Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes: An Honest Review From a Die Hard Hunger Games Fan

[@MovieFlame]

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[@austinmasoni1549]

@MovieFlame thanks for being awesome bro your the one that got me into hunger games and the Harry Potter books and Avatar the last airbender

[@mckennamclaws146]

I just checked them out and they are amazing! Just ordered 5 for my husband. Your deal was better than their Black Friday deal! Just wanna say I love your channel! I came for the HP video essays, stayed because you're awesome!!

[@smdownh9]

they also left Janis giving Snow his Diploma he just got after he died from his stuff and left his family sending Snow cookies. they left out things that showed Snow true personality

[@smdownh9]

i would say im in the middle i would the movie a 7 out of 10

[@smdownh9]

Rachel cant sing as when she using her accent but when she sang without her singing was good

[@solcarlosofficial]

My only complain is that I wish on the third act the romance was more intense. It felt like when they reunited they were super cold. So when they decide to escape together and he betrays her it doesn’t feel as heart wrenching as it could have been.

[@felixkemp2122]

I think first few acts as well . In the books she embraces to him pretty much instantly after seeing each other.

[@okaykatieokay4]

I agree! I feel like if they had a more drastic turn from romantic feelings to distrust, her leaving would have hit harder. That one scene of Lucy hearing Snow slip up about him killing 3 people wasn't enough to show Lucy realization that she shouldn't trust Snow.

[@dhruvgeorge]

There was romance? I thought Zegler despised anything to do with romance, much like every single girlboss that has graced the big screen

[@AlisandriaGarcia-j9i]

@@dhruvgeorgeoh give it at rest with the Snow White interview. This is is more annoying than what she even said

[@tmm4195]

@@dhruvgeorgemove on

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

Adding that little detail of Crassus Snow's death being in District 12 was interesting. They really want to hammer in just how much Snow hates that place.

[@masonguthrie1257]

Yeah I kinda didn’t like that. It was not a big deal but snow already had more than enough reason to dislike district 12 so to add his father was killed there was a bit too cliche for me.

[@lara2260]

Little too much "in your face" for me

[@Lauren_210]

@@masonguthrie1257 Yeah I would have to agree. I don't see why they needed to have that in there. There's more to Panem as a world to explore in this series than just The Capitol and District 12 (this being one of the reasons as to why I'm heavily against advocating for a prequel focused on Haymitch...like imagine if we got a 5th novel focused on a major character from District 12 for a fifth time in a row?). All was said in the book was that Crassus was killed by a rebel bullet. That was fine on its own. The rebels fighting in the First Rebellion came from other districts besides just 12. It could have been a rebel from any district. I mean, it’s not a major issue or anything, but I do feel that they didn’t need to make it THAT blunt with the District 12/Katniss references.

[@WinterlyHeights]

i liked that detail too. not sure if it was suzanne collins' idea or the screenwriters' but it worked for me.

[@masonguthrie1257]

@@Lauren_210 Fair enough. I will say however if we were to get a Haymitch book I would want it to be structured much like the book four in the divergent series. we would start off with haymitche's hunger games but since we already know what happens we dont need an entire book, then we would jump to when he mentored his like first tributes in which they would die rather early thne we would jump to when he gave up on trying to mentor and then we would see Katniss's games from his perspective or maybe the 75th and we would see him plotting with the resitance. At least that is just my thoughts.

[@loganseagroves8490]

The movie captured how dark and intense the hunger games were more so than the originals did. Seeing them sick and weak like that was much more moving, especially the girl with Down syndrome that hit hard. The zoo scene too was particularly haunting

[@FrancesCornelius]

I was telling a friend the other day that it is obvious that this entire series was written for people born in the 80's and 90's because the themes have grown with us. There was still some youthful innocence in the original trilogy that isn't there for this one, and the vileness of the concept of the Games is more talked about in this new book.

[@XanderMatthews-nv9zf]

Did they change it? In the books Dill dies form tuberculosis or is this about someone else

[@moldybongrips]

@@cloudtree02they might be confused bc i heard they didn’t say wovey had down syndrome in the book

[@All-ze9cl]

The scenes in this movie actually made me gasp, the deaths were obviously going to happen but each one made me so uncomfortable. The original always disturbed me, especially the book, but some of this movies deaths were straight up disgusting, like Jessel hitting the ground, the girl getting impaled, and the little girl with Down syndrome dying. I knew she was going to, but seeing her get consumed by the snakes was so hard to watch.

[@lxnariiia]

@@moldybongripsI don’t think Wovey had Down syndrome in the book either, but it was probably just the actress who had it, and that little touch made her death even more painful to watch

[@TapiTalk]

Surprised so many critics hated it, then again I never got the hate for the Mockingjay films either, this franchise is top tier in my opinion!

[@74A-N]

When do critics not hate something. Its better to get the perspective from fans

[@jaimelowe4246]

My only problem with Mockingjay is that it could’ve been just one 3 hour movie, but that’s my complaint with everything that cuts it’s last part in half for money.

[@kizi180]

​@@jaimelowe4246no, I think it wouldn't have left the same impact if you was only 3 hrs.

[@ethancoster1324]

Mockingjay part 2 compared to that part of the book was a bit of a bloodless letdown.

[@coolboss999]

I don't understand the hate for splitting Mockingjay into 2 movies. Imo I think it was for the best. Yes the first movie may have felt slowly paced but it was necessary to flesh out the story for Part 2.

[@asainman8012]

I really like how lucy disappeared yet her Hanging tree song got so far that Snow was so shocked to hear when Katniss sang it.

[@existential_o]

It's disappointing the movie never actually explores the Covey. They feel like extras only used for the Hob and lake. In the actual book, Maude Ivory is almost certainly the one who maintains The Hanging Tree song because of her ability to quickly pick up a tune.

[@NoSoupForYou-zu9dj]

Yeah, Katniss learns The Hanging Tree song from her dad, so I guess Lucy & The Covey were very influential in the music scene in District 12, that the songs lived on. Very cool.

[@KierstonKxsh]

“mystery has a way of driving people mad”

[@crochetdogtrainer]

I believe Maude Ivory is Katniss's grandmother. Katniss inherited her trait of being able to memorize a tune as soon as she hears it. Maude Ivory went to the same lake that Katniss went to and picked Katniss roots. She likely would've taught her future son to do the same. Her son who would grow up to name his daughter after those roots.

[@kinglando444]

The scene when Sejanus called everyone monsters was a great delivery!

[@Lauren_210]

Same! It’s such a big moment for Sejanus in the book (one of his big moments) and was really well done here (especially seeing his reaction to Marcus hung up on the pole)! 😮😢

[@TennehSillah]

It was incredible

[@kinglando444]

@@Lauren_210 Right! I'm currently reading the book before I even touch the film and I don't think I am ready to read about his death.

[@Lauren_210]

@@kinglando444 His death absolutely broke me when I read the book and the same thing happened again when I saw the film. My heart was pounding a lot and when I cried, my eyes were burning for a couple of minutes. 😭

[@kinglando444]

@@Lauren_210 Both Sejanus Plinth and Reaper Ash were well written. I loved it.

