By Claire Barickman A&E and Social Media Editor
“The Hunger Games” franchise is one that many of us know and love. The movies and books written by Suzanne Collins took the world by storm when they were first released, and that legacy has continued with the release of the movie adaptation of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” The film was directed by Francis Lawrence and stars Tom Blyth and Rachel Ziegler.
The tenth annual Hunger Games are about to begin, and this year, everything is about to change. Head Gamemaker Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis) has decided that she wants her twisted games to become a spectacle for all to watch and enjoy. Along with broadcasting the games, Dr. Gaul has selected the top students of the academy to mentor a tribute, and the winning student will receive the Pilith Prize. Eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is determined to prove himself worthy of the prize and help his tribute win the games.
Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Ziegler) has always loved being on stage, so, when she gets drawn to be the female tribute from District 12 for the Hunger Games, she does what she does best–perform. Upon arriving at the Capitol, Lucy Gray is greeted by the charming Coriolanus. With their fate now irrevocably intertwined, the two must work together to find a way to win. As Coriolanus and Lucy Gray continue to get closer, Snow begins to realize that maybe the prize isn’t the only reason to win.
This adaptation of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is absolutely incredible. The casting, the acting, the costumes, and the writing really solidified this as one of my favorite movies from the “Hunger Games” world. Suzanne Collins was previously a screenwriter, so her books adapt well to the screen, and “Ballad” was no exception. Everyone knows that it’s always very difficult for books to be adapted into movies because cuts must be made so that the film is not too long. However, in this case, the cuts that were made did not take away from the overall message of the movie.
Overall, I would say that this movie is fantastic for anyone, whether they are fans of the books, movies, or have never even heard of the franchise. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” has a plot that is very easy to follow and is captivating from the start.
