THE HUNGER GAMES: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes MOVIE REACTION!! Full Movie Review

[@ReelRejects]

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[@fabian5813]

Why Is Everyone Hyping Up Rachel’s Singing? 😂 We Know She’s A Good Singer, She Wouldn’t Have Been Casted In Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story If She Wasn’t. Her Singing Was Never In Question. It’s Everything Else She Does That’s Cringe.

[@causesharkboysaidso6867]

@@fabian5813she was meh in that movie though. In hunger games she was so much better & really showed her talent

[@fabian5813]

@@causesharkboysaidso6867 Her Acting Is Always “Meh” , But Her Singing Was The Same

[@TinyT1mm]

Damn you guys gone woke all sudden

[@yosoyasiporquesi]

You must to react to Society of snow please 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

Fun fact, in the first book, Katniss says there’s been two hunger games winners from district 12. Haymitch and a female winner that died a long time ago. No one knows her name because Snow and Gaul went out of their way to erase Lucy Gray from the history books.

[@joshuacoldwater]

But they couldn’t erase the song, nope.

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

@@joshuacoldwaterit came back to haunt Snow!

[@zed_1585]

I don’t think the book even mentioned the previous winner was female. There was just a reference to “only two [previous District 12 victors]. Only one still alive” and then introduces Haymitch. But we know now, that “previous victor” that kitniss knew nothing about was Lucy Gray Baird

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

​@@zed_1585 oops! I didn't realize that when I was reading the books, I always imagined the victor was female even before the prequel came out! I guess I later assumed that was because I read it in the books lol

[@Myhusbandrenamedmyhandle]

There's been speculation that Lucy Gray has some relation to Katniss bc her father taught her the songs. And Katniss's father loved singing also.

[@artloveranimation]

You are correct, she recorded everything LIVE instead of lip-syncing. And the songs were written by the author

[@Lillian.Gao.]

Wow. So much talent (and work ethic to back it up!)

[@jaureguihansen5798]

Written by the author with the help of other songwriters

[@joshuacoldwater]

@@jaureguihansen5798 David Cobb was the only other name listed as a composer, and he wrote the instrumentals. Every lyric of every song was written by Suzanne herself. Funny enough, it is EXTREMELY rare to find music with only two composers listed these days. I use Taylor Swift as an example, Lavender Haze was written by Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, Zoë Kravitz, Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, and Sam Dew. On her entire new album there is only ONE song that she wrote alone, and it’s on an extended edition.

[@mackyronni]

The lyrics are from the books not the music

[@thuirthiawindsong]

Except the Ballad of Lucy Gray. That’s a poem by Wordsworth

[@stevepool8034]

All right, guys, Lucky Flickerman is Cesar Flickerman’s ancestor. The girl who died at the zoo was Arachne Crane who was an ancestor of Seneca Crane, gamemaker in first HG movie. There was even Hilarius Heavensbee who was Plutarch Heavensbee’s ancestor. And Lucy wrote the Hanging Tree which Katniss also sang. Good reaction, guys. 👍🏻

[@jeanninebrice9107]

And I believe Hunter Shafer’s character is the cat face lady who helps katniss and crew hide in the final Hunger Games movie

[@stevepool8034]

@@jeanninebrice9107 yes, she is Tigris, Coriolanus’s cousin.

[@Mads97415]

Yeah I don't get how they thought Lucky was the same character from the original movies. But Greg said he had only seen them once so...

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

One other possibility I thought of right after watching the film. Could Lucy Gray have become .... President Coin?

[@stevepool8034]

@@JeshuaSquirrel Readers have been speculating on that since the book came out. That wd make Coin in her 80s. Maybe Coin’s aunt or mother. We’ll know when Suzanne Collins writes the next book.

[@EleventhCubFan]

I’m happy Viola Davis got to let loose and play such an eccentric character

[@kassiogomes8498]

Oh man. She is so good.

[@carriesmith742]

Agreed! She and Peter Dinklage are both in the "they could make the phone booth sound chilling, depending on how they act it out," club, lol. 😊

[@alyssatheexcellent]

I dunno, part of her seemed like she was enjoying the freedom and part of it seemed like she was trying too hard to be the child who had too much cotton candy and is pushing laughing too hard at everything. It’s definitely an interesting choice and very different than what I’m used to her doing.

[@alexlazzerly3677]

Her delivery of "welcome home Mr. Snow" is so good.

[@tgabz]

​@ahmedraziinossa, tu é gostoso hein 🫦

[@ladrac198]

I do think the lack of chemistry between Snow and Lucy Gray is somewhat intentional. Throughout the entire book Snow keeps thinking of Lucy as "his". He views her as an object to further his own goals, and then as his prize for escaping. Even in the book it never feels like a genuine love ever blossomed between them.

[@vanyadolly]

100% Neither of them know each other well enough to even realize they're complete opposites. She thinks he's a good man because he showed kindness to her, and he just sees his own idea of her.

[@lavinder11]

I don't think it was intentional. The two actors are on different levels of acting.

[@edwardt.8704]

I liked both their performances. I thought it was genuine 😅

[@spazzyshortgirl23]

@@edwardt.8704so did I! And other reviewers really like the sexual tension

[@jaamba3]

what i thought they had a crazy amount of chemistry

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

There’s a theory that Lucy Gray’s cousin (the little blonde girl) might be Katniss’ grandmother. She remembered Lucy Gray’s songs and gave them to her son, Katniss’ father, who was known for being a singer that could make the birds stop and listen to him sing. That’s how Katniss knows the Hanging Tree song.

[@tashaglam4824]

It’s a really great prevailing theory, but in the books, Lucy Grey and the covey performed the song live in front of a huge crowd in District 12 for the Commanders birthday. It’s just as well that the song could’ve been passed along through all of District 12.

[@fan-tashtic5491]

​@tashaglam4824 apparently the song was only ever performed once by the covey and was then banned from ever being sung again in any district.

[@claudia11117]

@@tashaglam4824 another reason for the theory is because katniss' dad knew about the lake, that no district 12 members knew about other than the covey.