[@thomashernandez6536]

This movie felt like a jogging pace until the last half hour. The last half hour felt like a breath-taking sprint.

[@gibbsterV]

Tbf it is a book adaptation and that’s how the book was. It is a very hard problem to fox

[@DestineeY]

I actually enjoyed the first half before the games commenced

[@josephsm2002]

I really enjoyed the whole thing. It wasn't super fast but still very engaging

[@thomashernandez6536]

The jogging pace wasn't meant to be taken as a negative comment. Just a statement. As far as act 3, I guess I was just expecting longer with the covey for some reason..

[@sagokookie]

@@thomashernandez6536I agree with this 😭 part 3 felt so fast!! Like I hoped the turn of their relationship would play out a bit more if that makes sense

[@c.w.simpsonproductions1230]

So overall, I really liked the film. I think Snow, Gaul and Lucy Gray were really well cast. I also saw it in IMAX, so I like how they changed the aspect ratios the same way they did in Catching Fire. I will say though, me personally, having read the book already, I was always auto-comparing it to the book. So I noticed when they skipped parts like the parade where they strung up the District 10 girl. One of my biggest complaints is that they practically skipped over the interviews scene. I think Tigris suffered especially for that since she didn't get that moment of being the first Hunger Games stylist with fixing up Lucy's dress, And I do agree with some of the issues with the final part. It just felt like Snow final descent was just a bit too abrupt, like that one moment where he started his turn was missing.

[@asanaquarian1302]

you read the book but you still call Lucy Gray 'Lucy'?

[@meh5872]

i heard they originally made it a 3 hour and 40 minute movie but cut it down after audience testing, fingers crossed for a directors cut down the line

[@oXRaptorzXo]

@@asanaquarian1302I read the book as well and I don’t remember an alternative name but it’s been a few years

[@FrancesCornelius]

They skip the girl from 10 being tied up at the funeral! That part of the book was so well written and so important to Sejanus' character and Snow's. Each death showed Snow caring about the districts less and Sejanus needed to fight for them more.

[@bonessai]

@@asanaquarian1302haven’t read it myself, what’s wrong with just saying Lucy?

[@kristopherbarker3282]

I absolutely adored this movie My only complaint is Dr Gaul wasn't as unhinged as she was in the book. Viola Davis was amazing in the role, but sometimes she seemed more indifferent than giddy at the the pain she caused In the book, I felt legit nauseated because of how sadistic she was, but I only really saw that in her first scene. And her sadism specifically relates to her philosophy (because if she loves hurting people, everyone secretly must). It's a small thing, but it's been in my mind since I saw it Looking at it on it's own merits, awesome movie. Comparing it to the book, still awesome, just something I would've done slightly different

[@edra2005]

Viola Davis was simply amazing

[@bellarina187]

Considering the seemingly “1960s” technology. I was confused about this as well, but then I thought about it more, and realised it kind of makes sense. The series it set after the end of the world, where they would have lost a lot of their technology, and likely would’ve had to start from the beginning. They may have only had the resources for older style technology. The capitol may also have been put pack due to the war, so this could have also contributed to their lack of innovation. I just thought it was something to think about 🙂

[@occyhazbin]

Agreed! I thought this too.

[@pompe221]

Also, perhaps the Capitol had a nostalgia for "old-timey" aesthetics, which would make sense because they were still rebuilding their lives after the war. They would want to call back to a time when they felt secure and powerful.

[@bellarina187]

@@pompe221 I love that idea too!

[@accioyoongi]

always thought that too! it does make sense that after everything they would’ve had to go start over.

[@noir3662]

Indeed

[@TonyFromSyracuse101]

the scene with Lucy Gray singing the hanging tree in that beautiful field....what a perfectly beautiful shot. it really is bittersweet now to go back and watch Katniss singing it now after having seen the person who created the song

[@pixiiedusts]

I absolutely loved this film. I think that Rachel Zeglers accent for Lucy Gray has something to do with her being from the Covey! She states that they originated and belong to everywhere, and nowhere. I like how her District 12 accent isn't fully refined, portraying this part of her character who belongs nowhere.

[@jamallinyear3465]

I agree. Her accent is her own. I also thinks if fits the setting well given that district 12 is located in our worlds Appalachian region.

[@hale2620]

yes but her accent changes a bit throughout the movie bc she's putting it on, but not consistently

[@olivasanchezcastillo8822]

As someone who was born and raised in the South, her accent was atrocious and inconsistent.

[@meh5872]

@@olivasanchezcastillo8822 its like you completely ignored the comment, it isn't an inherently southern accent because she more than likely had a mix of everywhere given the covey itself is a traveller group. Not to mention her accent is more derivative of an appalachian dialect, not southern one there's a difference.

[@forzaroma16]

Did we see the same movie? I’m from South carolina and zeglers accent was laughably bad.

[@maraapolide8859]

What I would’ve loved seeing is the insight of Coriolanus’ thoughts somehow. It was the best aspect of the book, the psychological evolution, how he made his decisions or how he struggled to be human at times. I was scared to watch the movie because I knew that covering that aspect would’ve been hard. It’s still a good movie and the actor did a great job but you still don’t feel him the way you do in the book. The book to me was one of the best I’ve ever read because of this aspect.

[@Kasiarzynka]

Exactly. What makes the book for me is the journey of Snow's thought process. How he seems to battle himself when it comes to doing the good vs. the wrong, and how he always comes up with excuses that almost sound plausible when he does the wrong. He's basically "look what you made me do" whenever he does something against other characters. He's also really calculated in what he does, and we kind of see how it stems from his childhood, where he'd have to calculate how to ration food to not starve and how to not reveal to the world that his family was penniless. He then goes sto apply that same style of calculation to everything that happens throughout the book. Idk if having Tom Blythe as a narrator would've worked with this particular movie and what kind of changes they would've had to do because of it. I kinda would like to see an attempt, though, even in a "making of" video or something.

[@existential_o]

Totally. I wish the movie used the songbirds like Collins did. In the book, Collins portrays the birds as symbolic of man. Lucy Gray sees the birds as free and at peace with nature. Snow, when capturing the birds with Dr. Kay, believes the birds are relieved to be caged and taken from nature. I love Pythagoras's quote, "As long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other."

[@samanthaM7119]

As someone who's never read the books, there were certainly moments where I paused and was like "there must be some sort of inner dialogue in this bit." It was when Snow was shooting at the mocking jays and had stopped

[@alicechance]

I agree, they got such an impressive amount of the book in. Didn't waste a second! I also thought the music was superbly done.

[@willcc19-18]

They left out a lot of important scenes from the book before the games started

[@solcarlosofficial]

I absolutely loved it! It felt like reading a book! I loved the wardrobe the world the acting! One of the best films I’ve seen this year.

