Film Review: “The Hungar Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”
Emily zickuhr | Dec. 20 2023 | Arts & EntertaiNMENt
The unknown origin of a youthful future President Coriolanus Snow is explored in depth in the new box office hit “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” a film adaptation of the 2020 novel by Suzanne Collins. The highly anticipated film is currently in theaters and fans of The Hunger Games are thrilled to return to the fantasy world of Panem. As these beloved characters are introduced to the screen, audiences are being drawn to movie theatres all across the globe.
Set 64 years before the events depicted in “The Hunger Games” trilogy, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” highlights the distraught and somber setting of Panem. The movie focuses on the protagonist Coriolanus Snow and his gradual evolution into the cold, manipulative villain in the original trilogy. While Donald Sutherland’s previous portrayal of merciless President Snow brings chills to the audience, the performance of Tom Blyth makes audiences warm up to the young Coriolanus.
The casting of actor Tom Blyth as Snow brings viewers a new interpretation of the character within the franchise thanks to casting directors Debra Zane and Dylan Jury. The casting of Hunter Schafer as Tigris and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird brings fresh faces to the series as previously seen with Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson in the original trilogy.
Drawing from Collins’ novel, the backstory of the movie revolves around a young Snow living with his sister Tigris and Grandmother played by Fionnula Flanagan, as he hopes to rise to the level of his deceased military general father through climbing the Capitol ranks. As Snow goes about this by striving for the Plinth Prize scholarship, he and his academy classmates are each assigned a tribute to mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. When he is assigned District 12’s tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, viewers can quickly notice the comparison to the ever-familiar Katniss Everdeen in the original trilogy. The Capitol’s strong power also heavily influences the main character in this film, due to young Coriolanus facing the pressures of living up to his father’s legacy. Additionally, more struggles face Snow’s path with Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) and Head Gamemaker Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis) bringing more obstacles to his radical new ideas and plans for the Capitol.
While the recurring elements from the previous films bring comfort to viewers, the returning director Francis Lawrence brings limelight to the new plot and cast of characters. With the same concept of the games, there comes key differences in the size of the arena and the costumes with each district tribute. This smaller budget Hunger Games presents more as a background to the film, with the relationship of Snow and Baird carrying more of the plot throughout the movie.
With the chemistry between Lucy and Coriolanus taking center stage, the two characters build on the somber setting of the games. Later, they eventually reunite in the chaos of the decisions of Snow’s academy best friend and son of Casca Highbottom, Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andres Rivera). While Baird and Snow ultimately share love and companionship through similar interests, their future dreams and where they will fulfill them causes a major dent in their relationship. While Lucy, a charming singer, hopes to keep performing in District 12, the Capitol’s strong hold on young Coriolanus affects every difficult choice he must make, including his need to return to the Capitol for his family’s greater good.
The changes in Blyth and Zegler’s characters bring audiences an eerie nod as to why President Snow feels so compelled to target Katniss Everdeen all throughout “The Hunger Games” trilogy. Screenwriters Michael Lessler and Michael Arndt masterfully articulate the dystopian world in a way where every line sticks out. The ties to dialogue in the original film series and the now quotable “Snow lands on top” creates a full circle ending leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.
Altogether, the movie exceeded my expectations in the acting, screenwriting, and directing. As a fan of "The Hunger Games” books and films, I would heavily recommend watching the film. Raking in over $200 million worldwide, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” has become a must-watch movie event this holiday season.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is now playing in theatres.