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The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes marks the triumphant return of one of the world's most iconic film franchises after an 8-year hiatus.
Rewinding 11 years ago, when the first installment aired, The Hunger Games immediately became a box office phenomenon, grossing nearly $700 million globally, catapulting Jennifer Lawrence to superstardom in Hollywood. After four films, the franchise seemed concluded, having fully narrated the blood-drenched arena of survival and rich existential philosophies.
In 2020, author Suzanne Collins released the novel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, continuing the saga of Panem and delving deeper into the origins of the deadly arena. Hollywood filmmakers seized the opportunity to bring forth the prequel to The Hunger Games, officially hitting theaters on November 17th.
The Dark Past of the Universe's Most Sinister Villain in The Hunger Games
This time around, the plot revolves around the central character Coriolanus Snow (portrayed by Tom Blyth), who later becomes President Snow - the franchise's primary antagonist. Set in Panem's darkest era post-war, the Capitol elites seek to punish the neighboring districts through the deadly arena game.
Audiences are introduced to the backstory of Coriolanus, the only son of a powerful family in the Capitol. However, after his father's death, the family falls into such dire straits they can't afford food while still trying to maintain a prestigious estate. Determined to restore his family's position, Coriolanus studies diligently in hopes of securing a scholarship from the government to change his life.
Confident he's the most deserving candidate, Coriolanus's plans are thwarted when Headmaster Casca Highbottom (portrayed by Peter Dinklage) - who harbors a deep grudge against his father - alters the policy, seeking the scholarship's recipient by challenging the students in their roles as mentors to that year's tributes. Despite having no connection, Coriolanus is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (portrayed by Rachel Zegler), a fragile girl from District 12.
Throughout the mentorship of his 'darling,' Coriolanus develops feelings for Lucy. From then on, he tries to both earn the scholarship and protect his muse. However, that decision somewhat steers the ambitious youth's life into an unexpected turn.
For fans of The Hunger Games, the backstory of the franchise's most sinister villain will surely bring many intriguing aspects. With Tom Blyth's outstanding performance and emotional depth, this character emerges vividly and with diverse shades. Audiences empathize with his aspirations in a society rife with injustice and turmoil. Yet, at times, they are chilled to see how those ambitions turn him into a manipulative, cunning figure, ready to exploit those he loves most just to achieve his goals.
Lengthy but increasingly captivating towards the end
With a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes stands as the longest installment in the franchise to date. The film is divided into 3 distinct chapters, narrated seamlessly in linear chronological order. The first two chapters focus on Coriolanus Snow's background and his guidance of Lucy Gray Baird in navigating the arena of survival.
Meanwhile, the final chapter revolves around his relationship with the free-spirited girl from District 12. Here, the filmmakers also provide an answer to why the once noble young man could turn into a ruthless dictator, using lives as political pawns in his hands.
The first two chapters of the film evoke memories of the first installment of The Hunger Games with the story of a kind-hearted girl thrust into a blood-soaked game. However, the team behind The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes struggles to recreate the overwhelming emotions for the audience when they first stepped into a world of fantasy, yet saturated with social criticism.
The highlight of the film lies in its final chapter, where the story breaks away from the familiar Hunger Games trope to expand into the world of the districts outside the Capitol. The romance between Coriolanus and Lucy is filled with poetic essence, reminiscent of highly emotional prose about the Gypsy people often only heard through words on paper.
Similar to its predecessors, the strength of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes stems from the weight of the original novel. Author Suzanne Collins continues to craft a compelling narrative about President Snow's past. The filmmakers successfully convey these elements on screen in nearly 3 hours. While this approach may captivate die-hard fans of The Hunger Games franchise, it may feel overly drawn-out for other viewers, especially when the best part of the film is pushed towards the end of the work.
Comprehensive performances yet not without flaws
Another bright spot of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes comes from the stellar performances of the cast. Tom Blyth shines in his career-defining role as Coriolanus Snow. He successfully portrays the transformation of a inherently noble young man into a cunning and extremely ruthless individual. The character's psychological transformation is portrayed exceptionally well, with contrasting scenes depicting his moral decay.
Talented actors like Peter Dinklage and Viola Davis also deliver impressive performances in the film. The 'Game of Thrones' dwarf has a role that fits him like a glove. Portraying Headmaster Casca Highbottom, he excellently portrays an extremely intelligent character, eloquent yet always acting based on his emotions. However, he is aware of his own shortcomings and mistakes, leading to a life that, despite its glory, is not without struggles and regrets.
Meanwhile, Oscar-winning star Viola Davis embodies Dr. Volumnia Gaul, the initiator of the deadly game. The character is extremely cruel, not swayed by emotions but fiercely loyal to her own ideals of life. She is also the one who constantly challenges Coriolanus in the hope that he will be her successor, continuing to pursue the ideal of a blood-drenched game that can bring honor and order to the land of Panem.
The disappointment in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes unfortunately comes from the lead actress Rachel Zegler, one of Hollywood's most promising stars today. Despite receiving a role perfectly suited to her abilities, combining both acting and singing, the new Disney Snow White disappoints with a performance that is somewhat clumsy and exaggerated. Her vocal segments in the film are too theatrical, unable to escape from her previous role in 'West Side Story'. Zegler's portrayal somewhat clashes with a film with a script heavy in philosophical themes and deep societal criticism like The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Rating: 3.5/5
Overall, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes may not disappoint fans of the franchise. With a tight script and well-rounded performances from most of the cast, the film recreates the most appealing aspects of the cinematic universe revolving around the arena of survival for the audience. However, as a casual viewer, you will need quite a bit of patience to sit through the movie until the end, which is also the best part of the film.