[@azzylree1814]

I just saw the movie yesterday. As someone who has (Uhmmm dont come at me) never read any of the Hunger Games Books and has only seen the original movies, I LOVED IT. Im not some die hard hunger games fan but as someone who went in with no previous knowledge and who watches movies religiously, It was amazing in my eyes

[@kayleelesmeister3477]

If you're ever in need of a book to pass the time with, you should consider reading the Hunger Games! They are real page turners. Famous, in my opinion/experience, for captivating even the most reluctant readers.

[@JoelyTomon]

SAMEEE I WATCHED IT WITH NO KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE IT SO MUCH . I THANK WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE FIRST MOVIE AND WAS KIND OF DISAPPOINTED. I THOUGHT DEATHS WOULD BE GRUESOME OR SOMETHING BUT IT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE

[@redt8311]

I enjoyed this movie, even the third act. I was a little confused on the terms of how snow and Lucy ended. She had to have known he loved her or at least really liked her, because when he had that gun in that cabin, what’s to stop him from just killing her right then and there if he wanted to take her off the board as well. The thing was already loaded. I think she may have left because he lied about the 3rd person he killed. But to me I think partly is also because she knew that him being on the run with her that wasn’t the life he would’ve enjoyed and probably would’ve grown to resent her and himself with time so she gave him an out. She couldn’t have known what kind of man he was gonna turn into in the end. So I think her leaving was partly out of lack of trust, moral similarities, and partly out of mercy in her eyes. It may be a rarity, but good people and bad people are capable of developing feelings of true care toward one another. I think this story is an example of that. But in this case their moral and ideological differences were just too large to truly last for a lifetime together of equally mutual happiness.

[@cheekschu2152]

Interesting

[@nerdish2139]

He never truly loved Lucy Gray. He thought he did because he's never had that type of attention from a girl before. He was more so infatuated with her, with the attention and opportunities she could bring him. He was really convinced that she "needed" him. I think he didn't shoot her right away because he believed she wouldn't tell. She told him he could trust her. Even though he broke her trust by lying about getting Sejanus killed. He still felt entitled to her trust because that's who he is as a person.

[@nerdish2139]

@@kmjkmjkmj I think we might have different perspectives on love, which is okay. I just believe it was love out of circumstance, not a real love.

[@victoria5896]

He was infatuated and loved her for the spectacle that she was and for the power that she gave him. In the end she left him because she values trust over love, and could tell that he lied about killing a third person. For her that trust broken was more of a betrayal than anything else, while for him he was betrayed that she didn’t “love” him anymore. It was clear to me he values power more than anything else since he always intended on going back to the Capitol without her (other than when he was in danger of getting murdered).

[@jessigirlrae1688]

​@@nerdish2139Most love is out of circumstance.

[@sparxstreak02]

3:11 I also wish they’d included the mentor funerals (at the very least Arachne’s) Not to mention seeing Clemensia’s mutated form after being bitten by the rainbow snakes would’ve been INSANE, instead of just having her dragged away & never seeing her again like the film did.

[@yitoproductions]

“It’s the things we love most, that destroy us” I really love how they ended the movie with that iconic line from Mockingjay Part 1 and here’s why: It really emphasizes that it was the point of the story. It may not be the WHOLE point of this story, but it definitely is a BIG part, since it can be interpreted LITERALLY by the most obvious example being his “love” for Lucy Gray Baird. We know as an audience member for the book/movie that his “love” for her really wasn’t ever that real, since he was only doing it for selfish gain, but to him it was, so Lucy Gray “betraying” him in the end was the final nail in the coffin that “destroyed” him, and made him lose what little humanity he had left in him at that point, and immediately solidified his dark worldview. Along with all the other nails that were already established earlier in the story too. Then, later on in the timeline, it makes total sense as to why he chooses to brainwash Peeta and send him back to District 13 with the rebels so he could kill Katniss Everdeen. He could’ve very easily just attached a bomb and a camera on his body and then once Snow sees that he’s back in D13 and can see Katniss from the camera, then he could’ve detonated the bomb and killed both of them immediately but he didn’t. Why? Because he wanted Katniss to feel exactly what he felt when Lucy Gray “betrayed” him in the woods and tried to kill him. From that experience alone, Snow lost all trust for human beings after that, and that last sliver of hope he had of maybe being able to trust Lucy Gray one day was destroyed by her trying to kill him. So Snow wanted her to go through, and feel the same thing he did and lose her trust with Peeta and the rebels, and have her feel just as betrayed by the “person they both loved most”, like Snow did with Lucy Gray. However, that phrase can also be interpreted METAPHORICALLY in much more subtler ways too when for example his LOVE for power is what destroyed him. The movie posters for each character also really drives home this idea too by using the phrase, “Hunger for power” for Snow’s poster to which I believe the words “hunger” and “love” can both be used interchangeably in my opinion. Snow’s LOVE for power is what ultimately destroys him too in the end when we see him take his first life when he kills that District 8 tribute in the arena. His love for power is what drove him to make that instinctive fateful decision to take Bobbin’s life. Obviously nobody else made that decision but him. He did it because he wanted to have the higher power and to be on top of that situation. Hence, the phrase Snow lands on top, so his love for power is what drove him to kill that boy. He even says to Tigris in the movie that it felt powerful. It was also clear to us that he really liked that feeling of killing that boy because it felt powerful even though he never outright admitted it to her. It was subtle enough that it can be interpreted that way. Hence, his love for power grew even more and it ultimately destroyed him in the end, since as we saw later on, his love for that power is what also drove him to take Mayfair’s life, which was much easier for him, and then betraying Sejanus when he learned he was uncontrollable, becoming a rebel, and endangering his own life by involvement. He did all of that so he can guarantee that he’ll still have a future where he can obtain the ultimate power position of becoming president of Panem one day and literally have ALL the power in the world like he always loved and wanted to have. That intense love for power destroyed him as it ultimately made him not only lose all of his humanity, but also turned him into a tyrannical leader who condones mass genocide to maintain power over Panem. Another example of that phrase that can be interpreted metaphorically is his love for control and order. Obviously I won’t mention his assignments he had with Dr. Gaul in the book talking about the three C’s and how he’d love to have control since that’s self explanatory, but before the games began, we saw him do all sorts of things to cheat his way into making sure Lucy Gray would win so he can control the outcome and obtain that Plinth Prize. Obviously that can be interpreted as him just having feelings for her and wanting her to survive, but we all know that he only really wanted her to survive so he can also win that Plinth Prize too and then go to university and maintain his social and financial status with his classmates, so when it wasn’t going his way, and it was becoming more likely he wasn’t going to win that prize at all and be able to pay off all his expenses, hence him losing control, then this is when his love for control took over inside him and drove him to manipulate the outcome and guarantee that he’ll win that prize by cheating his way to victory, and he got what he wanted but at what cost? Cheating to get it when he can’t get it honorably? Giving Lucy Gray extra food so she could outlive her competitors by controlling who would win? Throwing in the handkerchief into the tank of snakes so that they wouldn’t kill Lucy Gray and once again control who would win the games? Giving Lucy Gray rat poison so she can use it to kill the others and once again control who wins the games? Then later on using poison to kill all his adversaries to maintain that control which he learned from doing it in the arena years prior so that he can maintain control of the outcome by insuring he would win that Plinth Prize? Using poison in general to kill anyone who poses the smallest threat to him due to his love for power and control and wanting to maintain it? Killing innocent people in general just so he can maintain control over the whole country? Not caring when people start calling him a tyrant, iron fisted and cruel just to ensure survival for survival’s sake and thinking humanity should thank him? Betraying Sejanus when he couldn’t maintain control over him anymore and control his safety as well as his own? Choosing the Capitol lifestyle over living in the woods or in the districts forever with the “love of his life” because he views the Capitol as being a more controlled civilization than the chaotic forest life? Betraying Lucy Gray and trying to kill her by tying up all loose ends that would lead to him being involved with those crimes in District 12 just so he can maintain control over his own destiny? Choosing to hunt down Lucy Gray when he could no longer control her after she used a snake to bite him and try to kill him? Controlling Sejanus to his advantage by actually allowing him to become friends with him when he learned that he made sure he graduated from the academy which sparked a lot of hope inside of him when he realizes he can still climb to power after all and maintain control over his life? When just moments before he was contemplating suicide because he literally just lost all control for his own life and destiny? So what would’ve happened if Sejanus didn’t save him? And what happens when the thing you love most is taken away from you? You end up committing suicide? Possibly. We saw that with Snow when he was thinking about killing himself when one of the things he loved most was taken away from him. That thing being control. He lost complete control for his life and destiny and genuinely felt like that there was no way that he could regain that control. Hence why he was pondering suicide right before Sejanus came in and saved the day. Hence, it is the things we love most, that destroy us. Literally. All of these are the examples and the final nails in the coffin both literally and metaphorically speaking that destroyed Coriolanus Snow by the end of the story and turned him into the monster we know from the original trilogy, because of his love for Lucy Gray, power, and control. Since it is in fact the things we love most that destroy us.