[@terminallumbago6465]

@@tashaglam4824But they specified that Maude Ivory had the ability to remember a song just from one listen, the same ability Katniss has.

[@Tra5h_boat6368]

@@tashaglam4824the song was banned after that performance, and Lucy Gray says that Maude Ivory can memorize a song after hearing it once. It only makes sense that she was the one to pass the song down.

[@LavenousForever]

Their “romance” in the book is really interesting. Because the book is in Snows head you know what he’s actually thinking. In the movie you only see the persona he plays to the public. He thinks he loves Lucy, and there is an attraction there, but he loves her as a possession there to benefit him. He basically thinks he owns her 😅 as soon as she stops benefiting him in his eyes he unravels and convinces himself she’s out to get him. Also it’s so jam packed because the book was over 500 pages. For reference the original trilogy is about 300 each

[@jamesbuchananbarnesss]

something i loved from when I saw this was how by the time Lucy Gray asked "who's the third one" and Snow said "my old self", everyone in the theater had turned on him already and we all just started laughing at him lol

[@808hearmannxea2]

imma say this didn't happen. besides snow was cool ASF in the first movies anyways, kinda sad he went out like that ngl

[@jihyoslint]

All he had to say was that he felt responsible for Sejanus' death and yet he has to say that 😭

[@simp6303]

i mean idk none of it was his fault, i thought him turning made sense.

[@kianab7852]

Yeah, I definitely heard some snorts at that exact moment in the theater lmao

[@juvon102]

@@808hearmannxea2You’re viewpoint on the purpose of this character is legit concerning 😂😂 especially considering the symbolism

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

I just realized that the title works in two ways. Either Snow is a snake who is being calmed and seduced by her song or she is a songbird trapped in a cage that he can take care of. So this is the ballad of songbirds and snakes. They are both trying to bend the other to their wants and they both lose. Can’t believe I didn’t realize that

[@FoxyGuyHere]

Snow is snake that uses songbirds to get power. Lucy is songbird that uses snakes to survive.

[@JustinBocci]

Yeah, the title really fits. Lucy Gray-songbirds, Coriolanus Snow-snake. The relationship between them and which one is a snake and which one is a songbird.

[@SweetSlytherinGirl-Jennifer]

I just remembered that Finnick calls Snow a snake later on when he is doing his propo during the rescue of the other victors. So cool.

[@frqnkenst13n4x7]

In reference to the title, the arena scene (The old therebefore) also can be interpreted this way. Lucy gray (the songbird) not only seemingly calming the snakes slithering on and around her but then transitioning to stare into the camera to face the real snakes, the people viewing the games as entertainment. She serenades them until they’re chanting to have her released from the arena, but also using song to convey emotions she knows the people of the Capitol will never understand or sympathize with if conveyed through words or actions.

[@terminallumbago6465]

She was his songbird. He was her snake.

[@RaraAviss]

I love that Lucy Gray used snakes as her weapon and Snow used songbirds even though we view Lucy as a songbird and Snow as a snake

[@tic01]

Now they just have to make an original Mags, Finnick, and Haymitch prequel trilogy to see how they won their games in context to Snow’s reign.

[@dragonhead99]

Who knows. They might actually do it.

[@jacobmccain8794]

It really could make for some great new movies honestly. The different games and the backstories of each characters

[@dragonhead99]

Haymitch, I definitely love to see you as a movie. But it's hard to see anyone to fill in Woody Harrelson.

[@jenny_lee_87]

And district 13 during and after war

[@TheOnetreehill11]

no

[@arelladorcas]

I completely understand with the train of thought of wanting snow to have more of that struggle between being good or bad, and part of adapting one medium to another sometimes things do get lost, but a big part of the prequel book was that you could hear snow's internal dialogue and it was pretty evident he was always evil and had a sense of righteousness to his status

[@LS13.]

Don’t think he was evil though, the internal dialogue showed struggles but also what they’d stem from. In the end he never forgot what happened in early life and what his goal always was.

[@totalknightmare]

even in the movie you could clearly see that he was only doing this stuff because he wanted a different status than the one he had. everything was to help him. lucy and his cousin and everybody else gaining something too was just lucky coincidence

[@vanyadolly]

I thought it was very obvious he was a bad person even at the start of the movie. The guy's a font of inspired ideas to make the games worse! 😂 I don't know how people read so much "goodness" into him.

[@mckenzie.latham91]

He wasn’t evil yet, the issue that people overlook, is the influence of mentors in the book Snow’s father was killed in 12 by rebels, his grandmother is a person who constantly tells him and raised him too believe that the districts are savages that want to kill everyone in the capital and who will take everything from the capital if they’re not stopped... he was raised to look down on the districts, he also was raised in the capital system where all the students are rich and vicious, fighting each other for clout and to get ahead (how his father betrayed Highbottom and got his own power) This framed his way of thinking and his behaviour, however, he wasn’t totally lost there was a chance he could have been swayed to the rebel side... but Highbottom could not let go of his hatred for snow’s father and every action he did drove Snow to Gaul and it’s Gaul that finally corrupts Snow enough for him to choose evil. Highbottom had a chance to save Snow but his own hatred, refused to give Snow a chance and Gaul was there to reinforce everything Snow was taught.

[@applepie6832]

@@mckenzie.latham91 tigress grew up in the same house with the same grandmother and still was able to see the people of the districts as human and have sympathy. C idolized his father whereas Tigress was able to see the hatred in him.

[@MaggieAAdams]

This movie just helps connect so much of his actions in the other movie. Like in Catching Fire when he says, "DON'T LIE" like he has huge trust issues and how it left with Lucy Grey. That scene in Catching Fire just stands out

[@MaddyPerez128]

Yeah that was my first thought. That he agreed to be honest with Katniss and never once lied to her (iirc) which isn’t something the villains usually do. Now it makes sense though cause a lie was what basically ruined him

[@BK-eo5bb]

Although it's different from how it plays out in the book, in the movie his leading the chant to let Lucy Gray be the victor really sheds light on his later anger at Seneca Crane for letting Katniss and Peeta survive. He clearly felt in hindsight that Dr. Gaul made the wrong decision in letting public opinion sway her to spare Lucy Gray. So when Seneca does the same thing, he gets poisoned berries to eat.

[@jacksonsd6]

All the songs Lucy Gray sings are taken from the book! In the book, Lucy Gray also sings the song that Katniss sang to Rue when she dies, but that wasn’t in the movie. Also, she did sing live on set like John thought

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

I don’t remember Katniss singing to Prim when she died. I thought that was Rue?

[@jacksonsd6]

@@Melanie-jy2nw yeah i meant to say Rue. just fixed it lol

[@obsessedmess3591]

Jason Schwartzmen's character is actually NOT Stanley Tucci's character, and is instead one of his ancestors, father or grandfather probably :)

[@chrisf5828]

Yes, Tucci would be 20 years older than Donald Sutherland if it was the same character

[@RuffianLivesOn]

Pretty sure it's his father because the character mentions needing a highchair at some point.

[@faureamour]

The guys' perspective was really interesting to me. I do agree that there was a little more they could've done emotionally, but mostly I feel they could've tried more to show Snow's under monologue. For example, when he cried over Sejanus' death in the book, he essentially says "why did you make me do this?" Not really morning his friend but more his predicament. I think it was actually fine that the love story didn't come across as much because Lucy does seem to love him. Snow loves himself and how he feels with her "belonging" to him. I can totally agree that it would've been great to see a 3hr version of this, but that's because I love this world.

[@nicolettemaloy]

Rachel sang everything live, she did recordings in case her voice needed a break but every single time you hear Rachel singing it’s live. And Suzanne Collins (the author) wrote all the songs they were in the book :)

[@MichelleAlina91]

I'm kinda shocked that you guys didn't recognize the hanging tree song from the hunger games movies 😮 it gave me the biggest goosebumps bec of what it means and now we know why snow hated Katnis so much. It's crazy how heartbreak can turn you into a monster.

[@Leotique]

I'm pretty sure John recognized it

[@samgrey2407]

rachel zegler is only a 'controversial figure' amongst misogynistic, brainless disney adults and chronically online men - anybody with common sense that see that she's genuinely talented and sweet and im so happy to see her getting her flowers for this film! i was so confused and angry about the completely unwarranted, exaggerated hate she was getting at one point, but the tides have turned and she's gained a large and loyal fanbase now .. she's a superstar no doubt

[@torijeri]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 well said

[@CowsRdumb]

Facts. I love her

[@_P785_]

She has said some pretty crazy things tho so it’s not unwarranted. Just cause she’s a good actress doesn’t mean she’s just perfect in real life.

[@Lillian.Gao.]

Seriously - she came off annoying in a reel. ok. she was annoying in interviews. Did she say anything hateful? No…… so what are ppl mad at her about again?

[@brownenerdygurl]

She only said what Disney told her to say. Nothing is spontaneous. I'm sure she was prepped, like they all are, given talking points and told what she can legally say and not. She was just convincing.

[@aubryellaotero1064]

Uh yeah…… the people from the districts in this movie definitely seem less human because this story is told from the perspective of someone in the capital…. It’s not just the directors randomly making the choice to portray them as animalistic while they’re chasing after Corio in the arena.

[@clover2739]

Yeah exactly, it’s about Snow and how he views people in the district and justifies why they treat people in the districts the way they do

[@beccazach]

Fr! Even when the guys said the hunger games in this movie felt 'cuter' and not gritty like the movies in Katniss' perspective, that's because the movie firmly shows how the capital is viewing this all. It's just entertainment and nothing deep or upsetting, and why there's an emphasis on Lucy having to perform for attention. When that capital student throws up watching the games, that's what Lucky Flickerman says the audience found "disgusting and hard to watch", not the murders happening on-screen. Then he gives a casual weather report, obviously making light of the whole broadcast. So the lighter tone in that part of the movie makes a lot of sense.

[@DylanWrona]

I did enjoy this movie. Nothing as good as the originals but I did like it. Rachel Zegler did a good job imo and she’s a great singer.

[@gdesiree29]

It's my second fav after catching fire. Catching fire Tbosas Hunger games Mj part 2 Mj part 1

[@aishaal-ali5028]

It is as good as the original 😊

[@mysticalmaniac2]

Its better than 3 out of the 4 original movies lmao

[@kairubynini]

it’s literally the second best hunger games movie behind catching fire

[@FoxyGuyHere]

Much better than 3 and 4.

[@cairothetiefling_]

The thing that gives me chills every time is the jabberjay's repeating Sejanus's last word- a cry for his mom. Over and over, a muttation mocking a scared boy's terrified call for his ma.

[@pxxv5370]

22:15 She's literally not controversial at all 😂 All she did was having different opinions than others about a freaking cartoon. Man it's insane how people blew this out of proportion. Ironic and hilarious that the people who keep crying about her, are the same crowd that would call others "snowflakes" or "woke" for not sharing the same views or beliefs as them.

[@prathapkutty7407]

Yup extreme right wingers in a nutshell.

[@MsRoy523]

shut up simp

[@loxleymv]

Ah yes, the actor who is supposed to be the new snowwhite, thinks that the old OG cartoons are “terrible”. Thinks that women need no man to save her. In a classic princess story. It’s just sad

[@pxxv5370]

@@loxleymv And? Getting offended because she doesn't view a cartoon character the same way as you do, is ridiculous. Sensitive bunch. Get over yourselves.

[@loxleymv]

@@pxxv5370that’s not the point I’m making. And I’m not offended. It’s weird to me for the star who’s playing Snow White, to not like the source material and has a problem with the message that it was originally. If I was offended, I would be outraged that she’s not completely white.

[@aubryellaotero1064]

I just love this story so much and the book is genuinely amazing, Susan Collins is such a genius. I think the entire prequel story is so interesting.

