The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

[SeventyOne]

Looks pretty solid, still extremely surprised this isn’t being split into two movies though as the book essentially made it easy to do and seemed almost purposeful so that multiple movies could be made.

I mean different locations, mostly different casts, different vibe ... and the first half ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. Bewildering.

If this is a success, I wonder if they go ahead with future young Snow movies (which are hinted at in the book) without waiting for new novels. Or maybe Suzanne Collins writes much faster than George RR Martin.

 

[Nick]

I mean different locations, mostly different casts, different vibe ... and the first half ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. Bewildering.

If this is a success, I wonder if they go ahead with future young Snow movies (which are hinted at in the book) without waiting for new novels. Or maybe Suzanne Collins writes much faster than George RR Martin.

I wonder if they didn’t want to do two movies because they didn’t want a Fantastic Beasts situation so they just decided to try and get as much money as they can out of one movie and like you said, maybe there’s more prequels in the future if this does well.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Who knew President Snow was so fine back then

All in all I'm actually quite excited about this, we obviously know the formula, but some stories from before the originals is a neat idea

Was hoping they'd go back a bit more and show how the nation fell and how the Capitol took charge

This follows the book and it's more about the evolution of the Hunger Games and the origins of President Snow

We might get more stories from this universe if the film does well.

As for people asking why not two films, I think the hyped died last time they split a book into two parts, even if it worked out in the end story wise. I think they want this to come out be great and hopefully we get more films/tv shows

 

[TheGentTrent]

As for people asking why not two films, I think the hyped died last time they split a book into two parts, even if it worked out in the end story wise. I think they want this to come out be great and hopefully we get more films/tv shows

...Did it though?

 

[Jerroddragon]

...Did it though?

Story wise Hunger Games last two films are much better then one big film. They only really cut one big plot from the book.

Money wise, no idea what would have worked better. Hunger Games last film came out and I enjoyed it but fans seemed ready to be done.

So I'm happy they didn't try to stretch out this story into two films

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'm pretty excited about this.....now that Dune is gone. Hunger Games and Wish are the two movies I'm most excited for for the rest of the year

 

[Nick]

I'm pretty excited about this.....now that Dune is gone. Hunger Games and Wish are the two movies I'm most excited for for the rest of the year

This is the movie that, imo, needs the strike to be over with the most so that the actors can promote it. Audiences know Hunger Games, but they expect Jennifer Lawrence and a continuation of the Katniss story.

Audiences don’t yet know if they want this and may need to be sold on it and the best way to do that is have a charming cast on a media circuit promoting the film.

 

[Jerroddragon]

This is the movie that, imo, needs the strike to be over with the most so that the actors can promote it. Audiences know Hunger Games, but they expect Jennifer Lawrence and a continuation of the Katniss story.

Audiences don’t yet know if they want this and may need to be sold on it and the best way to do that is have a charming cast on a media circuit promoting the film.

Agreed

I will hopefully enjoy it but yeah, zero buzz for it right now

 

[SeventyOne]

The first 2/3 are great, was shaping up to be my favorite movie of the year. Not as nuanced as the book and Snow not quite as obviously a pure villain--the lack of internal monologues is felt here--but it tells its story well, at a nice clip, with some great actors. (Blond hair threw me, halfway through before I realized Snow is the son on Gilded Age, he shines here.)

But the final third or is far too long to be a coda, but far too short to be a proper sequel to the movie we just saw. Some good scenes right out of the book, but rushed. Scenes feel like they should've had two or three others between them. Basically the Cliff Notes of a sequel stapled onto the end of the first movie.

On the whole still enjoyed it but definitely one for the fans, not going to convert anyone who wasn't into the IP before.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Yeah

The film and book, to me have the same issue the first 2/3 of the story is really amazing and then it falls off into just fine

I will say, while the book might be better...I think seeing the kids from this Hunger Games....was really powerful. You have a few almost adults but...a few of these kids really feel young and it works well to get the message across

Spoiler

The moment that little girl asked if it was over and they could all go home...then bam she is dead and soon after so is everyone else....just what a sad scene.

 

[Nick]

As someone who has never read a Hunger Games book but seen all the films, this was by far my favorite since the original The Hunger Games film, probably my favorite. Definitely the best top to bottom casting.