[@hale2620]

damn i didnt read this but a like for ur effort

[@Jasminjournals]

I read all of them and i agree on ur perspective!

[@gracehuang3522]

this is such an amazing analysis.

[@yitoproductions]

@@gracehuang3522 thank you ☺️

[@siyamehta9286]

This is an amazing analysis! The whole aspect of control is something i never thought of before! I completely agree on your perspective :D

[@supergirl1390]

I personally think this movie should have been like r-rated or something cuz this was wow to me it makes the other like the old hunger games movies feel like kid movies

[@raianthony8492]

I agree. The toning down of the brutality did take me out of those scenes, like when the one girl gets stabbed by her tribute.

[@supergirl1390]

@@raianthony8492 yeah

[@illwait__]

Well If it wasn’t ruthless would snow have been the great antagonist he is ?

[@Monicalia]

I agree! I even let out a little laugh when the tribute killed Arachne in the zoo and there was no blood. Snow even looks at his hands, that technically should be covered in blood, but there's not even a drop. As much as I love HG franchise, both books and the movies, the toning down of gore and brutality has always felt icky to me.

[@jayleighbear]

@@Monicaliai honestly think this was one of their more brutal movies tbh even with the off screen gore. the thing is we don’t live in panem so presenting on screen gore of dead children fake or not to real teens and young adults (which a majority of us were when the first books and movies were released) is just a terrible idea all around. the books were written with a particular audience in mind and while as an adult it comes across a bit silly sometimes i do think it’s better than the torture porn some people seem to have been expecting

[@okaykatieokay4]

I LOVED this movie! I agreed with almost everything you said, especially the part about the third act feeling a bit rushed. I think this movie would have been more elevated if it was R-rated. I liked that we got to see the beginning stages of the Hunger Games which allows for comparison to how it evolved over time. If they decided to make another Hunger Games movie focused on a different tribute, I would love to see more of The Capital. It was weird that I would catch myself rooting for young Snow at times but then I would remember what he would become in the future. It just exposes how tragic his upbringing was. This movie was amazing! Truly a gift to the fans.

[@Ty-yy7zr]

I liked the retro look of it. We don't know how much of the tech and data was completely destroyed during the Dark Days (I think). Who knows if they had to start from "scratch". And there's still 64 years between this and the original series.

[@meredithwhite5790]

I enjoyed the movie and thought the cast did a great job. I knew parts of it would have to be cut to fit the time constraints. I would have loved to see Clemensia after the snake bite. They also made Snow seem messier in his cunning nature. He was much more cautious and calculating in the books. I also didn't like how Lucy said she could turn him in, because it took away how evil and paranoid Snow was. I agree a rated R version would have been better, I thought that about the original trilogy as well. Although it probably wouldn't do as well commercially.

[@michellejoy167]

Big agree. I said after to my friends that in the book Corio is way more ‘cowardly’ and is a scared kid half the time, and calculating the rest

[@isaackim7675]

My cousin recommended that I should read the Hunger Games and I loved it. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes really exceeded my expectations

[@SaintSavageProd]

I will admit I don’t like when they cast people because they fit into the DEI spectrum but I will admit seeing a tribute with 1 arm, one with Down syndrome and whatever the actor who played Tanner had really put into perspective that the capitol doesn’t care about your physical ailments if you’re between 12-18 and your name is called you’re going in the arena

[@internets6501]

You are pathetic and terminally online for having a problem with “DEI”

[@baileytt06]

I think it also makes sense because the war was recent and those could have been injuries sustained from the war and or birth defects because of the weapons (like America used on Vietnam) the Capitol used against the districts during the rebellion. Just a thought.

[@louisacoote2337]

Yes, like the boy with the club foot from 10 in Katniss’ first games. I thought it was Wovey from 8 who had Down’s Syndrome, but yes, seeing children with physical impairments that already disadvantaged them in day to day life having to fight to the death just seems doubly cruel. And I never noticed the character with one arm, oops!

[@endersonshaskaumali4541]

One of the moments that i still remember from the movie was seeing Bobbin and Wovey together at the zoo. It really shows how cruel the capital is.

[@darkmanstudios3828]

I remember there being a fan theory that many undesirables(disabled, criminals, etc) were purposely reaped by corrupt mayors as to rid themselves of the “useless” ones. Even more cruel

[@fran_hd]

I agree with what you said about the songs. They were not bad songs, in fact I’ve been listening to every single one after I finished watching the movie. The reaping and snakes songs specifically felt so out of place like they were in fact from a musical 😅 I was also kinda sad they didn’t include Sejanus in their trip to the lake.

[@lilangel1773]

i mean it was BALLAD of the song birds and snakes so idk lol maybe that was the ppint

[@theresebanna2856]

i think when she got up for the reaping and started singing it was a bit cringe at first but then i thought that to her that could have been her last chance to perform and do what she loves doing most so i guess that was just apart of her that they really wanted to establish and i warmed up to the singing and surprisingly hooked to them.

