The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes [2023] – Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a good movie. But it would have been a much better one if it was allowed to be a true Hunger Games movie.

Starring Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, and Peter Dinklage, the movie is technically a prequel to the original series. However, for some reason, director Francis Lawrence made this one a musical, sort of.

Believe me, I get it. No one can figh the temptation of hearing Zegler sing, but not every role she plays should be a singing one. This is a Hunger Games movie. Not West Side Story.

That being said, let’s focus on the movie itself. The story of how Coriolanus Snow became the infamous personality in the latter movies is the center of this one. And Blyth delivers the good here. From the tortured back story to defying the odds. However, I wanted more. the sadistic snow barely show up at the end of the movie. The twist from being a “good” person to “like his father” is that he lost his short lived love story? Really? To be honest, as much as I enjoyed going back to the capital and districts, I wanted more.

And that’s what bings me to Viola Davis. Honestly, Davis carried the movie on her shoulders. The magic that was missing from everyone else? She has it. She stole every scene as Dr. Volumnia Gaul, one of the creators of the games. If Lionsgate is trying to expand the universe, give us a movie centered around her.

Should You Watch It?

Much better than expected and featuring two stand out performances (Viola Davis and Tom Blyth). This movies questions what you will do in times of stress: Will you kill when it is the only way to survive? Be loyal when it is time to be loyal? Fight for love when it might mean death? Sadly, the movie barely scratches the surface with answering these questions/

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on Crave Canada.