[@JeshuaSquirrel]

This story certainly recontextualizes the main trilogy.

[@demas5334]

I want to see Tigris’ story. She seems like a fascinating character who has had to deal with a lot.

[@cwardfilms]

Tigris is the one that saves jennifer Lawrence in mockingjay part 2 as well, would be interesting

[@applepie6832]

I wonder what she ‘did’ to make snow tat her up like that

[@JH-jw7pu]

It’s really interesting to me that you both had doubts about Lucy Gray. As if the only way Snow could be as evil as he is through experiencing something traumatic, or being wronged in some way. Turn out, it just runs in his blood and he’s always had the same ambitions as the father he idolized.

[@applepie6832]

Tigris and Sejanus were the only two capital people who any outward sympathy for the people of the districts. Snow has shown his disdain for them since the beginning of the movie I’m not sure how they missed that. Or the fact that he was manipulating Sejanus’ need to help to get what he wanted.

[@onewinter9411]

The book was amazing. I literally finished the book one hour before I go watch the movie and it was definitely a good adaptation. The book is phenomenal. I might even say it actually is better than The Hunger Games trilogy itself. Plus, it also kind of creepy how relevant the movie is to the current situation. I read the book and found myself creeped out by how realistic the dialogues feels because they are something that I've heard people say about a certain group of people.

[@MattyBmemes]

Agreed, it's the most compelling book of the 3 but probably the hardest to adapt

[@rozzadog6297]

How the hell did you manage to read it within an hour

[@Mads97415]

@@rozzadog6297 They said finished it one hour BEFORE seeing the movie

[@chabotal3133]

Agreed. It's one of the best book to movie adaptations I've seen in awhile.

[@kaleyrose47]

I really loved the connection that the love story between Lucy Gray and Snow is reason why Snow becomes so invested in, and simultaneously threatened by, Katniss and Peeta’s love story. If you recall, in “Catching Fire”, Katniss says, “You want me to convince them.” Snow replies, “No…convince me.” Katniss was a fighter forced to perform, Lucy Gray was a performer forced to fight.

[@Zama_Raya]

That’s not Stanley Tucci’s character. His character’s name was Caesar Flickerman and Schwartzman’s is Lucky Flickerman. They never mention it but it seems like Lucky is Caesar’s dad or grandad.

[@Rosegirl398]

There are some last names that you see in the book that were mentioned in the trilogy too, likely parents or grandparents to the modern day character from the trilogy

[@ReelRejects]

What did ya'll think of Rachel Zegler's performance?

[@junehoneycrisp]

goosebumps every time she sang! not just from her voice but her facial expressions too

[@tallasianchick]

I could tell she's a theater kid with the over-acting. I also fell asleep and didn't finish it oop! Hunter Schafer and Viola Davis were excellent though!

[@Lackadais1cal]

​@@tallasianchickif you fell asleep on watching it, then why bother answering. At least finish the film and then give some constructive criticism.

[@DanGamingFan2406]

Her singing was so good.

[@SirRockXIII]

It was alright I enjoyed it! whoever played Snow.. did crazy good however. i like their small movements.

[@saadesigner07]

The host in the other movies is Ceasar Flickerman. He mentions having a kid when he makes his dinner reservations. Pretty sure Lucky is his dad.

[@candystripper1430]

Tom Blyth was the standout performance for me❤

[@charmainen8475]

Viola Davis suprisingly is toned down compared to her book counterpart. Book Dr Gaul is waaaayyyy more Willy Wonka and is absolutely TERRIFYING for how little of a regard she has toward life and the way she manipulates and makes Snow one of her mutts. Shes described as almost singing her lines and starting sentences by saying "Hippity Hoppity.." real weird and very creepy

[@clover2739]

I was shocked there was no ‘hippity hoppity’ line, for some reason I was expecting that to still be a thing she does and was waiting for it

[@z2yn]

I imagined her similar to Doc Ock from Into the Spiderverse. Crazy hair, glasses, old lady look with wrinkles, coming off childish and playful while being dead serious and overly calculating. Like everything is a game to her because it's so easy - and when things go differently like with Sejanus in the arena, she lets the facade drop.

[@ChantoStarX]

I don't know if anybody has said this already but Rachel Zegler (Lucy Gray) and Josh Andrés Rivera (Sejanus) are dating in real life and were constantly passing each other little notes when they were on set together. It's clear that everybody had a lot of fun filming, which I personally think really allowed for their performances to shine.

[@mackyronni]

And they met on the set of West Side Story

[@sil9810]

First of all, great reaction guys!! About the emotional involvement of main characters, Rachel and Tom's chemistry is actually so good! But we were incredibly robbed in the movie. 90% of their romance was cut in the movie. In books, it starts even before the games (and its kind of public too, they kiss in front everyone, the other mentos and tributes, games crew, Snow even tells his grandma and Tigris abt them kissing), their relationship there's connection, talk about many things/their personal lives/families and they literally can't keep their hands and mouths of each other's (even in 4h cut of the movie the actors filmed more kisses/bit more of romance but those were cut in final edition, theres a long romantic take in the lake too). Build their feelings would make the end even more impactful and tragic than alteady is (and heck, it did impact Snow for 65 years after, in books he says if he ever marries he would with someone he hates, so he can't ever feel what he felt for her, love, jealous, desire, and indeed he became stone cold), but producers thought for a long movie it had to be cut, they thought the opposite, that if showing their romance would mKe the end less credible, go figure

[@Jordashian93]

Director Francis Lawrence does an incredible job with this novel adaptation and Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler have electric chemistry in this Hunger Games prequel.

[@amby8719]

i think it’s more, yes these tributes seem human at first but once you put them at the arena you’re showing their “true form.” which is how the capital views/dehumanizes the districts. also i’m really surprised you said there’s a lack of chemistry between tom and rachel. the first time i watched it i could feel it through the screen. it was one of my favorite factors in the movie

[@melissasotelo9931]

While the movie was great I still think they didn’t do a good job at portraying how corio was always looking out for himself and his scheming. But that’s what happens when most of his POV is inner monologues in the books. They did what they could.