[@davidfairweather3301]

@@lilangel1773I think the point is it’s simply meant to be a story with music in it, rather than a traditional musical in which the music is the key focus. So I guess for some it can feel overdone.

[@CTB1499]

When she was singing on tv when snow was in the hospital it was bone chilling. Almost had kinda an eerie vibe.

[@Yuval.Ronen2010]

I really do not agree with you. I can definitely agree that those songs specifically were a bit "over the top", but really, that's the character of Lucy Grey. Lucy Gray is a little over the top like that, a performer who performs the performing arts flawlessly. This is her comfort zone. I actually felt a lot of emotion in these parts, yes, maybe an exaggerated acting or an exaggerated song, but it made me feel part of who she was, and helped me get into the atmosphere of the scene in a crazy way.

[@toad_of_the_sky]

I'm fine with some of the technology seeming out of date because they just went through a devastating war that likely destroyed a lot of their tech, so it set them back a bit.

[@torivillanueva4287]

7:00, i had the exact same thought about the retro thing. but something i thought about that saved it for me was that history tends to repeat itself especially with style, (fashion, decor, architecture etc.) we tend to bring back old trends often so maybe they were taking influence from past trends. that doesn't explain the technology part though, but helps me enjoy the story a little more to think of it that way!

[@torivillanueva4287]

i would also love to see a "life of sejanus plinth" video!

[@aslihanerol9224]

Exactly what I thought!

[@cherishoneal9108]

You’re right about trends being recycled. Ballad of songbirds and snakes reminds me of Dune and Star Wars with their fashion inspiration. They all mirror previous fashion to show that these ideas will exist in the future.

[@Bakingwithtrev48]

As a HUGE Hunger Games fan, I’m actually with the PG-13 rating. As I am a teenager, I probably wouldn’t have been able to see it. The movie was really, really awesome! Let’s hope Suzanne Collins makes more of these awesome prequels!

[@day5833]

the movie have less battle scenes which is dislikeable

[@dyllanfreiheit6330]

I'm 23 but still freaked out when they let the snakes out to attack the little 12yr old girl, while she begged to go home. The gruesome of that scene is too much for me😭

[@Rain_Skye]

@@day5833 Dude this is the 10th games. The tributes are all terrified. There wasn't even a bloodbath in the book and the first kill was a mercy kill. 5 of the strongest tributes died before the games started (9 in the book). All these tributes wanted to do was get home to their families. The hunger games isn't about violence its about the symbolism, its supposed to make you think. You enjoying kids murder each other and complaining when they aren't is exactly the opposite of what these movies are trying to tell you.

[@deborahminter6231]

I don't think we need to see blood and gore to understand when something is gruesome, the story is ultimately about people.

[@samueltanner4666]

literally such a good adaptation in my opinion. I really wanted the romance between snow and lucy to be more and the relationship with the covey to be more on display. It really felt like Snow never questioned his decision of capital or Lucy which i thought he was in the book which really made the shock on the end so much more heartwrenching. Just felt like the betrayal wasn’t enough and it just didn’t feel like Snow was going crazy enough at the end for me. In the book i felt like he had basically lost his mind in that last scene and it really didn’t for do that in the movie for me.

[@garyalleccia2793]

Great review. I am 60 years old and loved this flick. It tells the story of how it began very well. Yes, a 60 year old Hunger Games fan. I hope you younger folks see what I see in this series. Never take your freedom for granted.

[@Ghost-un5dc]

I loved the retro look. It was very classy. Its as if it was a nod to an underlying story, confirming a broader story being told about history.... It was a very grounded knights of the old republic aesthetic. Very scholarly... Even the throw back blue collar laborer aesthetic, was nice. I really appreciated the retro style i must say..

[@jakerobertson7802]

I wish they hadn't killed the rest of the tributes off with snakes in the end, I wanted to see how Treech, Teslee, Circ and Mizzen really died on the big screen. I also wish they included the district 3 tributes more. Im no movie expert or anything but I would have liked to see it

[@claypage9361]

The actor for snow did a fantastic job making it feel like the first snow we meet and the snow we know at the end are totally two different people

[@matthewworden6095]

I’ve seen it twice so far and I enjoyed it both times. I think the ending with adult Snow saying “it’s the things we love most that destroy us” with nothing but a black screen was perfect because it really connects the movie to the original series. I heard that line wasn’t supposed to be in it at all but once Francis Lawrence saw the first trailer with it he thought it was too perfect not to include because it really summarizes the point of the movie. The one thing I wish they would have included was Dr. Gaul’s speech about how she has no use for liars and lying was something people did to conceal weakness because I felt it was important to Snow’s character that he was traumatized to the point he never lied again (except for when he lied to his classmates about the injuries he got in the arena or lying to Lucy Gray about his third killing) and told others not to lie to him. Viola Davis was perfect for that role.

[@murq_juulz4894]

i thought rachels performance was great and believable, at times her singing made me cringe a little bit even though it sounded amazing its just the feeling i felt during most of those moments. shes definitely a great actor

[@russty7569]

At times it feels too showy. Great voice tho

[@notapotato5946]

bro during the reaping when she started singing lowkey screamed main character moment at my friend

[@giuliac9735]

I thought the same... The anger seemed a bit overacted. But I still think she did a good job!

[@blazingswordsman5410]

I honestly wish they showed more of the dark days, like Coriolanus seeing his mother and sister die, their funeral, Crassus snows funeral, Tigris losing her parents, Tigris saving coryolanis from illness, and Coryo being assaulted by the peacekeeper. I would have also liked to see the ring twins funeral and Arachne’s funeral.

[@likecascade7015]

I read the book while this film was in production. I even tried to find auditions for the remaining Tribute boys, but no luck. And funny enough, I saw this film last night. There were changes, but it was still a good film overall. Though I may prefer the original trilogy.

[@raianthony8492]

I loved the movie bc I read the book, but I can understand if strictly movie watchers didn’t like it. The cinematography was amazing, and for me, it was just like I imagined it. I really do wish they would’ve showed a little more of the violence, instead of watering those scenes down, but I feel that way about most young adult movies that have been adapted from books; however, I do get it.

[@wjsnyeo]

i've never read any of the books and i've only seen the hunger games movies, was never a BIIG fan of the hunger games franchise but i liked it but after seeing TBOSBAS when I tell u i'm the BIGGEST hunger games fan now it literally became my second favorite franchise right under Harry Potter

[@cheekschu2152]

I kinda agree with ur first sentence

[@andrear4954]

Hadn't read much of the book before watching (though I did read the books before watching the other movies) and I really enjoyed it, just felt part 3 being rushed. Almost finished the book though so I might watch the movie again after finishing it with a deeper understanding of the book, having the extra details is so cool

[@All-ze9cl]

I think the tribute parts of the movie were the strongest. They made me care about a lot of the tributes even though most had little to no development. Snow punching the boy was so well done, it was the first time we got a glimpse of who he was deep down inside, and then when he did it again with the mayors daughter. It showed how deep down inside him, there was always some gross evil lurking there. His environment wasn’t all to blame, and I loved how they showed that.

