hunger Games for the next three years straight.

Con: Catching Fire Doesn’t Live Up to Expectations

Gasp! I said it! I really do have faith in Lawrence and have very high hopes he’ll keep the bar high with Catching Fire, but it’s just impossible to guarantee the quality of the film at this point in the game – whether you’re a fan or you’re actually on set working on it. Perhaps they’re shooting some incredible material, but when Lawrence sits down to edit, it just doesn’t cut together well. Yes, the opposite could be the case, too, but, the point is, it can still go either way and should Catching Fire disappoint, it could be detrimental to the morale of the steadfast fan base.

Pro: Catching Fire Lives Up to Expectations

Yes, I just had to end on a positive note. Should Catching Fire blow us all away – and I truly believe it will – it’ll be smooth sailing through Mockingjay –Part 2!