A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” (2023).
I must admit that after seeing the original Hunger Games film in 2012, and some of the knock off follow-ons like “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner”, I rather lost interest in this genre and never got to watch any of the three Jennifer Lawrence sequels. But that really doesn’t matter much here since this is a prequel set, as the film begins, during a period of war and devestation before the Hunger Games were even initiated. But the rest of the film is set at the time of the tenth annual Hunger Games and tells the backstory of Coriolanus Snow…. the character that would go on to be President Snow (played by Donald Sutherland) in the later (or rather, earlier) films.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is an eager and ambitious student angling for the ‘Plinth Prize’ – the top graduation honour for the year. But the rug gets pulled by Dean Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) who announces that in a change of tradition, each student will receive a Hunger Games player to mentor. The student who delivers the most memorable experience to the population will win the top prize. This change has arisen because – a bit like the Oscars broadcast! – the games’ creator, Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), needs to raise the sagging viewing figures of the spectacle. Snow gets assigned the girl-tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), and his task becomes harder when he starts to develop feelings for the beautiful but feisty songstress.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Moderate violence, threat, drug misuse”. Imho, this one is at the top end of the ’12’ band…. it is more a 12 than a 12A).
Talent:
Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Hunter Schafer, Max Raphael, Jason Schwartzman.
Directed by: Francis Lawrence.
Written by: Michael Lesslie & Michael Arndt. (Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins).
Twitter Handle: #TheHungerGames.
Running Time: 2h 37m.
Viola Davis vamping it up as Dr. Volumnia Gaul with Tom Blyth’s Coriolanus Snow looking on. (Source: Lionsgate FIlms).
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” Review:
Positives:
- I really didn’t have great expectations for this film, but I was pleasantly surprised as I was watching it. The first two thirds of the film, covering the building relationship between Snow and Baird and the ‘Battle Royale’ held within the arena, is very entertaining and well done. (I imagine if I’d seen the other three HG films, I would be saying “Yawn – same old, same old”. But I didn’t so I won’t.)
- The film is carried along by Rachel Zegler, who continues to impress me so much. She was fabulous in Spielberg’s “West Side Story” and almost made me forgive the disaster that was “Shazam: Fury of the Gods“. Here she gets to repeat her Shazam action role but combine it with her musical ability from WSS. The screen lights up whenever she is on it and especially when she’s belting out a musical number (most of which are country and western style here).
- Peter Dinklage again delivers a great performance as does Viola Davis, with a distinct change of pace, who chews the scenary wonderfully as Gaul. Jason Schwartzman is also engaging as the TV compere Lucky Flickerman (the same or a descendant of Stanley Tucci’s Caesar Flickerman in the earlier films? I’m not clear.)
- The production design and special effects are genuinely impressive.
Negatives:
- This is a movie that should have headed for the hills before reaching the 2 hour mark. Because all of the action after we reach District 12 is bland and forgettable. A long (155 minute) film goes from being entertaining to interminable. Worse than that, we get to a conclusion with the two young lovers, that really, on analysis, makes no sense at all. A change of heart and attitude that defies logic. Disappointing.
- Zegler seems to be adopting a Southern US accent that is supposed to be endearing but doesn’t really work. The New Jersey girl is presumably doing this because she’s singing Country and Western music and only people who come within spitting distance of Nashville are allowed to sing it!
No..! .Just stop will ‘ya? The point where the film really came off the track for me. (Source: Lionsgate FIlms).
Summary Thoughts on “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”
A frustrating film. Better than I expected in the first two thirds. But then, just like “Dream Scenario“, the final reel crashed the plane.
Where to Watch it (Powered by Justwatch)
Trailer for “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxW_X4kzeus .
Subscribe
Don’t forget, you can subscribe to One Mann’s Movies to receive future reviews by email right here. No salesman will call!
