If you’re pushing off seeing ‘Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’, the newest installment of the Hunger Games universe which takes the form of a prequel, although not perfect, is most definitely worth a watch. 

The main character of the film is Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, who starts the film as a kind kid, who is both hungry for power and respect. Over the course of the film we see him do whatever he sees necessary for him to crawl his way to the top, turning that kind boy into the monster we know he becomes in the original movies. Blyth’s excellent acting, paired with incredible writing, is by far the highlight of the movie, with emotional and tense scenes that elevates the stakes and effectively draws the viewers in. However, this excellence in acting and writing is contrasted with the underwritten and uncreative copycat of the main character of the original movies, Katniss Everdeen, in the character of Lucy Gray, who is played by Rachel Zegler. Although Zegler has the ability to act well, has a beautiful voice, and plays the role well, the character was never made her own. This usually wouldn’t be the biggest of deals, but if you have one character who is written so well and is executed so creatively and their companion is uncreative and underwritten, it can create a difficult dynamic. However, that dynamic doesn’t define this film and it isn’t even the main point. 

For the majority of viewers who watch this film, they’ll simply think that because Snow is the main character, that this film is his. However, this film isn’t about any one character in particular. It’s about the games. The story’s main goal is to mold the world of Hunger Games and to show how the games went from a cruel and uninteresting form of punishment, into an entertaining, mainstream, and impactful event in the capital. 

This film is also visually excellent. Although not on the level of films like “Oppenheimer” or “Saltburn,” the film knows what it is and how to bring that to the big screen. The credit for this goes to the director Francis Lawrence and cinematographer Jo Willems, both of whom worked on the original series. This allows for the film to settle in quicker and for the audience to become more engaged, which makes the big scenes land better and for the emotions to hit harder. 

All in all, the film is a pretty good prequel. And although it isn’t a perfect film, it is certainly a memorable one that brings a new level of depth and understanding into the series. With world class acting from Tom Blyth and beautiful visuals, it truly was an enjoyable experience overall.