[@GhostOfWonkru]

As someone who’s never read the books, this movie was great. I personally like it more than the other Hunger Games movies, the acting was good and Lucy Gray was so likeable, the ending was a shock for me and took a little bit of marinating for me to understand it, this is a perfect prequel.

[@kayleelesmeister3477]

You should consider reading the books! They're definitely page turners, I saw people who would never read a book if they didn't have to absolutely devour these books during high school. For once I wasn't the only one getting in trouble for reading under my desk, haha

[@Mario-tj8nu]

I always love this type of prequel movie, not redeeming or trying to portray the villain as good or misunderstood, but showing the reasons why the villain exists as they do. How they exist. It is a great way to build upon characters without making them ‘good’

[@sarizonana]

Yes me too, the film at the end commits to its task showing us the origin’s story of a bad guy. Many films like Cruella promise that but at the end they don’t deliver what they promised. This film told us it was a film about a Villain’s origins and delivered that’s what we got. I’m glad Niether Susanne Collins or Francis Lawrence backed down and as much we liked the love story earlier and did feel for them. It’s fine the film does what it says it’s gonna be no lies here. We came to see how a villain turned that way. It’s pretty shocking when you are watching the film and you are so engrossed in it. Watching the movie you think : Please let snow and Lucy have their happy ending and then do another film to turn him evil. But days after you watch the movie you think well we came to movie knowing it’s going be to be the story on how Snow turned into the monster he was. The movie would have failed if it didn’t gave us that.

[@its_shannon]

“Poor, foolish, dead Sejanus” - Coriolanus Snow

[@misakraus5504]

I love the movie, I read the book multiple times and the movie managed to adapt it perfectly for me. The increasing tempo also added to the drama of Snow falling (but I get the complaints about the 3rd act being too fast and such, I just don't personally mind). And with the last scene, the huge statue in Capitol and Snow looking at it, after the murder of dean, I had chills - this was the evil Snow from original trilogy, you could see the ambitions and such in him, the ending was amazing!

[@cz5981]

i loved it! i think it was TOO much like the book at times. in the book we get snow's internal monologue and his thoughts about lucy gray and how he becomes evil with the killing etc. the movie COMPLETELY omits that. maybe they could've had him confide in tigris more??? or sejanus? idk but i still think they did a phenomenal job

[@sparxstreak02]

I do wish the members of Lucy Gray’s Covey family had gotten more spotlight - especially Maude Ivory & how much she saw Lucy Gray as her sister, as the group felt more like a band that just gets together a lot (a close band) but not as close as a family unit that lives together in the sticks (as was shown in the book)

[@oscarmurillo6131]

I’m glad you mentioned how they made everything look like a futuristic 1960s. it caught me so offguard when I saw the movie trailer. Like if it’s supposed to be set in a futuristic US why is the tech so dated, idk it just bothered me a lot.

[@sophieshep12]

I feel like they should have kept Dr Gauls lab as terriying as it was in the books. She had avox's (capital slaves with tongues removed) in cages, having been mutated with different animals. Corio mentions hearing their moans and screams. But when we see it in the movie, it's just weird things in jars. It would have helped show just how dark and twisted Dr Gaul truly is.

[@lauraschoots]

Yeah and her scary rabbit

[@OMGitsShrimp]

Style is cyclical. I actually loved the retro look they had in the movie! It gives a distinct visual cue for the viewer to associate this story with past events. There tech was advanced but not in a futuristic, flashy way which I liked because it kept the tone more grounded. The Capitol was definitely less flashy in this movie but it made sense to me because it looked like they were still rebuilding from the Dark Days. Maybe the Capitol before the Dark days occurred was originally more understated in style then over the decades that will come they get more outlandish.

[@mariak4432]

The song playing during the credits hit the nail on the head. It had the perfect vibe and is still playing in my head every time i think about the movie.

[@peeledbanana311]

So no one is going to talk about the easily winded drama student ordering everyone around with a trident in the games. Wow our expectations, RIP.

[@mjgudiel8948]

3:34 Agreed. I've said it before. This book felt like a roller coaster, parts 1 and 2 were the way up: really slow and filled with anticipation, detailed to the max, almost exhausting. But part 3 was the way down: rushing and moving too fast to the point of wanting to know more details.

[@paulinamonreal3364]

The movie also forgot to add snows relationship with sejanus parents and Sejanus dad helping snow out while at the university🥺

[@zaimakis4333]

Tbh I was pretty bummed abt how early they ended the games, simply killing off everyone with the snakes in contrast to the book but the movie is so freaking good I've already been to see it twice and am planning to go once more while it's still in theaters.

[@Rio-Kio]

They adapted the book incredibly and showed true attention to detail. However, I wish the movie captured the film POV of President Snow and his own POV like what they did with Katniss showing her point of view in the film, it felt as If we were part of the games when we should have been in Snows POV like the book, and should've been outside as a spectator of the games rather than in.

[@Sam-fp2qh]

I like Rachel Zagler as an actress and singer (especially in this movie), but I don't think she's the right casting for a live-action Snow White. At least not on the level of Lily James as Cinderella, Naomi Scott as Jasmine, Elle Fanning as Aroura, or Hallie Bailey as Ariel who were all phenomena in their respective roles and were all born to play their respective Disney princesses. I just think they could've looked harder for the perfect actress to bring the real Snow White to life. (And this has nothing to do with her as a person or an actress, I think she's great, but I just don't know if she is the right pick for Snow White when she clearly doesn't understand the original character of Snow White).

[@joe_isom]

I can’t help it. As a die hard *_Hunger Games_* fan, I absolutely loved _The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes_ book & film. I just wish the film could have somehow implemented Snow’s inner sinister narcissistic monologue in the film because in the book that is exactly how he is.

[@CottyCordle]

Personally I liked the aesthetic of the retro low tech that’s actually high tech. They’re rebuilding society and in 10 years of time they’ve gotten to post modern nuclear futurism. I think that makes a lot of sense. Most of their technology is used for bioengineering anyway. So their biggest advancements are of course medicines, poisons, and genetic manipulation (mutts).

[@anakinalvarez7106]

Agreed! We also know it seems to be a normal human pattern to bring back old styles at times so why would there be an exception to that behavior in the future

[@lapras2397]

I'm not entirely sure when and where the Hunger Games take place, like if they're supposed to be us in years time, but the variability in their technology really improved it for me. They have incredibly advanced bioengineering, but a lot of the capitol is broken down. Yes, there was a war, but they're putting more of their focus elsewhere. It could probably mean something for the story, but to me it really worked wonders in the world building.

