The highly-anticipated prequel to the “Hunger Games” series, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” does not disappoint. Its premiere has met with glowing reviews, and an unprecedented 112% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A longtime fan of the “Hunger Games” series who recently binge-watched the first four films, I was eager to see the movie in theaters this past week.
Given the recent release and high demand for this movie, this author will attempt to avoid spoilers by giving a fairly broad overview of the plot. In fact, some may even say the information found in the following description was revealed in the movie’s first trailer. However, I assure you, this author did in fact see this movie in theaters on its scheduled release date. I spent an incredible amount of money on a souvenir popcorn bucket and large soda before making my way into the theater, already crowded with people of all ages. Several superfans were also present, sparking a heated debate over Team Peeta or Team Gale resulting in a fistfight, but they settled down relatively quickly when the previews for the film began.
In this prequel to Katniss Everdeen’s story, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” follows a young Coriolanus Snow—the future President Snow—in the wake of the first war and early history of the districts. Within the Capitol, Snow attempts to redeem his family, who lost much of their prestige given the tumultuous war. At the same time, the districts as a whole are grappling with the 10th Hunger Games. As these issues play out on the big screen, Snow is battling to survive mounting pressure to bring his family back into favor while at the same time dealing with an internal moral battle. With various twists, dramatic battles and emotional moments, Snow is forced to decide if he will be a songbird or a snake in this new world order.
Not only does this movie expand further on the “Hunger Games” universe, the cinematography, special effects and music is impeccable. The dramatic soundtrack goes along perfectly with the events of the movie, and heightens its emotional appeal. As with other “Hunger Games” movies, the special effects and design of the world is visually fantastic. Although it is rare for a movie to surpass its book counterpart, this movie makes a fair attempt at honoring the original work. The actors put on an excellent performance, and the designers involved in making the world come to life stayed true to the design of Suzanne Collins. The only critique I would make is the inexplicable presence of a tropical parrot flying across the screen during the most emotional moments.
In short, I would absolutely recommend that fans of the “Hunger Games” universe run to theaters to see this latest film. For those in need of a refresher, it may be useful to review the first four movies in order to understand the events playing out in this prequel, and how it fits into the larger universe. However, it is also critical not to arrive too early to the theater, seeing as the movie does not actually come out until November. April Fools!
