As a tried and true fan of the “Hunger Games” trilogy, I was overjoyed when it was announced that “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was receiving its cinematic installment into the franchise. As a fan, I must issue the disclaimer that this is indeed not a continuation of the original series, but more of a prequel, detailing how President Snow, our esteemed villain, became the vile snake we know him as today.
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” focuses on young Coriolanus Snow, played by actor Tom Blythe, in his years of study at The Academy, an elite school for Capitol youth. As he is in his final year of The Academy, Coriolanus hopes to be awarded the Plinth Prize, a substantial monetary scholarship that is awarded to the highest performing student in the graduating class.
However, he was thrown for a loop when it was announced by Dr. Volumnia Gaul, Head Gamemaker, that each of the 24 prized pupils will have to mentor the tributes in the 10th Hunger Games as their final test and as a way to bring more viewership to the spectacle. Desperate to escape borderline poverty and to restore his family’s former glory, Snow knew he needed to have the winning tribute.
Snow’s path to success was substantially thwarted when Dean Casca Highbottom announced that his assigned tribute would be none other than the female tribute from District 12, cunning songbird Lucy Gray Baird, played by actress Rachel Zegler. It was known throughout the Capitol that District 12 tributes never made it far in the Games.
With this knowledge, Coriolanus was immensely apprehensive of Baird’s prospects, until she caused a charade at District 12’s reaping. As Lucy Gray walked up to the stage to claim her spot as tribute, she put a snake down the dress of the mayor’s daughter. After a brutal slap from the mayor himself and a melodious send off from one of her fellow Covey members, Lucy Gray takes the mic on stage and bursts out into song.
Though most in the Capitol believed Lucy Gray to be mentally ill or socially deficient, Snow saw an elaborate performer that would most definitely draw attention to this year’s Games and just might be the solution to all of his problems, if he played both of their cards right. As Snow ends up saying 65 years later, the Games were indeed all about moves and countermoves.
Once Snow and Baird finally met, it was clear that their fates were now one and that the two intended to be an unstoppable duo. Through recognition, promotion, camaraderie and inevitable betrayal, the relationship between Coriolanus and Lucy Gray is fiercely tested. When all is said and done, even though the price he paid was considerably hefty, Snow achieved his goals and fulfilled his family motto: “Snow lands on top”.
Upon viewing the film, I can say that from a cinematic point of view, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I believe that the world of the past Panem was perfectly captured through everything, from scenery to wardrobe. I enjoyed that certain elements such as old school televisions and sound equipment were included, while still catering to the modern period with things such as prototypes of drones and beta face recognition technology.
My favorite aspect of the film was indeed the costumes and wardrobe. I feel as though every character had their own style that was consistent throughout the film. Even less significant characters had visible identities via their appearance. Evolution of characters, such as Snow and Baird, was also documented well through fashion and hair changes.
Unfortunately, as someone who has read the adapted novel that the movie is based off of, I feel that the film missed many marks in terms of a solid book to movie adaptation. My biggest qualm with the film was the way that it sugarcoated just how sinister and conniving Coriolanus Snow was.
In my opinion, the film only treads along the cusp of his villainous nature and more so flirts with the possibility of him being a victim of his circumstances, rather than the ruthless monster he truly is. This is showcased most in the portrayal of his and Lucy Gray’s relationship. In the film, it appears as if he actually loved her and held her in a high regard. Sorry to disappoint you hopeless romantics who only watched the film, but this was definitely not true.
In the novel, Snow and Baird’s relationship was more akin to owner and possession, from Snow’s perspective. Lucy Gray was simply a pawn in Snow’s game, similar to Katniss Everdeen in the original trilogy. Though he may have flirted with the idea of her being attractive, his intentions never wavered beyond personal advantages.
The novel gives more insight into the inner workings of Snow’s mind with his internal dialogue and thought process being laid out before the reader’s eyes. Though this indeed made the book move a bit slower than I cared for, it gave the proper information needed to fully grasp just how wicked Coriolanus Snow really was from the beginning.
As far as how the film ties into the overall “Hunger Games” universe, I feel like it ties in very well but more so in a deliberate way than in a natural one. There were clear alterations made to the film that differ from the novel that made it align more with the trilogy films, and while I’m sure that was done for those who haven’t read the novel or novels, I as a reader didn’t take too kindly to it.
In my heart of hearts, I would say that “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was a great film, but it definitely left something to be desired from a reader’s point of view.