Thanksgiving break is always filled with drama, and this year’s ushered in a new era of the Hunger Games. The novel Collins pitched as a prequel to the Hunger Games was released in 2020, and the movie came out two weeks ago (and no, there is no Katniss Everdeen). The story follows a young Coriolanus Snow (we know him as President Snow), navigating life in the Capitol, during the aftermath of the rebel war, at the 10th annual Hunger Games. Snow is a mentor in the games to a young Lucy Gray Baird, the first winner from District 12, who perhaps teaches Snow more lessons than Snow teaches her. The movie stars Rachel Zegler and Tom Blythe in the central roles, and features an incredible song by Olivia Rodrigo to cap off the soundtrack. Over break, I decided to read the book and then watch the movie to give me the full experience and it did not disappoint, so here’s the review!
The Book:
Collins never fails to deliver with the jaw-dropping plot turns when it comes to a Hunger Games novel, and this novel is no exception. The final third of this book will have you eagerly flipping to the next chapter and new revelations. Unfortunately, the first two parts of the novel fail to have this same edge-of-your-seat pace. It also didn’t hit the slow burn/gradual build momentum; the novel just felt like it was predictable and it dragged. However, one of the best elements was seeing Snow’s mental conflict play out on the page. It is evident how Snow struggles to balance his loyalty to his friends and loved ones with his dedication to the Capitol. At the same time, the novel strongly sticks to a single narrative, not trying to redeem Snow by showing some great trauma in his past, or by portraying him as particularly kind or loving. Rather, the novel contextualizes why the Snow we see in the Hunger Games trilogy is so haunted, twisted, and afraid of Katniss and what she represents. I think it isn’t necessarily a needed addition to the series, but it was a nice touch and definitely a must-read for fans of this world. Rating: 7/10
The Movie:
Where the novel lacked in pacing, the movie made up for it. Despite being nearly three hours long, the story never seemed to drag and kept moving well, as the running time was hardly noticeable. Of course, it was a bit sad to lose some of the small moments during Lucy Gray’s Hunger Games, but I think, given the pacing, it was necessary. One thing that I wished the movie showed a bit better was Coriolanus’s internal conflict. While it was evident to a certain degree, Collins did such a wonderful job portraying this with both Snow’s internal dialogue and contrasting him to his peers, mainly Sejanus Plinth, his character foil. Obviously, this internal dialogue cannot be portrayed to the same degree in the film, so it was understandable that this nuance would be lost a bit, but it was certainly missed. The leading trio of Tom Blythe, Rachel Zegler, and Josh Rivera came alive in all of their individual roles. They embodied their characters in every aspect. Shoutout to Tom Blythe, who did such a wonderful job, especially with this being his breakout role. He convinced the audience to fall in love with Snow in the same way as the Capitol while also portraying his cold and aloof side effortlessly. Zegler excelled in bringing alive Lucy Gray’s quirkiness, but her southern accent definitely could have been dropped. Finally, Josh Rivera portrayed the innocence of Sejanus perfectly, and the heart-breaking journey of that character was made even more poignant due to his performance. The movie did a great job bringing to life this story, and it fixed much of the pacing issues in the novel, making it a successful adaptation. Rating: 9/10
To be honest, I still recommend reading both the book and the movie, because I think both formats give varied takes on the same story. Internal conflict seems to be a larger driving force in the novel and external conflict is the driving force of the film, allowing each to have a unique perspective presented. This story (and the Josh Hutcherson edits, iykyk) totally took over my socials this Thanksgiving, and I am here for it! Be sure to check out The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, from both your local library and your local theater.
