The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins: Book vs. Movie
I was so excited to see The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins in theaters. I read Collins’ prequel earlier in the year and, with what might be considered an unpopular take, really enjoyed it despite its flaws. Did I see the valid criticisms? Absolutely. But I also really appreciated diving back into Panem and learning more about the history of The Hunger Games.
Beware! This post contains spoilers!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Published May 19th, 2020/Released November 17th, 2023
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction
Experience the story of THE HUNGER GAMES – 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem. THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS and SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
I was so excited to see The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins in theaters. I read Collins’ prequel earlier in the year and, with what might be considered an unpopular take, really enjoyed it despite its flaws. Did I see the valid criticisms? Absolutely. But I also really appreciated diving back into Panem and learning more about the history of The Hunger Games.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was a very faithful adaptation to both its betterment and detriment. As a result, I feel like my thoughts on the book and the movie mirror each other. While a lot of the story was really well done – and very well written! – there was one sticking point that kept me from loving it as much as I wanted to.
Much like with the book, the movie felt like one novel with another half of a novel tacked on at the end. Both the book and the movie are divided into three parts, but it felt like they were meant to be two separate installments. The first two parts encompassed the time leading up to the Hunger Games and the games themselves, while the third part focused on the aftermath. By cramming them all into one novel – or movie – it wound up feeling like there was a proper ending two-thirds of the way through the story, followed by a rushed finale. And when the whole story was leading up to that finale, rushing it made it feel underwhelming (unfortunately).
I do think this worked better in the book than in the movie. As a reader, you’re privy to Coriolanus’ thoughts throughout the story. So when he turns against Lucy Gray and starts to become “President Snow” it doesn’t feel as abrupt as it does in the film. But I still think it would have been even better if both the book and the movie took the time to really flesh this out. Instead, you’re left with what feels like whiplash during the last few minutes of the movie (or the literal final chapter of the book).
Have you read/seen The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes?
What were your thoughts?
Let me know!
Liza
Liza is a twenty-something book blogger who spends way too much time with her nose in books and feels way too much. She loves cooking, baking, reality tv show watching and, of course, reading. She can be found most often with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other. Her blog, Literary Liza, features bookish content like reviews, recommendations, and author interviews.
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