Hunger Games prequel

Lionsgate

Eight years after the original trilogy concluded, the highly anticipated prequel, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” generated mass excitement from movie-goers after hitting the big screen Nov. 17.

Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ most recent novel of the same name, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” transports viewers back in time to Panem, 64 years before the events of the original story. The storyline follows the origin of Coriolanus Snow, infamously known as the reigning Panem president and villain in the original trilogy. 

The 10th annual Hunger Games proves itself revolutionary as it is the first time Snow and his 23 classmates are chosen as mentors to the tributes. The mentor whose tribute wins the game is to be awarded a cash prize.

Tom Blyth as Snow, and Rachel Zegler as District 12’s female tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, delivered well-executed performances that captivates the audience from the start. 

Snow and Lucy Gray quickly grow intimate from their initial mentor-tribute relationship and are driven by their shared goal to win the Games. However, their connection ends abruptly once Lucy Gray uncovers Snow’s true colors.

The Capitol expresses concern that the Hunger Games are no longer bringing in the desired viewership. Desperate to maintain power and continue the games, the Capitol implements new conditions for the spectacle, which include familiar callbacks to the original trilogy, like sponsorships. 

Baird, a traveling performer, quickly captivates the audience with her remarkable singing ability and is nicknamed “Songbird.” Snow, a cunning mastermind, realizes that he must create a narrative that will make the public fall in love with Baird, which will, in turn, raise the public viewership. 

It is fascinating to watch Snow’s evolution from a young scholar to a tyrant through his actions and calculated decisions made in this film, contextualizing his overall presentation in the main series. 

Aside from the gripping plot that adds dimension to the wicked character of Snow, the tactical movie elements further enhance the film’s intensity. 

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” reveals the lengths taken to achieve power in the futuristic dystopian realm of Panem through its corrupt government and fascist societal leaders.

Throughout the lengthy prequel, references are made that may catch the attention of many long-time fans of the franchise. These subtle callbacks relate to the Mockingjay bird, the song “The Hanging Tree” and the origin of the name “Katniss,” which will later belong to another fierce District 12 victor. 

The storyline answers the question that die-hard fans wondered throughout the original trilogy: Why does President Snow so strongly despise Katniss Everdeen?

The game itself comprises the majority of the film’s action-packed scenes. With brutal stabbings, snake attacks and plotted poisonings, the deadly arena comes to life. Alliances are formed, leaving many tributes alienated and forced to fend for themselves, proving their strength and resilience. The dynamics between the tributes create intense tension, leaving audience members on the edge of their seats.

Among the intense narrative of the film, there are a number of light-hearted humorous jokes made by weatherman and Hunger Games host Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman, providing moments of comedic relief throughout the otherwise barbaric film. 

The film itself is broken up into three separate parts: “The Mentor,” “The Prize” and “The Peacekeeper.” By dividing the movie into three sections, director Francis Lawrence adequately focuses on different points of Snow’s journey, allowing each segment to unfold at a timely pace. 

The outstanding cast including Hunter Schafer, Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis, along with uniquely designed costumes, repeating film scores and eerie cinematography create a mesmerizing cinematic journey. The visuals and acting performances evoke nostalgia for long-time “Hunger Games” fanatics, transporting them back in time to the haunting country of Panem. 

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is a well-executed, action-packed prequel to the original trilogy and also closely follows the storyline of the 2020 novel from which it was adapted.

The film is now available to watch in theaters.