The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes is a super-prequel to the Hunger Games. Taking place when President Snow is very young, the film lets the audience know what happened in the beginning Hunger Games.

The director is the same as the other later Hunger Games movies, Francis Lawrence. He also directed I Am Legend and 2005's Constantine. The film seems the same as the other, but the writing feels vastly different and that might be because of Michael Lesslie who wrote the horrible Assassin's Creed movie. The message in the film is unambiguous that: behind every great man there's a strong woman. The problem is that Rachel Zegler doesn't give off strong woman vibes. There were other messages about how the elite subjugated the poor and disenfranchised and humanizing victims which was very popular in 2023.

There was something off about Rachel Zegler's accent throughout the film. She was supposed to be country but acts like a New Yorker or perhaps a Phili-girl. She's insufferable and inauthentic. Her costume is much higher in quality for a supposed poverty-ridden district. Her singing isn't up to what I expected from her. I heard she could sing from West Side Story but I don't see it here. She sure did angrily sing through a lot of the movie.

Coriolanus Snow is played by Tom Blyth. He isn't really known for much but after this film, he might be getting more roles. He does a decent job playing a young Snow. He has to play the part written for him so it's odd to see the main character pushed to the sidelines for his love interest to take center stage but none of that is his fault.

It is certainly better than Mockingjay Part 2 but it's still pretty poor. Result: D.

Comments

K-Pop: Demon Hunters (2025)

K-Pop: Demon Hunters follows a girl group who balance battling demons by night with pop stardom by day, but the concept ends up more exhausting than exciting. Directed by first-time director Maggie Kang , best known for being in the art department for The Lego Ninjago Movie , the film leans hard into a hyper-stylized, neon-soaked aesthetic but forgets to bring anything fresh. The animation is polished, but the visual style feels borrowed from better films. The pacing drags even during the action scenes. It is more concerned with selling attitude than building stakes. Arden Cho , known for Teen Wolf and Partner Track , voices the group’s leader and brings charisma to the role, but the script doesn't give her much to work with. She has strong delivery and presence, but the character is more wish-fulfillment than fully realized. May Gong , in her first major role, fits the energy of the film and brings a youthful vibe. She holds her own in the group dynamic but is often sid...

M3GAN 2.0 (2025)

M3GAN 2.0 continues the story of the world’s most dangerously sassy AI doll, picking up after the first film's events with a new host, new threats, and a few more upgrades. Directed by Gerard Johnstone , returning from the original M3GAN , the film keeps the same sleek look and dark humor, but the energy isn’t quite the same. The scares are toned down, the satire feels more obvious, and the plot plays it safer this time. It’s still well paced and visually sharp, just not as punchy or fresh as before. Violet McGraw , reprising her role from the first film, shows a bit more range this time. She handles the trauma beats well and sells the emotional moments, even when the script leans a bit cheesy. She’s growing as an actress, and it shows. Allison Williams , best known for Get Out and Girls , returns and feels more like a supporting character this time. She’s fine, just not given much to do besides react to the new version of M3GAN and deliver exposition. Still, she’s a steady pr...

Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic World: Rebirth attempts to relaunch the franchise with a fresh cast and setting, but it ends up feeling like a commercial in search of a plot. Directed by Gareth Edwards , known for Rogue One and Godzilla , the film is filled with baffling creative choices. There’s product placement in almost every scene, and most of the action sequences are over-edited and underwhelming. Edwards seems more interested in drone shots and branding than tension or logic. Written by David Koepp , who once gave us Jurassic Park and Mission: Impossible , the script is shockingly clumsy. The dialogue is flat, the pacing is off, and the characters regularly make decisions that would embarrass even the worst horror movie victims. It’s hard to believe the same writer once helped build this universe. The film is basically Aliens but with dinosaurs. Scarlett Johansson , known for Marriage Story and Black Widow , stars but seems like she’s checked out. Her performance lacks the spark she once h...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog