The newest addition to the Hunger Games franchise – the film adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – has returning as well as newer fans in a chokehold. The prequel follows young Coriolanus Snow, who is the main antagonist in the original trilogy. This story has had a large impact on the entire series, because not only does it offer a look into the backstory of President Snow, but also puts emphasis on the evolution of the Games. All over social media, there has been a resurgence of praise, rewatching, and rereading as everyone enters the world of Panem once again.
Having seen The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes twice (might have to make it three times) in theaters, I have formed many thoughts and opinions on the adaptation. So here’s my personal review.
(Warning: spoilers ahead).
Photo from Entertainment Weekly
The casting and acting of the original trilogy were phenomenal, so everyone had high expectations for this prequel. And it did not disappoint.
The main lead of ambitious, power-hungry Coriolanus Snow, is played by Tom Blyth. When the trailer first came out, I was curious to see how Snow’s internal monologue from the novel would be represented in the movie since it is a pivotal factor for the reader to understand his character transformation. However, Blyth captures Snow’s change in mindset almost perfectly. When Coriolanus kills Bobbin, one of the tributes in the Games, his insanity and hunger for power are shown for the very first time in the movie, and fans are able to piece together how original-trilogy-Snow came to be. Another part of the movie where Blyth’s phenomenal acting was showcased occurred towards the end of the film when Lucy Gray runs away after realizing Snow could no longer be trusted. Blyth masterfully represents Snow’s anger and malevolence that had been brewing throughout the story through a powerful display of emotion and rage.
Lucy Gray Baird from District 12 is a girl who treasures her freedom and her loved ones. She’s strong-willed, uses music to speak her mind, and is played by the brilliant Rachel Zegler. A talented singer herself, Zegler perfectly captures Lucy Gray’s appreciation for music as an escape from her doomed fate. Reading the lyrics of Lucy Gray’s songs in the book was a little awkward without hearing a melody, but hearing Lucy Gray sing those lyrics added so much more life to the story. During Lucy Gray’s last scenes, Zegler portrays her enigmatic ending flawlessly. The delivery of her last lines leave viewers forever wondering what happened to Lucy Gray. Zegler cleverly describes the two characters of Lucy Gray Baird and Katniss Everdeen: that Lucy Gray is a “performer in a hunt” while Katniss is a “hunter forced to perform.” I am so grateful Zegler was cast for a character as complex and compelling as Lucy Gray; it is important to have an actor who is willing to give it their all for such a key character… and that’s exactly what Rachel Zegler did.
Photo from Entertainment Weekly
The brilliant performances of the actors was only one of the many strengths of the prequel. For me, music has always played a critical role in film. The riveting soundtrack of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes contains new pieces but also brings back scores from the original films. For instance, when Lucy Gray mentioned the name Katniss to Snow when describing a plant and Katniss’ theme from Catching Fire started playing – it was such a small but significant touch while also providing eerie foreshadowing (instant goosebumps). Adding to the musical depth of the film, Zegler’s excellent musical range allows for her to perfectly portray Lucy Gray’s style of folk music. In all her singing scenes, she’s completely singing live, resulting in a display of raw emotion that lets the audience connect and sympathize with Lucy Gray.
Despite the film succeeding in including many vital plot points, it did fall short in a couple of instances. The fate of Clemensia Dovecote (played by Ashley Liao), one of Snow’s fellow pupils from the Capitol, isn’t shown in the film, even though it would’ve been a powerful incident to show. Her last scene in the movie is of her getting dragged away after getting bit by one of Dr. Gaul’s snake mutations. However, in the book, Clemensia returns, and is terrifyingly affected by the bite: her skin peels and has turned a sickly tint of yellow, she hisses at those around her, and scales begin to grow all over her body. Many fans (including me) are let down by the absence of Clemensia’s transformation, for it would’ve offered insight into the history of the mutts (yep… the same mutts who killed a lot of our favorite characters).
Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and Clemensia Dovecote (Ashley Liao) in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
With all being said, it is clear that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a compelling film full of eerie suspense, gruesome action, and amazing cinematography. I would strongly recommend it to anyone who wants a movie that would keep them on the edge of their seat for the entire two and a half hours. But be warned, once you enter the story of the Hunger Games – whether for the first time, the fifth, or the tenth – the characters, stories, and messages will stick with you forever. After all, it’s the things we love most that destroy us.