Alright, so a lot of people read the Hunger Games novel, and saw the movies, did they not? Well, today, we are going to be reviewing the prequel to the Hunger Games series. It stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, and a few other people. So now, I present to you all my review of The Hunger Games prequel, The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes.
Plot: The movie takes place with Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) in his younger years, and the events that eventually led to his rise to power in the Hunger Games championships.
So, was this prequel to the Hunger Games book, or movie series? Well, it had some high points, but it also had some low ones as well. But more on that very soon! Let’s talk about the good stuff. First of all, it did a very good job of developing some of the relationships, particularly the friendship between Coriolanus Snow, and Sejanus, and the love relationship between Snow, and Lucy Gray Baird. The rest of the cast seems to be really well established as well. And another thing! How could one not be impressed by the care, and compassion that Snow for sure had for others? That is especially for Lucy, when they were from different sides of life? Additionally, the movie does an excellent job of showing what life is like when it comes to sacrifices that have to be made from time to time, and things like that. The acting is also really well done. Oh, and another thing! It was very interesting to have a couple original songs in this film by the female love interest Lucy Gray Baird. Seeing as this prequel was called Songbirds & Snakes, I suppose it makes sense that there would be a couple original songs in this film. It’s also surprising how much tension there is throughout this film, especially in the middle through end of this movie. The acting was also really good. There was one role that some people may feel ambivalent about out, but more on that later! There were also some points that had good twists, and turns, well written moments of betrayal with certain characters, and things like those. Oh, and one other thing! Did I forget to mention that James Newton Howard composes the score for this film? Well, if you liked some of the films that he’s scored in in the past, be it Vertical Limit, the third Fantastic Beasts film, Raya & The Last Dragon, and films like those, you’ll most likely love his score in this film too.
That all being said, what are the negatives in this film? Well, for one, there’s Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird. Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good actress in the films she’s in, and here is no exception. However, part of me feels ambivalent about being a love interest due to some controversial things that she said in regards to her role as Snow White in the upcoming remake of Disney’s Snow White. I won’t go into details, but one of the most tragic things that she said in regards to the upcoming Snow White is that she thinks it’s weird that in the Disney animated version of Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, Snow White falls in love with someone like Prince Charming, and they live happily ever after. She also says that she’s glad that Prince Charming won’t be in the new Snow White remake. Huh, for her to be glad about that, and yet she’s obviously okay with being a love interest to one of the main male characters in this Hunger Games film, yeah, that kind of sounds a little hypocritical on her part, wouldn’t you say? Just saying! Anyway, the main characters are not always that nice, and likable. I get that maybe they weren’t supposed to be, but still. The movie may also be a little too dark, and violent at times. Yes, this is rated PG-13. Still, did this film need to be as dark, and violent as it was in the end? What’s even more is that the main character, Coriolanus Snow, doesn’t even seem to have any regrets for anything that he did wrong, nor does he seem to see wrong any of his actions. Snow also seems to be a little self-centered, and egocentric at points. At least with someone like Lucy Gray Baird, though I wasn’t too big of a fan of the actress that played her, at least the character seemed to have a more decent sense of morals, you know? The storyline also felt rather tragic, and convoluted a lot of the time as well. Finally, there are some potential messages in this movie seemed rather negative, and not the best ones to take away from this movie, especially with the whole thing about how violence, and killing could be a good thing, you know?
And that concludes my review for The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes. If you’re a die hard fan of the Hunger Games series, definitely feel free to give it a shot. However, if you’re looking for a film that’s more fun, and possibly more uplifting, I would say save your money, and go see something like upcoming films such as Aquaman 2, or Wonka, or even Disney’s Wish if that one’s not as horrible as many have made it out to be. The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes does have a few high points. Even so, there were more things about it that you probably won’t be too big of a fan of. That being said, probably skip this film, and save your money for a different film, or a really great Christmas party, or something along those lines.
Final Grade: C+
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