The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: The Hunger Games Movie Review

“Everyone’s born as clean as a whistle— As fresh as a daisy. And not a bit crazy. Staying that way’s a hard row for hoeing— As rough as a briar, Like walking through fire. This world, it’s dark, And this world, it’s scary. I’ve taken some hits, so no wonder I’m wary. It’s why I need you— You’re pure as the driven snow…Roses are red, love; violets are blue. Birds in the heavens know I love you.” – Suzzane Collins

I am very pleased to say that the Hunger Games prequel movie called The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes was finally released this week and after a very good Thanksgiving dinner with the family, I decided to go check it out last night. It was a choice between this film or the new Napolean biopic directed by Ridley Scott that was also released this past week.

The Hunger Games prequel was the winning pick for this time around because I really want to wait and go see Napolean with my dad sometime in the next couple weeks. It’s a film we both will enjoy and appreciate watching together. I will write a review of Napolean soon! Anyways, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes was not what I expected.

Now before I begin today’s review, I have to say that I’ve not read the book! To be honest, I didn’t even know this book existed until the movie trailer was released and there just wasn’t enough time for me to read it. I have read all The Hunger Games novels with Katniss Everdeen and seen all the movies. I loved them quite a lot actually.

I’m sorry for not waiting; although, not waiting to read the book first is somehow fitting for this particular circumstance because I saw all the other movies before ever reading their books in this series anyways! That’s not my usual way of doing things at all, I much prefer reading the book first but that’s simply not how this series seems to have worked out for me. Why end a trend now?

“Thinking you’ll change me, maybe rearrange me. You can’t take my wealth, ’Cause it’s just a rumor. You can’t take my sass. You can’t take my talking. You can kiss my ass and then keep on walking. Nothing you can take from me was ever worth keeping.”

Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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The words “It’s the things we love most that hurt us,” spoken by Coriolanus Snow, do a phenomal job of summarizing the story’s heart rather perfectly. Nothing could possibly say it better. This movie masterfully details the fall then rise of President Snow. Viewers finally get to understand some of the deep conflicts behind the infamous man that shaped his character and watch firsthand as Snow’s treacherous nature takes form in this haunting tale of loyalty for country, betrayal of love, and the immense cruelty of mankind.

Without reading the book, honestly, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this film. My expectations were very small (not in a bad way, I knew it would be good). There just wasn’t any prior knowledge of the book beforehand and despite me knowing that this would be a film about a young Coriolanus snow, the first televised hunger games, and his love interest Lucy Grey, I didn’t really have any ideas on what the story entailed. All I can say is that what I got was fantastic. This movie was truly captivating from the opening scene!

I almost want to say that I am glad I knew nothing before watching because it provided me with a lot of extra suspense and suprise as I got caught up in the drama of it all; however, is that really valid? I am sure I would have had all those same feelings from reading the book but I don’t know. Just for this particular experience, I am glad for the shock value of knowing nothing while watching the movie.

“Maybe her gravestone could read, “Casualty of cheap laughs.”

Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

There are a massive amounts of twist and turns in the story that made me appreciate going into this one blind. My experience was better for it, I think… Anyways, the setting was done superb. This was sixty-four years prior to Katniss and the revolution. The fighting arenas, the capital itself, the twelve districts, and the characters themselves felt very different. It was perfect how they make you feel its decades into the past and very fascinating to see what the first games would have looked like. I immensely enjoyed that aspect!

The Hunger Games at the core is a dystopian, and this prequel really sticks with those themes but give more insight into how horrible the nature of the capital is. A rather good stand-out of this is Lucky Flickerman. He literally stole every scene he was in. His comic timing and constant one liners brought such hilarious yet repulsive levity to the terrible events depicted. The man literally is shown complaining about having to cancel dinner reservations because children are taking too long to slaughter themselves for his liking.

“You’ve no right to starve people, to punish them for no reason. No right to take away their life and freedom. Those are things everyone is born with, and they’re not yours for the taking. Winning a war doesn’t give you that right. Having more weapons doesn’t give you that right. Being from the Capitol doesn’t give you that right. Nothing does.”

Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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“And he didn’t like love, the way it had made him feel stupid and vulnerable. If he ever married, he’d choose someone incapable of swaying his heart. Someone he hated, even, so they could never manipulate him the way Lucy Grey had. Never make him feel jealous. Or weak. The ability to control things. Yes, that was what he’d loved best of all.”

Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

My favorite part of this whole entire film was the major character development coming into play for young President Snow. The portrayal of Coriolanus’s inner thoughts and internal conflict through just subtle eye movements, the nuanced twists of his lips, and furrows of his brows was beyond remarkable. His anti-redemption arc felt maddeningly realistic, provoking both a deep frustration and fascination. The depiction skillfully captured his personality and circumstances, presenting a brilliantly crafted character.

As a major fan of villainous characters, this portrayal truly deepened my appreciation for Snow because it does an impeccable job in acknowledging his complexity with a masterful execution of both Snow’s good and bad traits. While not a morally good person, he remains an intriguing and captivating figure in the narrative. The acting of Tom Blyth nailed this role like no other actor could.

This movie isn’t just good, this movie is art. That’s all I can really say about it. The superb casting choices, the gut-wrenching storylines, the amazing visual effects, the cleverly embedded Easter eggs and references from the original series, and the exploration between past eras and the present time—all these elements were flawless. I can’t imagine a better adaption. This prequel is the perfect dystopian to measures up effortesly to its beloved predeccesor, The Hunger Games. I highly reccomend the series and this prequel.

The ending is honestly my favorite part of the entire movie because not only did it leave me feeling shocked, but made me love Lucy Grey so much! She is the definition of a strong fearless woman that no man can bring down! The ending leaves viewers with such an amazing mystery to debate over. What really happened to her? What was her fate? I am dying to know what other think!

Side Note: Now that I’ve seen and loved the movie so well, and have become aware of the existence of this book. You bet I will be buying and reading it this week! I’ve got one book titled A Peril in the Bayou by Teagan Riordain Geneviene that I am finishing up then I will immediatley be getting a copy of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes to read right away. Make no mistake about that!

“They created a strange tableau: rabid boy, trapped girl, bombed-out building. It suggested a tale that could only end in tragedy. Star-crossed lovers meeting their fate. A revenge story turned in on itself. A war saga that took no prisoners.”

Suzanne Collins, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

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