On November 17, 2023, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” hit theaters and whisked fans across the world back into Panem, home to the immensely successful Hunger Games trilogy. Frances Lawrence returns to the franchise as director, crafting a well-adapted narrative of Suzanne Collins’ prequel of the same name that was released in 2020.
Set 64 years before the original series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes starrs Tom Blyth as 18-year old Coriolanus Snow, providing compelling insights into the transformation that led him to become the ruthless dictator of Panem. The once-affluent Snow family struggles to stay afloat financially after their wealth was lost in the war fought between the districts and Capitol. Coriolanus must ensure that his tribute, Lucy Gray Baird from District 12, succeeds in the 10th annual Hunger Games, to receive a higher education scholarship. Despite excellent performances from Viola Davis (Dr. Gall), Hunter Shafer (Tigris Snow), and the charismatic Rachel Zegler (Lucy Gray Baird), “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” fails to live up to the beloved original Hunger Games trilogy.
The cinematography and visuals of the movie are remarkable, and it was intriguing to see the hints of the extravagance of the Capitol that later became iconic in the original movies. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” references many fan-favorites moments from the trilogy — including the song, “The Hanging Tree,” penned by Lucy Gray for Snow, which goes on to become the anthem for the rebellion against future President Snow led by Katniss.
One key element that the book missed was capturing President Snow’s internal monologue — which is essential to understand his development into an antagonist. Although Tom Blyth tries, Coriolanus Snow from the book is presented to be more charming, which makes his twisted thoughts and actions all the more ironic.
Personally, I don’t think that the Hunger Games series needed an action-based prequel. Though it was extremely interesting to see the development of President Snow, the prolonged and explicit violence in the depiction of the 10th Hunger Games was unnecessary and excessive. Although it is effective as a prequel, the movie does not add a lot of value to the overall Hunger Games franchise. Additionally, Coriolanus’ and Lucy’s romance felt fizzled-out and rushed, especially in the latter part of the movie — leaving readers of the book unsatisfied. As the movie culminated, I didn’t hate President Snow as much as I did after finishing the book.
Overall, I would give this movie a ⅗. Although “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” effectively does its job as a prequel, this movie would be confusing to someone unfamiliar with the Hunger Games series.
