"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" Movie Review

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” Review

Dystopian movies have made a comeback in theaters, and it finally feels like the world is healing. Suzanne Collins has invited the audience into Panem once again, and fans are forever in her debt.

The original “The Hunger Games” franchise released three books between the years 2008-2010. These books were written by Suzanne Collins and her fascinating brain, and this young adult fiction series was read by numerous age ranges across the globe.

In 2012-2015 there were four “The Hunger Games” movies released, and they absolutely rocked the box office and changed the trajectory of cinema forever. These films starred Jennifer Lawerence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth and were directed by Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence.

After 2015 the “The Hunger Games” renaissance and era came to a close, and fans were left with books on the shelves and bow and arrows in the closet. However, Suzanne Collins continued to spur with inspiration about the origins of Panem and how Coriolanus Snow became the president.

On May 19, 2020, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was released and tilted the Earth off of its axis. This book was the longest of the entire series, being 517 pages long and broken into three parts.

It was apparent that this prequel would need a movie to add to the franchise, and Francis Lawrence reclaimed his position as director for the fifth film.

Since the novel was a prequel, the previous stars were not expected to be seen in the film. Although this saddens a great deal of fans, this allowed for new characters of Panem to emerge.

Rachel Zegler was cast as Lucy Gray Baird, and she fits perfectly into the mold of the District 12 performer. Tom Blyth was cast as young Coriolanus Snow, and this man came to serve. This film is the rocket that will catapult Blyth's career, and audience members could not be more excited for him.

Most fans going to the theaters had read the intense book before seeing the movie, and those fans were pleasantly met with an extremely accurate adaptation. Quotes from the book were directly taken and put into the script, which is unlike most franchise adaptations.

This prequel movie is 64 years before the first “The Hunger Games” movie, as this is the 10th annual Hunger Games. Is apparent in the film that Panem is still struggling after the war, better known as “the dark days.”

The main point of the film is how to make more citizens of Panem watch the Games and get more active engagement. Snow proposes a system of betting on the tributes and allowing gifts of food and water to be provided to them in the arena.

This proposal from Snow becomes customary to the Games and is adopted for every game following the 10th. Audience members would assume this would put Snow in a higher position, but they are shocked to find out that he has a target on his back the whole film.

Due to this film taking place earlier in Panem, there are fewer technological advancements made. This makes the Games seem more violent and gory, almost as if the film should’ve been rated R. Fans agree that the prequel is the most violent of the five films and the most nauseating to watch.

One of the tributes from District 8 is Wovey who was played by Sofia Sanchez. Sanchez is a Ukrainian actress with Down syndrome and stole the hearts of audiences everywhere. This inclusivity in the cast places “The Hunger Games” franchise on an honorable pedestal.

Viewers found the comedic relief to be extremely necessary and entertaining during the film and was provided by Lucky Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman. The most iconic quotes from the film came from Schwartzman, and he honored the Flickerman family perfectly.

Overall, the film did justice to the novel and the entire franchise. Fans rated the movie similarly to “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which is intense praise for the prequel.

“The Hunger Games” truly stands alone in the dystopian universe. Fans can say with confidence “Panem today, Panem tomorrow, Panem forever.”

Rating: 5/5

Grace Bowman is a third-year majoring in biology and minoring in psychological sciences. To contact her, email gab5585@psu.edu