The Hunger Games:” The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” is a PG-13 Action/Adventure movie released Nov. 17, 2023,  and directed by Francis Lawrence. This movie is based on the back story of the “The Hunger Games” series. This movie is one of my favorites that came out this year! The actors played their roles very well, and the movie was almost identical to the book. 

The Ballad of the Songbirds & Snakes is based on the back story of Coriolanus Snow, called “Snow,” in the movie. The film tells the backstory of how he turned into the president of the capital and changed the Hunger Games. The movie first starts with Snow getting assigned to mentor Lucy Gray from District 12. His ultimate goal is to keep her alive to collect a cash prize and secure his future in the Capital. Snow decides that he wants to get to know Lucy, and they end up building a relationship. Now that Snow knows Lucy he not only just wants her to win for his benefit, but for her to survive so they could be together under different circumstances. During the Hunger Games, Snow makes decisions that eventually get him removed from the Capital. After his removal, he started working as an officer in District 12. He and Lucy meet again, and they create plans to run off together. Snow, however, makes selfish decisions which ultimately leads to distrust of Lucy. After a turn of events, Snow turns angry and returns to the Capital to begin his evil reign over the Districts. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Lucy and Snow’s love story in the beginning, however, he became very overpowering and narcissistic towards her. So, in the end, I think she made the right choice. This movie also tells Snow’s backstory very well and it helps connect little details in the other four Hunger Games entries. The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes proves to be one of the best movies of the series and a nail-biter from start to finish.