The Hunger Games franchise was a major part of my childhood. I sat in the theater opening weekend for every film in the now decade-spanning series, from the very first The Hunger Games in 2012 to Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015. It was my gateway into franchise films, and I enjoy each movie in this series in its own way. That said, I was not excited to see The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

Something about the series felt complete to me after the ending of Mockingjay-Part 2. Each character in the film had an ending that felt satisfying, leaving little room to tell more stories in the universe. I could not find a reason to continue the story left off in the supposed “final chapter.” 

When the film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel of the same name was announced, I rolled my eyes. It felt like yet another attempt from a Hollywood studio to milk out their successful franchises for money, regardless of whether it was or was not necessary. But after finally seeing the film, I can happily say that my preconceptions were wrong. 

The film follows a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the District 12 competitor of the 10^th annual Hunger Games. As Snow’s relationship with Lucy Gray grows, it takes the audience through the stages of how he becomes the President Snow people know from the prior films. The movie goes into detail on how Snow became so despicable while shining light on his empathetic moments and prior morals.  

Like 2013’s Catching Fire, one of the more successful films in the franchise, Songbirds and Snakes feels like a true epic due to Francis Lawrence’s direction. Rather than telling a smaller story with a bigger scope, Lawrence makes every decision feel consequential. Whether it is a conversation or a fight sequence, tension is always at a high for the entire 157 minute runtime. A strong, tense pace is needed for a film at this length, and it is successful because of Lawrence’s direction. Not for nothing, Lawrence has directed each of the previous Hunger Games adaptations except the original film, so his familiarity with the world goes a long way.  

Blockbuster films in 2023, like the recent Indiana Jones or virtually any MCU or DC superhero film, have had issues creating good visual effects. Thankfully the CGI and visual effects shots look flawless – especially when seen in a premium format like IMAX. Every frame looks lived in due to the expertly blended lighting with the green screen effects. Just like Lawrence, cinematographer Jo Willems has also worked on each of the Hunger Games films except the original. Of course, it helps when a film is actually made in real, outdoor locations, and not confined to a soundstage. 

Blyth and Zegler are amazing as two characters who struggle with their morality. Tom Blyth’s range of emotion made his character arc frightening while Zegler’s angelic singing voice and self-awareness added to her character’s innocence. Veteran actors like Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and Peter Dinklage are better than they have any right to be – a prequel to a franchise film can understandably be seen as an easy paycheck – while newcomers like Hunter Schafer and Josh Andrés Rivera are just as compelling. The actors playing wealthy people have a silly nature to them while the poor people give human, emotionally nuanced performances. Committed performances can make a poorly written script appear better, but these actors took a solid screenplay and made it amazing.  

The script, written by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt, may not be the standout, but there is still some to like. The paths that the characters lead to are satisfying, even if the end result isn’t exactly heartwarming. Although the script delves into some promising ideas, the film perhaps tackles too much for just one film.

Film history is littered with anti-heroes, but Songbirds and Snakes should not have been the one to lead Snow to darkness. The film makes it clear why he progressed to his villainous nature in the later films, but more development was needed to make the arc feel earned.  For about two-thirds of the film, Snow’s worst quality is bending the rules so that he can stand by his good morals. Because most of the film sees him as a good person, his shift isn’t as satisfying as it could have been. If Songbirds and Snakes were to be split into two – or three – films that delved more into his change of heart, then it could have been more emotionally fulfilling. 

Films like Songbirds and Snakes prove that blockbuster filmmaking can be just as impactful as any film if given the proper treatment. As a Hunger Games fan, I am satisfied with the outcome, and am sure that casual moviegoers will be as well. Here’s hoping other studios take note that this is what big-budget films can be.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is now in theaters nationwide.

OSCAR POTENTIAL:

• There’s a Dune-sized hole in Visual Effects, leaving the possibilities for films like Songbirds and Snakes to perhaps sneak in. I won’t be surprised if it at least shows up on the shortlist, but a nomination is unlikely.