The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt. Based on the 2020 novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins, it serves as a prequel to The Hunger Games (2012), and is the fifth installment in The Hunger Games film series. The film stars Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis.
Set 64 years before the events of the first film, its plot follows the events that lead a young Coriolanus Snow on the path to becoming the tyrannical leader of Panem, including his relationship with the Hunger Games District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird during the 10th Hunger Games.
The film is strong, and has some strong performances, especially those of Blyth and Zegler, as well as its visuals and faithfulness to the source material. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a well-made and entertaining film that will appeal to fans of the original trilogy, and is a well made continuation of the franchise.
What we liked
- The film is visually stunning, with a beautiful and atmospheric look that captures the dystopian world of Panem.
- The performances are all excellent, with Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler giving particularly standout performances as Coriolanus Snow and Lucy Gray Baird.
- The film is suspenseful and thrilling, with plenty of action and intrigue to keep the audience engaged.
- The film does a good job of exploring the themes of poverty, oppression, and rebellion that are central to The Hunger Games series.
What we didn’t like
- The film’s ending is a bit ambiguous, and rushed.
