Have you ever wondered what President Snow was like before he became so powerful? Or what life was like back when he was younger? How ‘The Games’ were controlled before?
That’s why it was a pleasant surprise when The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes came out on November 17th. The movie was originally a book written by Suzanna Collins. To say it has been a hit would be an understatement. The movie has been doing incredibly well since its release and it seems to only be growing in popularity.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes takes us back in time to when Coriolanus Snow was just 18 years old and selected to be mentor in the 10th annual Hunger Games. The film follows his journey along with his tribute’s — Lucy Gray Baird. While Coriolanus is not supposed to give his tribute an advantage, he seems to have a soft spot for Lucy Gray and continues to assist her throughout the Games. This causes issues and further complicates the situation that Coriolanus is in. This movie is truly well-written and keeps you on your toes at all times. Due to the precise details included in this film, you need to pay attention to fully understand what it is all about.
Similar to the first Hunger Games movie, ‘Songbirds & Snakes’ provides a very similar mood. The original setting of the movie is gray and dreary which is almost identical to the setting in the first movie. Along with that, the tributes seem to have related emotions and characteristics. They all portray an alike state of mind, which is for some fearful, and for some angry. Lucy Gray and Katniss are extremely similar and there are many little details that showcase those similarities to the audience. While their characters are not exactly identical, they are closely related in their actions and overall disposition.
Directors Francis Lawrence and Gary Ross did a wonderful job displaying the book’s true meaning and why President Snow’s perspective is so important to have when watching the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movies. They also provided very intricate sets and costumes that looked very realistic and time-appropriate. The small details in this movie were so important because they made the film so much more interesting. Even a small thing like a phrase or a certain object a character would possess would make the audience have an “ah-ha” moment in which they realized the significance of that certain feature in the film and how it ties into the previous movies. This film will make you feel happy, anxious, heartbroken, and more. It is truly a masterpiece that incredibly depicts what we have all been waiting for.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is only available in theaters at the moment so watch it while you can!