The Stream: It’s too long and feels likes 2 separate movies.

The Big Screen: Viola Davis is doing the absolute most!

The Final Bill: An exciting and eclectic trip back to The Hunger Games is energized by some great supporting performances.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Francis Lawrence
Writers: Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt; based on a novel by Suzanne Collins
Stars: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Josh Andrés Rivera, Hunter Schafer, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage,
Jason Schwartzman
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Rating: PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material
Runtime: 2 hours 27 minutes
Production Companies: Color Force, Good Universe, Lions Gate Films
Platform: in theaters on November 17, 2023
Notable Trailers: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Mean Girls, Inside Out 2, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Imaginary

Hey, Streamers! As holiday and awards seasons approach, the theaters will be overflowing with new releases. We’ve been seeing the trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes for months now. It is a prequel to The Hunger Games movies that starred Jennifer Lawrence. Now, we get to see how the world that Katniss revolutionized came to be. Here’s whether this prequel proves its worth.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes takes place 64 years prior to the action of the original The Hunger Games movie just before the 10th Hunger Games is about to begin. Our main character is Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), a bright, ambitious young man determined to win a cash prize that will help him restore his family’s stature in the Capitol. Snow becomes one of the first set of mentors for the 24 tributes for the 10th Hunger Games. Snow also comes up with a plan to revitalize the Games and provides counsel to the head game maker, Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis). Meanwhile, Snow is assigned the feisty tribute for District 12 Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). Lucy Gray has a magnetic personality and a beautiful singing voice. Snow uses his ingenuity to help Lucy Gray try to survive the Games. Singing, snakes, and child-murdering hijinks ensue.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes like its title is too long and a bit convoluted. At 2 hours 27 minutes, this movie really could have used a trim. In fact, while the story is told in 3 chapters, it is pretty distinctly 2 movies. There is about an hour and 15 minutes that feels out of place. Despite that, this movie is never boring. There is so much going on that your attention will be held for the entire runtime.

The cast will hold your attention. Even though I don’t think she is that good an actress, Rachel Zegler makes you care about Lucy Gray. Moreover, she is beautiful singer. She gets to do a lot of it in this movie. The songs aren’t great, but her voice is beyond. Tom Blyth does a good job as Snow as well, but it is the supporting cast that overshadows the two leads. Viola Davis is doing the absolute most in this movie and I am here for it. She relishes every moment of screen time and when she is not on screen, you will be thinking about her. Davis is perfect here. Jason Schwartzman and Peter Dinklage also get to ham it up and add some spice to this movie. I could have used more of both. The production design and visual effects utilized throughout help to build the world of Panem. This dystopian era is portrayed very vividly. It is a feast for the eyes.

Ultimately, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a very entertaining movie. Even though it is too long, it is able to keep your attention with moving songs, a virtuoso performance by Viola Davis and great production values. You’ll get your money’s worth if you choose to go to the theater. Grab a big box a popcorn and return to the world of Panem.