The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

The dystopian world is vividly brought to life, offering audiences a deeper understanding of the Capitol's origins and the socio-political landscape. The film skillfully explores Snow's complex motivations and the factors that shaped him into the formidable figure glimpsed in the original trilogy.

The film, while ambitious in scope, suffers from occasional pacing issues. Certain scenes feel drawn out, impacting the overall momentum of the narrative. A more judicious editing approach could have tightened the storytelling and maintained a more consistent pace.

Staff:

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Screenplay by: Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt

Based on: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Produced by: Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Francis Lawrence

Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman, Peter Dinklage, Josh Andrés Rivera, and Viola Davis

Cinematography: Jo Willems

Edited by: Mark Yoshikawa

Music by: James Newton Howard

Production companies: Lionsgate, Color Force, and About:Blank

Distributed by: Lionsgate

Release date: November 17, 2023

Running time: 157 minutes