[@that.ll_do_pig]

Agreed.

[@cameronnking]

“They didn’t do a good job” is a disservice to what is otherwise an actually very faithful adaption lol there are just something’s that will get lost in translation when you’re turning a novel into a screenplay. I don’t think that should by any means hinder your enjoyment of the film, which is an entirely separate piece of art.

[@amiebabineau1418]

@@LeahmooASMRgetting Donald Sutherland to voice the inner monologues would have been spot on.

[@kazzlie4510]

@@call_rickeyDonald Sutherland is still alive lol

[@cooperhurst2639]

Their relationship felt way more fleshed out in the book. They had a lot more scenes together where they’re just bonding and getting to know each other. Same with Coryo and Sejanus. I guess that’s what happens when you adapt a book into a movie, you cant include everything

[@vijayanand6650]

The host in the original trilogy is Cesar Flickerman, the host in this movie is Lucretius Flickerman, clearly his father, not the same character Stanley Tucci played.

[@charmainen8475]

You guys have GOT to read the book because it's incredible. The whole book is from Snows' perspective so it has a Joe Goldberg type of naration and Suzanne Collins the author writes with a very dry sense of humour so his thoughts are genuinely disturbing but very hilarious. Example, when he's getting stitched up : "I started out as a medical doctor, you know," she said. "Obstetrics." How awful, Coriolanus thought. To have you be the first person in the world a baby sees."😂 Also the songs are all from the book, the lyrics are all the authors work and they worked with her to create the sound that she had in mind.

[@TheBrookelynChick]

From what I’ve heard, her full first name is Lucy Gray because the Covey name their children a regular name and a color.

[@spazzyshortgirl23]

And hers comes from a ballad about a girl named Lucy gray

[@thejedipandaman4313]

Tigris Snow, Corios cousin shows up in the final HG movie when they are in the capital. She looks very different ofc, but it explains a bit of the story that Tigris eventually does turn on Pres Snow

[@artloveranimation]

The lack of chemistry is kinda because Snow wasn't entirely in love. He was possessive.

[@melissaisloud7404]

We need to do a few more of these with Tom Blyth as snow. We can do Mags, Haymitch, Finnick, and Johanna’s games each and Tom can play Snow throughout the series as both the character and actor ages.

[@erinbarrett8899]

i LOVE this movie, the book is amazing and ranks #1 out of all the books. The parallels between all the characters here and from the original trilogy are striking, but not the exact same which I love! i think the most amazing part is how similiar katniss is to sejanus, then peeta is to lucy gray- which really resembles where snow’s hatred comes from. i think with this series specifically no one is going to be 100% happy with any remakes or new additions because of the comparison to the original trilogy, but i think it was amazing. each character so beautifully complex and intricate

[@falsenostalgia-shannon]

Thank you for getting it right! (Sejanus/Katniss and Lucy Gray/Peeta) It’s been annoying to see so many people automatically declaring “Hey, a dark haired girl from district 12, she’s soooooo much like Katniss!” when she’s clearly a performer like Peeta. Lol.

[@erinbarrett8899]

@@falsenostalgia-shannon OMG YES THANK YOU! as soon as the trailer came out everyone started instantly hating lucy gray and automatically pitting katniss and her against each other. like people can clearly see that peeta and lucy gray are both performers who are able to steal and outsmart any crowd!!!

[@lavinder11]

The only similarities I could see between the OG and prequel is Snow and Gale.

[@alyyy_xoxouwu8912]

Rachel isnt actually controversial- people are just mad that she said some negative stuff about Snow White (she will be playing snow white in the upcoming movie) but hey, its funny when multiple men trashtalk their projects haha

[@lunavioleta001]

Like Robert Pattison and Twilight.

[@zielivstheworld]

Literally

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

I can get some people who like Snow White being a bit annoyed but to this extent? She didn’t say anything really bad, just that this project isn’t a passion project for her and the film will be modernizing Snow White’s story. Most of the people who are making a fuss don’t give a shit about Snow White, they just want an excuse to be hateful and ruin a talented young woman’s career. Misogyny at its finest.

[@lunavioleta001]

@@Melanie-jy2nw These are the same people that call out Disney for being "weird" and "p3do", but when someone like Rachel criticize a Disney movie, she's vile and awful. As someone whose favorite hero is Batman, I do not care if the person who plays Batman calls him an insane freak or one of the worst super heroes.

[@kassiogomes8498]

​@@lunavioleta001agreed. I like Snow White's story, and I don't mind it being changed a bit. It could be a good movie, or it could be a bad movie. But it certainly won't be the same exactly movie we watched a thousand times.

[@pandemicjones]

One of my favorite movies of 2023. The cast was so good, especially Rachel Zegler. She was fantastic.

[@ReelRejects]

What would you rate this movie out of 10?!

[@masonmason5153]

I loved this movie and think it's up there with Catching Fire as the best in the franchise. I loved the folk soundtrack. 9/10

[@kpopfuntime7818]

9.𝟱/10

[@philosynfonie7307]

for me personally it's a 9. I hadn't read the latest book, but I had friends who had and I talked with them and I read a lot about the book after I watched the movie. I really enjoyed it and I thought it actually conveyed it's message and character motivations very well, without beating you over the head with it. But I am often annoyed by modern films, who I feel spell out everything for the audience, so take from that what you will. I enjoyed it immensely and wasn't confused at all by the end of it.

