The Hunger Games 5 Review - The Pre-Birth Story Of The Hunger Games's Tyranny Adds Another Intense Chapter In The Franchise

The Hunger Games 5 Review Movie Talkies

The Hunger Games 5 Review: Francis Lawrence is back with another The Hunger Games film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. This is the fifth movie in The Hunger Games franchise and serves as the prequel to the first film, The Hunger Games (2012). As you can guess, it's a pre-birth story, set more than 60 years before The Hunger Games. We know the characters of The Hunger Games very well by now, but you won't see any of them here except Coriolanus Snow's character, and even that's played by some other actor. So, you don't really have to watch the previous films to sit for this one, as this one is set much before those four films, but it's still a tough choice because you have to be aware of THG's world. It's a sci-fi action series, but it's not mainstream or heroic masala. You won't see the F&F kind of action or the Gladiator kind of drama. THG is all about intense surroundings, troubled and struggling characters, and human emotions coming into play in the major roles. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is exactly that!Lawrence has divided the film into three parts, and all three differ when it comes to basic themes. The first part is The Mentor, the second is The Prize, and the final one is The Peacekeeper. We meet 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), who would become a tyrannical leader of the Panem later. Basically, this one is backstory. So, he is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. The young Snow is alarmed about the situation just before he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray (Rachel Zegler) in the upcoming 10th annual Hunger Games. However, Lucy commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony. Her mentor, Snow, thinks he might be able to win it and also save Lucy from head gamemaker Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis). But is it that easy? Especially when Lucy and Snow are in love and can't get away from their identities and duties to their communities. It's not, and that's what THG 5 has to offer.The screenplay has played smartly with the words from the title, Songbirds & Snakes. Who is the snake and who is the songbird? You'll have to watch the film to understand the exact meaning of it. In those three parts of the narrative, we get a perfectly balanced storyline that runs smoothly through different phases. There are ups and downs, naturally, but they are very convincing in terms of characters. I don't know how many of you will agree, but I have always found The Hunger Games movies slow and long. I have had at least one little nap during every single film that has come so far, and somewhere The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes also falls into the same category. Why so long? Someone needs to ask this to THG writer and maker, and I'm sure they will give a long, intelligent answer that will again put you back to the sweet little nap. Yes, but I must say, things are far more interesting here only because of the three-floor structure of the narrative. Each floor is stronger than the previous and relies on it only to pass the strength to the next one. It feels like you have watched three different themes.The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has some powerful performances from the leading cast. Tom Blyth as the young Snow looks pretty good in the first two parts, but then he goes into overdrive mode in the third one. The transformation is too good. How can one forget those last two minutes when he turns into that tyrannical leader. Rachel Zegler has received too much praise for West Side Story already, and it's good to see the actress coming back to the musical zone again. However, the character is damn intense, and there is a twist to it towards the end. She has really done well, and she is definitely trying something new with each film. Viola Davis has killed it! There is no one but she, as Dr. Volumnia Gau. You can't imagine anyone else playing that role the way she did. It's phenomenal. I was actually hoping for more scenes of Peter Dinklage as Highbottom. Though there aren't many. Nevertheless, he impresses whenever he comes on the screen. A special mention goes to the brilliant supporting cast, which includes Josh Andrés Rivera, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Fionnula Flanagan, Burn Gorman, Zoe Renee, Ashley Liao, and others.On the technical front, it's a well-made film. Rather, even better. Jo Willems's cinematography makes sure that you won't miss many details in the frame. The action sequences are well shot and well choreographed. The screenplay could have been more pacy, but I think that's a common issue amongst all The Hunger Games movies. A standard, decent-rated editing is also responsible for that. The visual effects aren't that important, but you'll like those snake scenes for sure. Francis Lawrence has been handling things without any fiascoes in The Hunger Games world, and he continues the same form with his fourth and overall fifth film in the franchise. This world is not made for everyone. It demands patience, and you have to keep it in order to absorb it. I still think these films need to be faster and a bit more explosive if they can, since the OTT era has made audiences impatient. Longer dramas may work sometimes, but not every time. The Hunger Games is a successful franchise, but to keep up with its contemporaries, it needs to change its mode of storytelling. Lawrence had that opportunity here, as this film came after a long gap, but he didn't really try. The basics are covered, and a few modern theories are put in the right amount to make your two-and-a-half hours worthwhile. Don't think much; just watch it if you like and understand this series, and this time even freshers have something to experience. Overall, a bit slow, but another intense, gritty, and acute contestant on The Hunger Games's ground.