[@m.hoffman2889]

My expectations were low, but I honestly enjoyed the movie. I really cared for the characters and got immersed, I even tought controversal actress Rachel Zegler did some great acting in that movie

[@sydneysorensen8022]

one thing i would change is that during coriolanus's freak out sesh he was shooting the birds, not trying to hit lucy gray. i feel like it took away from his character arc and made him more of a moody teenager and not a psychopath

[@nerdish2139]

But that's what he does in the book

[@sydneysorensen8022]

@@nerdish2139 really?? i’m gonna have to go back and check

[@nerdish2139]

@@sydneysorensen8022 yeah once she starts singing all of the mockingjays start flying around and he empties the mag trying to shoot them

[@LegoThornProductions-js1sr]

The funniest thing I saw in the movie was when arachnie said Lucy gray looked like a clown when 65 years later the capital citizens look like they were pulled from a circus 😅😅😅

[@IlumiBlack]

I loved this movie, but I was disappointed with the scene of Clemensia being attacked by a snake. It was horryfying in the books when A LOT of snakes immediately bited her, she went to hospital for days, and most of all, her skin got colorful scales. It really shows the madness of dr Gaul. Also, I wish we could hear The Hanging Tree only in the end when Snow haunts Lucy, it could be a lot creepier because it shows that the song is also about him

[@BullyMaguire4ever]

That’s true! They cut out her transformation.

[@murq_juulz4894]

the technology made sense to me, they just came back from a war where both sides suffered so its a good chance they were just using whatever they could for the time until they had the opportunity to upgrade them back to what they used to have

[@lucygarrett9785]

My only real gripe is that they didn’t develop Lucy Gray and Snow as much as in the book but overall I loved it. All the characters were done so well and I think some of them were even done better than in the book. I wish the movie could have been a bit longer in order to fit more in but they did really well with what they had.

[@markdowding5737]

They should have turned it into a television miniseries. Slipping into two films might risk a similar situation as in Mockinjay where the first film created a lot of build-up for a climax that is only on the next film

[@todddenoon6296]

I agree that there was way too little gore. Aracne’s death was poorly handled. They wafted over her taunting Brandy and Brandy’s method of killing was due to her work in District 10 slaughter houses. The snakes were disappointing in a way. I disliked that they left out the effect of the snake bites - rainbow pus. As well as how Clem was transformed.

[@YURIBARRETTFILMS]

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE RETRO SET DESIGN AND CGI!!!! Everyone talks about how amazing it looks but it doesn’t fit the movie correctly and takes away from the dystopia look

[@mysticalmargaret6105]

Some parts DID feel rushed. For example the scene at the Hob. In the book, Snow's reaction to Lucy's song about him was different and much longer, more emotional. He didn't just abruptly stand up and walk off. That was very disappointing, that they didn't play it that way, like in the book. I was also hoping for much more of the stomp dancing scene (pardon my ignorance, if there's a better term for this type of dancing)! That looked like so much fun in the trailers!

[@valerien6514]

I wish there was more romance in the movie. In the book, they kissed several times, while in the movie only once. And it didn't feel like Coryo even loved her as much as in the book. And I wish they added a scene where he says that he won't love anymore and will marry someone who will not take care of him.

[@insertnamehere08]

Amazing. Second best hunger games film. Casting was on point, and incredibly close to the book.

[@237.zr9]

i am guessing your number 1 is catching fire?

[@justcallmeD90]

Lucky Flickerman made a lot of people laugh when I went to see it Saturday

[@min181094]

I was afraid I would unconsciously pick on Rachel Zegler because I didn't like her in interviews, but she was amazing! I only wish they would break the book in two movies so we could see more - I've missed some interactions between Snow and Sejanus mother for example

[@SchizoExplains]

My take is that hunger games is suppose to be brutal dark and intense where people are filled with immense dread and I feel like Jennifer Lawrence was able to capture this rawness so well, however the leading characters in the prequel lack depth. I do also prefer the cinematography of hunger games where it is more dark and real but this prequel seems like a set,don’t get me wrong it is still nice but to me it is too bright colourful and “clean” which is contradictory considering the brutality of the hunger games concept.

[@gabbyfelix8305]

I really do think the movie should've been in 2 parts. They put a lot of different things happening at once in the movie, or one after the other with no transition and it didn't feel like a very cohesive story.

[@Cyberclone8790]

Even as a las vegas raiders fan I think your hoodie looks cool the eagles kelly green logo is pretty dope and I have HURTS SWIFT GOEDERT and AJ BROWN on my fantasy

[@aufallenkanalen9846]

That’s so interesting! In Germany, the critics also hate this movie and I absolutely loved it! I am a huge fan of the original series, and was so nervous about this movie. But they absolutely crushed it 🤩

[@Paulie_Geelie]

The film was a masterclass in character development, with the seeds for Snows devolution being planted and shown early and subtly, to then having them manifest in more overt ways. He lies to get what he wants, he lies to his classmates to maintain social standing, he lies to Lucy Gray about his intentions for helping her, he lies to his friend about why he wants rescue him from the arena, and his lies from then on become more and more obvious. No single one of these lies made him a bad person, he actually did quite a lot of good with these lies. But ultimately, Snow was concerned about helping himself above all else, and once he realized he could use his lies for self gain, he made a turn for the worse.

[@Eryn-bf6qb]

Can you do the life of Lucy Gray Baird?

[@edra2005]

Theory: Dr. Gaul planted the explosions in the arena (to boost up interest and justify her attack with the snakes) and she also made Felix Ravenstill (the "son" of the president) disappear so that Snow can succeed Ravenstill as the next president of Panem

[@emmadesjardins7750]

Just wanted to say, in the book Felix Ravinstill isn’t the son of the president and also nothing happens to him but omg the bomb theory is so interesting

[@edra2005]

​@@emmadesjardins7750I think they changed it in the movie so that the death of Felix has more direct consequences with the snake attack and so that Gaul can groom snow in order for him to become the next president She wants the hunger games to continue for many years after her death and snow is the person who she has chosen to succeed her

[@qrow7215]

You should do videos on The Lord Of The Rings! I would fucking love that!

[@sereno2468]

I've asked him if he likes LotR and if he plans to make videos about it, but I've been ignored every time, so I hope you have better luck than me 😅

[@Baseballify]

I felt so bad so sjaunus he did break the law but he made it seem real when he was yelling when he was hung

[@faureamour]

I really enjoyed this move. I am actually ok with the PG 13 rating. The violence was effectively showcased in the original 4 movies, and I personally felt equally shocked with some of the kills. I think especially when Flickerman was doing the weather in juxtaposition to someone being murdered. It's been a while since I've read the book, but I remember the 3rd part being my least favorite, though I felt the book actually dragged on a bit. I liked the last 5 pages though, like I liked that last 15mins of the movie.

[@emh30_10]

I noticed all of those missing s ends, but the only one I wished had been included was the return of Clemensia. Because after the snakes had their time, she was out and you never find out what happend to her.

[@thetrueparagon]

I love hunger games

[@itzsadz46]

I’m actually quite happy that this was pg-13 because as a 4 year old it was fun that I got to watch it.

[@gambledw]

Great review ! I enjoyed the movie very much. Agree about the snakes, the only place (for me) where maybe they could have spent more $ on the CGI. The gathering and covering of the bodies was more powerful in the movie than the book for me. I enjoyed all of the singing (Zegler fan) and was OK with the accent which was very reminiscent of a woman high school math teacher that I had. For the ending, the book was more poignant for me than the movie, but that did not detract from my overall enjoyment.