[@tayswizzlefanno1]

12/10

[@maliii266]

5/10

[@lost4tseas]

What the movie really can't capture is Snow really has these distorted, almost sadistic inner thoughts in the book that really show how much of a self-serving manipulative snake he is from the VERY BEGINNING. His main objective is to gain back his family's fortune and influence and advance himself and he hates and looks down on Sejanus cause his family is from the districts. He wants power, any kind of power, and everything else to him is secondary. He views Lucy as his pet/property basically, and while he does get attached to her he doesn't truly love her because of his own ego and greed. He kind of sees her like a privilege he won when he "made" her a victor. There isn't actually a point where he "turns bad", the fact of the matter is he was ALWAYS narcissistic and selfish, it's just a matter of how honest he is with himself and what he's willing to do to get what he wants. Also, the song Lucy Gray sings when Snow first comes up to her in the field is the same song that Katniss sang in Mockingjay ("The Hanging Tree"). The implication is that Lucy Gray wrote the song. So, if you want to have some fun in your head, just imagine Donald Sutherland as Snow hearing Katniss's name, coming from District 12, singing that song as an anthem for the rebellion, and trying not to visibly lose his mind. Also the fact that Katniss came into his life as the Mockingjay, the birds who taunted him over Sejanus's death in the woods and the birds he last heard Lucy Gray's voice from. Also, Jason Schwartzman or Lucky Flickerman isn't playing a young Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman), he's supposed to be his father I believe.

[@ane9911]

It's good that you guys felt that you needed more of Lucy Grey's POV because that was one of the point of author. Lucy Grey is supposed to be mystery and we as a viewer are wondering with Snow about her. That's why we never get to her pov. P.S. I don't know if you get it or not but Hanging Tree was writter by Lucy Grey and that was what Katniss sang and it become symbol of rebellion but Katniss never knew how this song was personal for Snow

[@mathilda128]

I totally agree! It felt like in the movie it seemed like Lucy Gray really did want to betray him in the end while in the book it felt more like Snows paranoia (been a while since I read the book but that's what I took from it...). I guess if you haven't read the book you would be more suspicious of her than when you can see Snows thought process which is like super paranoid and crazy at this point😅

[@terminallumbago6465]

@@mathilda128I don’t think Lucy Gray was trying to betray him or even wanted to. She just realized she couldn’t trust him, knew she was the only loose end left, and got out of dodge before he could do something to her (which he clearly had the capacity to do as he just betrayed his supposed best friend). The snake in the scarf wasn’t poisonous, so she wasn’t trying to kill him. My guess is it was either an attempt to slow him down to cover her escape, or it was there unintentionally (either left behind or went into the scarf on its own).

[@mathilda128]

@terminallumbago6465 yes I think so too. I meant in my comment, that in the movie the viewer might think that she did, since in the video they seem to think it and I went to the movies with ppl who hadn't read the book and who also felt like that in the scene in the woods. But I guess that is because we only have Snows pov in the movie. But yes, if you think about it a bit longer, you notice that the snake wasn't etc and that she just wanted to get away

[@SilvershotStudios]

Sometimes it feels like Greg hears something isn't good and then decides to find ways not to enjoy them, maybe I'm imagining it

[@livvioletta690]

Your the first people I've seen thinking Lucy was using Snow and not the other way around 🤔 he's been focused on power and his self the entire time. It was never truly about her. That's the only thing that isn't clearly enough shown for me

[@mathilda128]

I felt the same way. In the book you see his inner monologue and while Lucy Gray was also looking out for herself he was the one using her. In the book you can kinda feel his narcissistic, egotistical character from the beginning but without his inner thoughts this is lost

[@livvioletta690]

@mathilda128 at least most of it. Personally I think you can see it in his face but that's a hard thing to notice. In the end there is no good way to show an inner monologue

[@Val46_]

So true, is hard to see this without monologe but some micro expressions of tom show how snow thing. Like when she sings for billy and he was so serious nd loks angry. For me even in the movie was clear he was bad.

[@livvioletta690]

@Val46_ for me too, the entire time

[@lavinder11]

Maybe the first reactors you've seen but it's clear in the books and film that they're using each other and there never was any trust.

[@prathapkutty7407]

I wish hunter had a bigger role in this movie. She is by far my favorite character. After euphoria, im looking forward to her getting more roles.

[@Shutupbradley]

She shines every time she in on screen, so memorable ❤

[@prathapkutty7407]

@@Shutupbradley yup definitely has a presence about her.

[@cameronnking]

There was SO MUCH to like about this film IMO. The pacing felt faithful to the source material, minus some very minor changes here and there. That, mixed with my own biases of enjoying a fascinating villain like Coriolanus,(Tom Blyth is fuckin great as this younger version of Snow, and I love his looks and costumes in this). Throw in Rachel Zegler who i am ABSOLUTELYY in love with! She chews up the scenery every time she’s on screen in anything she’s been in. Mix that with a hint of problematic relationship drama, conflicting political ideals and beliefs between partners, and friends. Also, Snow’s ‘grind my family back to the top’ chip he carries around this entire film. You really won’t get too many complaints from me on this one. Glad you guys enjoyed it, as well.

[@crispbees]

They removed so much of Coryo’s characterization to make him more palatable in the film. In the book, he refers to the District folk as animals more than once and outright views Lucy Gray as his possession. He even implies at one point that Lucy Gray, a sixteen year old, had slept around with adult peacekeepers… because she dared to have an ex back in 12 who wasn’t him. All of his rebellious scenes were actually Sejanus’s. Coryo did not have a rebellious bone in his body unless he thought he’d been wronged. He is EXPLICITLY hunting Lucy Gray at the end with the intent to kill. Here’s a quote I feel describes the difference between Coryo in the book vs the movie: ‘He was glad about the erasure. It was just one more way to eliminate Lucy Gray from the world. The Capitol would forget her, the districts barely knew her, and District 12 had never accepted her as one of their own. In a few years, there would be a vague memory that a girl had once sung in the arena. And then that would be forgotten, too. Good-bye, Lucy Gray, we hardly knew you.’ He is a vile, pathetic man in the book without question. He has personal beef with the mockingjays for being “unnatural.” This isn’t even getting into the Covey being all but erased from the movie when it’s a huge part of Lucy Gray’s character. They even took away Lucy Gray’s kills in the arena- she didn’t need Coryo’s help. She killed Covey, Treech and Reaper all on her own. Which is what makes Coryo claiming things like “WE escaped the arena” even more unhinged, because she did not need him. I enjoy the movie! It’s a fun time! But by no means is it a good adaptation of the book.