As others have said, the first 2/3 were GREAT. I was enjoying it immensely. Last 1/3 lacked a bit, but was still enjoyable. It did leave me wanting more which I take as a good sign. It ends a bit abruptly imo, so as long as this film breaks even or makes money I’d love to see another prequel film if there’s a worthy story to tell.

 

[Jerroddragon]

As someone who has never read a Hunger Games book but seen all the films, this was by far my favorite since the original The Hunger Games film, probably my favorite. Definitely the best top to bottom casting.

As others have said, the first 2/3 were GREAT. I was enjoying it immensely. Last 1/3 lacked a bit, but was still enjoyable. It did leave me wanting more which I take as a good sign. It ends a bit abruptly imo, so as long as this film breaks even or makes money I’d love to see another prequel film if there’s a worthy story to tell.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire to me is one of the best not just modern day sequels ever but also best sequels ever written. It does what a sequel should, it brings in new characters most people like, up the stakes, world builds and is just interesting.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes first 2/3 are close to catching fire for me.

I do hope we see more another novel or two in the future, I think this series is always going to relevant and it could not have come out at a more perfect time to show it's parallel's to the real world

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Still waiting on that Haymitch story, Suzanne.

Wanting to see this film as soon as I can, love the films and books as one of my favorite YA franchises.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Still waiting on that Haymitch story, Suzanne.

Wanting to see this film as soon as I can, love the films and books as one of my favorite YA franchises.

I see many fans want that story

What do you think you will get out of it? I thought he already told the story of his games and why he is who he is

Snow we had ZERO background on and she made this film also about the first TV event for the Hunger Games...so it has a reason to be made. With his story, I'm not sure what we could get out of a full 2 hour film

 

[AlexanderMBush]

@Jerroddragon to me I think it’d be great to see it directly from the point of view of him as he tries to cope and figure out who Haymitch is, what it takes as he is forced to be the song and show horse, and seeing why he broke and became the man he was when we see him training Katiness and Peeta.

To show the victors, all having to struggle on how to live with themselves.

 

[Jerroddragon]

@Jerroddragon to me I think it’d be great to see it directly from the point of view of him as he tries to cope and figure out who Haymitch is, what it takes as he is forced to be the song and show horse, and seeing why he broke and became the man he was when we see him training Katiness and Peeta.

To show the victors, all having to struggle on how to live with themselves.

So less on his hunger games and more on the before and after?

Because I think his hunger games arn't too interesting to watch since...he just hides until the end.

If the author has a story, I'm down for it....but it's just hard to do since they have already told us about his games compared to Snow which we knew nothing about and the author found a way to make his first hunger games into something that builds the world as well

 

[Nico]

I think they should continue the tradition of anniversary games. We have some knowledge of them, but it allows a continuation of the lore, has different rules than what we know, and can introduce us to new characters with depth. The best part of the movie was the development of the games. Keep that running with an anniversary.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

So less on his hunger games and more on the before and after?

Yup! @Nico brought up another element as in the continuation of the games, but I think Suzanne's world has a lot of potential to show us he degrading reality that comes to the victors after the games; how they struggle and deal with the "train ride" that they are now essentially permamently on.

I think Panem has a lot of growth as a country and universe as a whole; especially if Lionsgate allows them to dive much more into how Panem works before the rebellion of District 13 interferred with the 75th games. Hell, you could even make a case to show a story of what it was like for those in District 13 as they had to flee and run from Peacekeepers; and to keep their humanity entact.

 

[Nico]

Yup! @Nico brought up another element as in the continuation of the games, but I think Suzanne's world has a lot of potential to show us he degrading reality that comes to the victors after the games; how they struggle and deal with the "train ride" that they are now essentially permamently on.

I think Panem has a lot of growth as a country and universe as a whole; especially if Lionsgate allows them to dive much more into how Panem works before the rebellion of District 13 interferred with the 75th games. Hell, you could even make a case to show a story of what it was like for those in District 13 as they had to flee and run from Peacekeepers; and to keep their humanity entact.

Oh damn. Finnicks life post games would be bleak. I honestly love this idea. More behind the scenes and the politics, less games themselves.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

THG feels like one of the rare franchises where ANDOR like shows (and even films matching that tone), divulging and going into the darker underbelly of Panem, showing the victors and showing the political natures; would be a hell of a fascinating and intriguing approach to keep people in.

Hell they could even take a Handmaid's Tale approach and talk about the slaves that lived in the Capitol; and the life that they had to endure while serving the upper class and victors.