The Hunger Games series concluded in 2010 with the publication of the Mockingjay novel and the production of the Mockingjay Part 2 movie, which marked the series’ big-screen finale. However, author Suzanne Collins released a new hunger games prequel titled “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” in 2020 thatfollows Corionlanus Snow, known as President Snow in the previous books, as a teenager when he navigates the Capital as a poor university student trying to keep his proud lineage alive. This book was later adapted into a movie and is now in theaters for many fans to watch and enjoy. 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place in the dystopian world of Panem, during the tenth annual Hunger Games. Different from the other books, this story follows Coriolanus Snow, who later becomes the tyrannical President Snow of Panem, who is depicted in the original Hunger Games Series. With the tenth Hunger Games approaching, Coriolanus is shocked when he learns that he must mentor Lucy Gray Baird of District 12 in order to win the Plinth prize. He goes above and beyond while doing so by following her to her cage, feeding her and her fellow tributes, and even saved her life in the hunger games. In the movie and book we must find out who the “Songbird” and who the “Snake” is as referred to in the title. The book and movie greatly explore the themes of privilege, power, love, and the loss of one’s innocence, providing an incredible backstory for the original series. 

While everyone was buzzing with anticipation for this film, there was one worry. When the cast was revealed, people noticed that Lucy Gray Baird, the main character’s love interest, was being played by Rachel Zegler. Zegler had received criticism for a Disney film she starred in due to controversy in her interviews. However, these worries were mostly allayed when The Hunger Games: TBOSAS was released and the public saw her in the role of Lucy Gray. In my opinion, this criticism about Zegler’s performance was biased and unfair to place on the movie. She made Lucy Gray appear like the real character, bringing her straight off the page. Everything about the voice, right down to the tone, fit my mental image of the wonderful Lucy Gray.

There was a moment that truly cemented my admiration for Rachel Zegler’s acting and convinced me that she was the ideal fit for her character. In this scene, Lucy Gray was singing in the 10th Hunger Games arena when she was encircled by poisonous snakes that started encasing her with their scaly bodies. You could sense the emotion and the feelings just by looking at her. More significantly, her lovely singing conveyed the feelings you were feeling. 

Another person who excelled in this movie was the main character played by Tom Blyth. Snow’s enticing and psychopathic sides were both highlighted by Tom and his acting skills. His performance in the third act of the film, particularly the moment in the forest with Lucy Gray, stood out to me the most. The way Tom was able to incorporate Snow’s ongoing emotions from the novel into his facial expressions was simply amazing making him fantastic in this part Furthermore, the sequences with Tom and Rachel together keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting to see more of their chemistry together because it is simply so wonderful and cannot be put into words.  

While reading the book, it was very easy to visualize Coriolanus Snow to be the villain he grew up to be in the original hunger games series. His inner monologue made it impossible to grow to love him. He went from talking about selling his cousin’s body, to wishing Lucy Gray was still in her cage in the Capitol, to feeling bad for himself when he got his best friend killed, and even willingly accepting his best friend’s parents’ money without mentioning that he killed their beloved son. These are just small reasons it is hard to love this character while reading. Although, in the movie it was almost as if all of his actions were justified. He seemed much kinder and more caring, making it hard for audiences to hate him. This has made hunger games movie fans love him and sympathize with him. I found myself having to explain why he is a terrible person to many of my friends. I would like to mention that while he is a character that you cannot love because he is a terrible person, it doesn’t change the fact that he is extremely interesting. The best part of reading the book was understanding Snow’s inner mindset and why he turned out the way he did. 

Overall, the movie was amazing and I definitely recommend it to people who enjoy the hunger games or enjoy dystopian movies. Afterall, this is a prequel meaning that you don’t need to have watched the original hunger games movies to enjoy this one. Although, before going to see it in theaters I do recommend reading the book beforehand to make the experience so much better so you can understand the scenes better. For example, when Sejanus dies you see Snow crying and screaming. You think this is because he feels awful for what he has done and the role he played in his death but truly the reason is Snow feels sorry for himself not Sejanus. Anyway, the movie had me hanging at the edge of my seat in almost every scene. and the way you see the change in snow from a compassionate boy to a cold villain, helps you understand snow better. I felt that the production was excellent, the acting was outstanding, the narrative was unexpected, and the movie as a whole was fantastic.