[@dgchvz]

At this point Rachel Zegler can do/say whatever she wants. If she’s going to act and sing like this in Snow White, it’s gonna be good

[@zielivstheworld]

I believe i read that Rachel did perform the songs live which is why it feels so authentic and raw

[@DanGamingFan2406]

I know this movie hasn't received the best criticism, but there are some really good parts. Especially Rachel Zegler and her singing.

[@kassiogomes8498]

Most fans loved the movie. Audience too.

[@ianmaem]

When Coryo came into the zoo to coach Lucy Gray to run underground during the bloodbath was point to what President Snow said in Mockingjay 2, " The arena has moved underground (with a surprises Pikachu face)", when Katniss and gang his on the Capitol pipes

[@nerdwatch1017]

In mockingjay 2 I believe the woman with the crazy face tattoo’s in the clothing shop is snows cousin from this movie. He did it to punish her for something

[@z2yn]

He more pushed Tigris away from him - in the book, she never noticed how much he had changed or what had happened in 12, unlike the movie, where she saw him become cold. So Tigris was probably oblivious until Snow started to climb the ladder - become a game maker, then head game maker, then later advance to president. My guess is that as game maker, he got the stylists thing going and Tigris became one of the first. And similar to Haymitch, must have become more depressed with each game and seeing the tributes die. She could have thought that as long as Gaul or Ravenstill are at power/alive, nothing could change. With Snow becoming president and still continuing the games, she became disillusioned. My guess is that Snow also wanted to sort of protect her by casting her out, let her live a quiet life. And Tigris wanted the system gone - and her cousin killed to be freed from the tyranny. She was probably more happy about Katniss killing him instead of a mob, saving him from what he had become.

[@alexasuric9460]

Rachel Zegler sang every song live on set in front of the camera and for other peoples coverage too :) she’s just THAT good

[@cassandranightshade696]

oh god, the moment you said 'she's gonna teach him' i realized it - she's his manic pixie dream girl. but instead of making him better he ends up worse because he never learns the lessons she's trying to teach him

[@j.6133]

Jason Schwartzman didn't play 'young Stanley Tucci'. His character's name was Lucky Flickerman, and Stanley's character's name was Caesar Flickerman. Lucky was probably Caesar's grandfather.

[@RuffianLivesOn]

Father actually.

[@j.6133]

@@RuffianLivesOn I don't care

[@JayKahlid]

Snow was always looking out for himself. Once Lucy became apart of himself (aka her survival became his) the things he did for her was really for him. He always acted in his own best interest.

[@melissacreel4719]

They say Rebel bombing in the movie but in the book it was left unknown. I always theorized that Gaul set it up to garner hate toward the districts. They hadn't planned on touring the arena. It was a last minute decision after Crane's death.

[@nsyncrobot2362]

In my opinion, Watching this at the cinema was truly a terrifying and accelerating experience, the cold breeze of the room paired with the acoustics and seeing this on the big screen just made watching it 10 times more jarringly immersive, goosebumps all over. There are moments where the rest of the audience got jump-scared so hard at times, it was an amazing adrenaline rush seeing this for the first time. Tho the progression of his character, the story and pacing could've been better tbh, but all and all the cinema experience were superb.

[@thatcreggcell1534]

Great news guys, in case you didnt know, a new book and movie is coming out about Haymitch's (Katniss and Peeta's mentor) Hunger Games, which was the 2nd Quarter Quell. Its gonna be so so cool

[@Frozensmurf]

The scenes at district 12 were filmed here in Germany and only 20 minutes away from me and that was great to see on the big stream

[@brownenerdygurl]

The interesting thing was watching how Lucy Gray slowly began to see that he was CRAZY. A real silent savage.

[@jacquedenise86]

The one thing I think the movie could have done better is portraying coriyos feelings about sejanus. He barely tolerates sejanus in the book and even is angry that sejanus calls him by his nickname as that's reserved for family (which includes the other kids as they all grew up together). I will say I think Coriyo was genuinely surprised that sejanus was killed, as he says when they're arguing over the jabberjays, it wouldnt matter if sejanus got caught as his dad would just buy him out of it, but coriyo had more on the line. I dont think he thought turning it in would get him killed more than it would save coriyo from being implicated.

[@tiacamp9349]

Its so interesting to hear your comments as people who havent read the book. Its hard to not think of the book as i watch it and my social media only really had that view aswell.

[@halicarnassus8235]

It was almost embarrassing that they thought Lucky Flickerman was the same character as his Grandson in this Prequel.

[@aliciarivera3719]

So, in the end, we understand that President snow just got his man pride hurt and can’t be alone with his thoughts because Lucy was only gone for like a minute before he started tweaking and screaming 💀

[@LittleMan27]

The book was written from Snow’s perspective and we see his inner thoughts in the book as well

[@naiapulotu7760]

In the book they built the relationship between Snow and Lucy Gray before the games much more, their first kiss is actually before the games.

[@drockherb2073]

I keep saying I don’t think Snow meant for Sejanus to go to the hanging tree, I think he sent the recording thinking his dad will pay to get him out an back home, but instead Gaul sent the recording back to 12 an not to Sejanus dad, that’s why he cry’s when he going throw his stuff, all around Snow is a monster but I think like Lucy said he was walking on the will he won he land on the good/ evil side

[@heatherdianeclark]

That’s what I think too, otherwise why would he cry over him dying? I think Snow started out good but chose evil in the end.

[@drockherb2073]

Also I can’t tell if you guys didn’t catch that the hanging tree song Lucy made ( or was singing ) but is the song Katniss songs in Mockingjay 1 when he asks her to sing, then the rebels sing it on the way to take out the damn, so you gotta figure Snow is hearing a very important song from the beginning of his life towards the end of his life all centered around Katniss Lucy Gray

[@joshdaniels]

as much as i love everyone else from reel rejects it is so refreshing to see both of you react together again, the chemistry is undeniable. th eway you both get each other's jokes so easily, love both of your dynamic and missed it!