[@Evasive2049]

I don't usually watch review videos but this was a good balance one, well done.

[@solsticebaby]

100% it should have been two movies. That way we could have met more of the mentors, actually gotten to know the Covey, We could have met the peacekeeper friends out in district 12, and could have gotten more of the story. I will say this: Arachne's actress really needs more props. She did not have a lot of time on screen but boy did she do a great job with that character.

[@annaleft9726]

yeah. first two acts could’ve been it. last act could’ve been an entire movie on its own. imagine the cliff hanger of snow getting caught and the audience who hadn’t read the books dying to know what happens next

[@supaflyrvguy2768]

Why do we need to know the Covey? Because Maude Ivory? She didnt serve a purpose in the book that was vital. Why do we need to meet peacekeeper friends? I think there was enough of the story from the book, more than other adaptations, i think the pacing could have been better, it was a slow walk to a full 100yd dash in the 3rd act, the way the love story should have been portrayed with more emotion. I guess showing Snow as a cold calculating teenager fits, but in the book i was almost rooting for him until i remembered who he was. I didnt get that in the movie.

[@louisacoote2337]

@@supaflyrvguy2768 I thought the Peace keeper friends was a great way to show how charismatic Snow is, and it fleshed him out a lot, showing who he could/should be

[@supaflyrvguy2768]

@@louisacoote2337 Yes it did flesh out Snow deeper, however the purpose in the vook was to make Snow more synpathetic and makes the turn more dramatic. The movie wasnt going for a sympathetic snow, they were going for a psuedo relatable manipulator, so making you have a sympathtic emotion wouldnt work.

[@samanthafogg]

Totally agree about the R rating and them missing out the deaths of the escaped tributes and the impact they made the mentors deaths have in the book and how it impacted the games, it just happening to the president´s son rather than all the mentors that ended up ill or dead felt off. Again, wish they’d kept in Clemmy and what happened to her after she was bitten, would’ve loved to see how they worked in her new appearance and how unhinged she became. I really wish they’d kept the post tribute death mentor interviews, I think they added just that bit more to the tributes characters which we could’ve afforded seeing as there weren’t that many who actually started the games. They would’ve also worked really well for Jessup’s death which I thought was a wasted opportunity, nowhere near as tragic as it was in the books, from the start when he was attacked by a bat seemingly on the way and not a raccoon (or even some other animal) while he was in the capitals capture and his humanising message from his mentor at the end. Not to mention the relationship between the two district 12 mentors and how they supported each other, her using Jessups food and water to disarm Jessup and save Lucy Gray. Ma being cut was a shame because him becoming heir to the Plinth fortune seems more of a stretch and I think their relationship added an extra layer to Sejanus’ death knowing how well Ma treated him and owed him for saving Sejanus in the arena, and yet he still sent her son to the gallows. I don’t know if it’s because it’s how Snow perceives Lucy Gray but I feel she’s a lot nicer and less cunning that she could have come off in the books with her actions, but they definitely work in the snake trap as a definite deliberate act which I like. I do like how you can see all the things they implemented in later games because of the struggles you see now: making sure the tributes are taken care of and fed with 12 getting the best because they arguably start in the worst spot, basic training for everyone so it makes for an interesting fight, the tokens to remind you of home, changing the arena because it makes things new and exciting, everything is so thought out because of issues they’ve had. Peter Dinklage as Highbottom is great, you can see that he never actually wanted this to happen but my god he was going to make those around him suffer to try and make sure they would stop happening, and who comes to ruin it all again, a Snow. Perfect balance of arrogance and power with the tragedy of having at least 230 deaths on your conscience and counting with no end in sight thanks to another Snow. A theory I like that I know isn’t at all possible but I wish had been worked in somehow, is that Lucy Gray is/is the mother to Alma Coin, I would’ve loved for the battle for the capital to have come down to the teenaged lovers once again trying to survive each other as they had done 65 years earlier but instead of just the two of them, they brought the whole world down with them this time. Echos back to “it’s the things we love most that destroy us” 1 being Lucy Gray, the only girl he ever loved, but 2 his love for his power and his continuation of the games leads to him being overthrown and mobbed to death.

[@sereno2468]

Gotta love it when they take an R rated story and turn it into a vanilla show to attract more audiences and still get mixed reviews. I haven't had the chance to watch it yet but just knowing that they cut the carriage scene makes me go in with much lower expectations than I had before.

[@HowlWorks]

Loved it!! Really added to the story as a whole!! I’m rewatching the hunger games now again because of it!!

[@ImaDeltaNow]

Honestly, I feel this movie might have been the best one of all the Hunger Games movies (I haven't read any books yet, but I watched all the movies) my only complaint was that they didn't show what happened to Lucy Gray, but it leaves room for future storytelling. I just came back from watching it and I feel part 2 had most of my attention and my personal favorite part, but part 3 was probably the best not including my opinion. I hope the author makes "Snows Arc" a trilogy and maybe even a time before trilogy to see the complete Hunger Games.

[@lXlxthedoorxlXl]

Before watching this movie I didn't know what the movie was about. Lucy Gray always acted distanced or with caution around Snow even though the dude saved her life. The Storytelling was kind of weird and didn't give me any surprises. Lucy Gray knew he would become the evil guy and that's why she acted like that. As someone that didn't know the hunger games the ending didn't surprise like "wow, i didn't expected that" it was more like "oh ok thats why she acted so weird around him"

[@fiendishbaphomet]

The movie was amazing! I wasn’t originally going to watch it because of Rachel Zegler being a controversial naughty person in real life but other than that I really enjoyed it!

[@RitoRvolto]

Such a snowflake.

[@KuntryDelaRosa]

I feel like alot of Lucy's character was them assuming everyone read the book. Feels like they did alot of "well that's just lucy" without properly explaining who she really was. Nit picky maybe. Aside from that it was great

[@pappasmooth9051]

Imo all of the Hunger Games movies should've been rated R. It would make the stakes feel higher if the audience could see all the blood/gore depicted in the books.

[@pappasmooth9051]

@@Follow_a_bee The books are bloody and go into graphic details. Especially when depicting a kill in the games. The movies feel PG compared to the books

I honestly have to agree with everything you said. One thing I want to add that I really missed and was most excited to see was Clemensia. Especially following what we've seen in the book. Other than that I really wish for the movie to receive the success it deserves. The cast was perfectly spot on!

[@maximosaurus042nd]

Isn’t the movie (and possibly book) supposed to take places in the 1980s? One of the televisions - inside the room where all the mentors watch their tributes - says that the current year was 1984. I remember that from a trail but maybe that date was later removed. Please tell me your thoughts Morgan.

[@ravioli_124]

No, it takes places in the future just like all the other Hunger Games books and movies

[@candrarios5637]

I see the trials of apollo, sun and the star, and chalice of the gods in you background! Please do a review or videos soon