Welcome back for another Movie Moments review you crazy bastards! This week we are reviewing The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Song Birds and Snakes.
So let's get right into it! Is this Hunger Games any good?
Who is this Hunger Games movie for?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Song Birds and Snakes is for the angsty teens who want a good story about rebellion, with a side of dumbed-down political drama that beats you over the head with obvious undertones. Now they can seem deep at their next house party, "I don’t know about you guys, but I think the capital was problematic".
Not only will the self-righteous Gen Z hacktivists dig this movie, but also those nostalgic millennials that are jizzing their pants to find out the roots of presidents Snow came to power (Spoiler: they’re setting up another series).
What worked with this Hunger Games?
So what worked about this movie? It’s very character-driven, and they do a great job of setting up the story. Also, the acting is on point. It’s really cool to see the early days of the actual “Hunger Games”, we’re talking gladiator shit. Low viewership and top-tier brutality, is this the Hunger Games or the UFC in 1995?
What didn’t work about this Hunger Games?
So here’s the bad part, this thing was way too long, we’re talking almost 3 hours, they could have trimmed A LOT of fat. It felt like it was about to end for an hour. I understand Hollywood is a business but it’s obvious they went out of their way to establish another trilogy, which can go one of two ways.
To steal a quote from The Weekly Planet, this movie is a top contender for the “The Game is On Award”.
What could have been done differently with this Hunger Games?
Trim that ending. Continue the series but have a firm ending to this story. It was way too open-ended. I understand they’re trying to set up a sequel but as a viewer, I need some closure, you can set up a sequel while tying off loose ends for the movie.
What stood out?
Let’s talk Wovey. Wovey is one of the children drafted into the Hunger Games, from District 8. She has Down syndrome. Why did this stand out? Because this is how you do inclusion. She was there, she was drafted, she got no special treatment, treated like everyone else. It wasn’t a big deal that she was there. She was a part of the story and her condition didn’t define her. A glass barrel of a million poisonous snakes exploded in her face. No sugar coating here.
All jokes aside, it was a very sad scene in the film but it was delivered right without trying too hard to pander.
Overall, not a bad flick. Keeps your interest but is a little long-winded. It's definitely a popcorn movie and a good way to kill an afternoon.
Move Moments Ranking
- Worth a watch - YES
- Rewatchable - NO (too long)
- Originality - 6/10
- Story - 5.9/10
- Visuals - 6.5/10
- Acting - 7/10