[@sla6hed]

rachel zegler really is dominating lately, she was incredible in this and it was only her 3rd movie !!!!

[@jdbarber13]

She did all the singing live every shot.

[@rogue8059]

41:00 the capitol started seeing the districts as savages because of the rebellion. In the first scene in the movie we saw them scavaging for food and that man resorting to cannibalism because there's literally no food in the capitol at that time. So to them because the districts keeps rebelling for reasons they don't seem to understand, it's making their comfortable life in the capitol miserable. That is also why Snow was so desperate for the prize because they became so poor after his father died. It was his only was to go to university and be able to get a better chance at a better job.

[@Futureworld573]

Question:But does flowers grow in the snow? Answer: it depends on what kind of flower your looking for because there are some that grow in snow

[@thegirlwholovesmusic]

Francis Lawrence did say that he thought that there were two clear movies here but everybody hated him so much for splitting Mockingjay into two parts. He said he would never do that again and he would give them the whole movie all in one whether he thought it was a good idea or not.

[@mathilda128]

You mentioned that this one has the same social commentary as the originals and although it does I read somewhere that Suzanne Collins actually wanted to acknowledge the "state of nature" debate (like is mankind evil in its natural state) and you see this throughout the movie with the doc and lucy portraying different opinions on this topic. So it is actually a different approach even though its not as prominent in the movie as it is in the book because there she wrote some quotes in the front of philosophers (I think). I think this is good to know, like she did not (only) write this to just expand the franchise but to explore this aspect 😊

[@jacobmccain8794]

When Greg said, how could they not be viewed as human, I just thought, unfortunately Greg, American history has done the same thing in the past so it’s possible lol 😅.

[@evelynd9240]

I think that the lack of intense romantic chemistry between Lucy Gray and Coriolanus, while maybe not on purpose, still kind of works. Both of them are playing each other, and by the end of the film, they may like who the other could be/represents, but they definitely don't trust each other, not really.

[@AREA-jp8vb]

I think the lack of romantic chemistry makes sense. For years until his death Snow probably wondered if Lucy ever loved him. And that fed into Snows hate for Katniss, because he knew she didn’t love Peta at first. he knew Peta loved her and she used that to help her survive the games. And I think that’s how snow sees his relationship with Lucy. It also kind of explains why snow dressed Peta up as him in Mockingjay part one. And although I’m sure Snow wanted to use Peta as a weapon to kill Katniss, he also wanted to make Peta see Katniss, for who Snow thought Katniss was. I think this movie did a good job at explaining the level of hate Snow had for Katniss. And if Snow didn’t love Lucy Gray so much maybe he wouldn’t have gotten butt hurt by her, and then maybe he wouldn’t of taken that anger out on Katniss, and then maybe she wouldn’t have become the face of the revolution then maybe the revolution wouldn’t have happened…. But it’s the things we love most that destroy us 😉

[@flippedwafflesokurr728]

Btw she’s called Lucy Gray, not just Lucy, because in Appalachia there’s a tradition of calling people by their first two names, just like Lucy’s cousin Maude Ivory and her ex Billy Taupe. I love that they carried this current tradition into the future world of Panem

[@emilyk5168]

A lot of the songs are in the books. Well, the lyrics were. They had to be set to music for the film. I think Rachel Zegler did a great job sounding like a folk or country performer, since she's more known for Broadway. She certainly sounds a lot nicer than the (male) narrator of the audiobook did. As to where the Everdeen is, it's widely believed it's the little blonde girl, Maude Ivory. She's Lucy Gray's cousin. The author hasn't confirmed it but the director of the movie believes she is Katniss' grandmother. Though I assume Everdeen is the surname of her future husband.

[@amarumoses13]

I always find it interesting when I hear people form their own opinions about a film without it being sullied by online reviews, and they have the exact opposite critiques of the general public. It’s cool to hear John and Greg saying the first two acts were just ok and the third was great, and that the movie was too short when the majority believed the third act is where the film falls short and it could have been shorter. Great reaction fellas

[@LanaFromHawaii808]

Saltburn now THIS? You guys are spoiling us this week! Also.... after seeing this in the theaters I could not stop listening to the soundtrack! The music is amazing but it really is Rachels voice that gets me!

[@beau0117]

This was way better than what i thought it would be..im saying it's the greatest but i wouldn't mind a part 2.. thank you Greg and John..as always love the reactions 💯

[@mrpink627]

Rachel Zegler did song live on set ;)

[@its_simone_]

Viola Davis character in the book is very over the top so she actually did amazing

[@andrewporteous3247]

Apparently the one girl who gets bit by those eels actually turns into one which would’ve been absolutely crazy if they did in the film. I mean hot diggity shit. Could you imagine

[@frostyflakes7666]

I'm so surprised you were able to crack jokes through the whole vid. I was captivated through the whole film and the feeling was so dark and serious but well acted.

[@IamNinjaOfNinja]

that's what I dislike about their reaction. trying to make a joke out of everything then blame on lack of chemistry between the two leads as well as a lack of deep connection for the characters.

[@lindseysquire8417]

Jason Schwartzman is most likely Stanley Tucci’s dad; he mentions a baby in the dinner reservation scene, and in the books Katniss states that Stanley’s character has been commenting the hunger games for a very long time, and has had extensive work done to look as young as he does. He’s likely in his mid to late sixties in the first movie.

[@rogue8059]

Honestly the connection w the characters is what i think is missing bigtime in the movies. The books did such an amazing job that you don't see capitol people as pure evil, like the only pure evil character is Dr Gaul, they're just greatly influenced by their environment. There even was good relationship formed between some mentors and tributes that they didn't show in the movie. Like that scene with Clemensia bitten by the snake was done so dirty. She wasn't an oppurtunist like how they portryed her in the movie, also it would've mirrored what Snow's father did to Highbottom.

[@totalknightmare]

This is possibly the longest reveow after a movie on a reaction channel LOL. Can't wait to see it.