This movie is rated PG-13 for “strong violent content and disturbing material.”
Spoiler-free review – 4.9/5 stars
In sixth grade, it was my dream to see a “Hunger Games” movie in theaters. It was one of those “wouldn’t it be cool…” type dreams, one that I knew would never come true because the franchise was complete. There was no more story to tell.
But it’s not over until the mockingjay sings, and the infamous songbird still had one last song to perform.
When author Suzanne Collins released the prequel to her acclaimed “Hunger Games” trilogy, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” back in 2020, chatter about a return to the blockbuster movie franchise spread like catching fire throughout the fandom. Just a short time later, it was confirmed that the novel’s adaptation would hit screens sometime between 2022 and 2024.
Fast forward three and a half years and here I am, coming full-circle and writing this review. My heart could not be more full.
“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), where, as part of a contest for a monetary award, he is forced to mentor the female tribute from District 12, performer Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), in the 10th Hunger Games. As Coriolanus and Lucy Gray grow closer, their partnership grows into something more. The two must constantly question whether what they have is real — or whether they’re both playing into a trap the other has set for them.
This movie could have very easily gone badly. It wouldn’t have been difficult or even unreasonable for it to have been fan-service and not actually of any cinematographic quality.
That being said, I should have never doubted the treasure trove of “Hunger Games” genius that returning director Francis Lawrence brought to the table, because this adaptation blew my wildest expectations out of the water. Everything down to the color palates chosen for each character and setting is meticulous and fits right into the Panem that fans remember from the original four movies. Head costumer Trish Summerville’s research and design when aging back the flamboyant outfits of the Capitol citizens is on point, and each individual character’s wardrobe was perfectly curated under her watchful eye.
On the acting side, Zegler and Blyth shoie in their respective roles, backed up by a star-studded supporting cast of Hunter Schafer (Tigris Snow), Josh Andrés Rivera (Sejanus Plinth), Viola Davis (Volumnia Gaul) and Peter Dinklage (Casca Highbottom). Despite the recent public disdain for Zegler because of her role in Disney’s new live action “Snow White,” she is without doubt one of the only actresses I can imagine doing Lucy Gray justice. The combination of the delicate approach she takes with all her characters and her immense musical prowess is the embodiment of what Lucy Gray was always meant to be. Blyth, on the other hand, is phenomenal in the completely opposite sense; balancing the careful nuance of adolescence and the cunning, cutthroat nature of the man who will grow up to be the villainous tyrant of Panem is not an easy feat, but Blyth’s seemingly effortless approach can fool anyone into thinking he is truly a young Donald Sutherland growing into the antagonistic flare of Panem’s future president.
As a singer, another aspect of this film I can’t get enough of is the soundtrack. As previously mentioned, Zegler is a phenomenal musician; her voice is rich and powerful and her breath control and tone quality are off the charts. She somehow turns the familiar “Hunger Games” tune, “The Hanging Tree,” originally sung by Jennifer Lawrence in “Mockingjay: Part 1,” into a haunting progression of acoustic chords and vocal runs that gives the melody new life. Olivia Rodrigo joined the soundtrack as the featured artist as well, releasing her new original single “Can’t Catch Me Now” two weeks before the movie’s debut in theaters on Nov. 17. While I thoroughly enjoy quite a few of Rodrigo’s songs, none of her repertoire has ever stuck with me as much as “Can’t Catch Me Now” has. It’s one of those rare pieces that somehow gets better every time you listen to it; from a musical standpoint, it’s technically flawless and well-researched as well.
Add the acting and vocal talent up with the plethora of subtle, yet purposeful references to the original books and movies and you get the masterpiece that is “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes:” a chilling twist on the Games and a triumphant return to Panem. Any fans of the original “Hunger Games” will easily fall back into love with the story and world with this film.
Wear a necklace of hope for this prequel and go see “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” now playing in theaters across the world. May the odds be ever in your favor.