The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Summary

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis reignite the popularity ofThe Hunger Games , butit ’s also raising questions about which movie is better . The Hunger Gamesprequel require viewers back to the 10th iteration of the Games , offering brainstorm into Panem ’s history and how the Capitol ’s penalization evolved over time . Like the originalHunger Games , The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesfocuses on a testimonial from District 12 : Lucy Gray Baird . Lucy ’s experience in the arena is much different than Katniss ' during the 74th Hunger Games . However , their stories also bear a few obvious similarities .

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis the miserable - grossingHunger Gamesmovie thus far , but it ’s still receive positive review from critic and audiences alike ( viaRotten Tomatoes ) . Despite making nearly $ 400 million less at the worldwide box office than 2012’sThe Hunger Games(viaThe Numbers),Lucy Gray ’s story seems to be resonating with looker intimately as much as Katniss ' . However , equate the prequel to the firstHunger Gamesmovie in terms of characters and storytelling , there ’s one clear succeeder .

The Hunger Games franchise contains five movies , and their timeline spans decades , bewitch the early iterations of the Games and their eventual end .

The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Poster

Rachel Zegler’s Lucy Gray Vs. Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss

Katniss' Courage Gives Her Character An Edge

It ’s unmanageable to choose between Katniss Everdeen and Lucy Gray , as the twoHunger Gamesfranchise lead are such different characters . Katniss is hot - headed and savvy with a prow , while Lucy Gray is a performer at heart . Lucy ’s charm is obvious from the moment her name is predict in the Reaping , whereas Katniss ' sarcastic and offish nature is why the Capitol fall for her . Both graphic symbol use their strengths to their vantage , but their contrasting natures render their approaches very different . In fact , one could say thatLucy Gray has more in common with Peeta Mellarkthan Katniss in terms of her presence and behavior in the Hunger Games .

Like Peeta , Lucy uses her ability to work a crowd to exist the tenth Hunger Games tournament . Her songs captivate audience , and they even get citizen of the Capitol on her side . Lucy ’s doubtless more wizard than Katniss , butKatniss has something that ’s more telling overall : courage . Lucy ca n’t aid being reaped , and she does her estimable to survive the Hunger Games . However , Katniss volunteers in place of her sister , get it on the betting odds are n’t in her party favour . She ’s also uncoerced to go rather than kill Peeta at the end of the tourney . It ’s this strong suit and bravery that set Katniss a pace above Lucy Gray .

The originalHunger Gamesmovies are available on Starz and DirectTV , andThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis playing in field of operations .

Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth as Lucy Gray and Coriolanus Snow from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes next to an image of Jennifer Lawrence shooting an arrow as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games

The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes' Cast Vs. The Hunger Games

Both Casts Have Big Names (But The Hunger Games' Leave A Mark)

BothThe Hunger GamesandThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakeshave great casts , butthe original movie ’s batting order prove a bit secure . When it comes to extend roles , the two offerings are on adequate footing . Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are iconic as Katniss and Peeta , but Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth are just as telling as Lucy Gray and a young Coriolanus Snow . All the leads match their Word of God counterparts well , and they dominate the blind every time they ’re on it .

In terminal figure of fame and talent , the supporting mould ofThe Hunger GamesandThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesare also tantamount . Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage bring as much name acknowledgment and experience to their function as Woody Harrelson , Elizabeth Banks , and Donald Sutherland . Unfortunately , the latter three are more memorable in their share , perhaps due to how iconic their fiber have become . Even without that element , Harrelson and Banks ' carrying out make spectator want to root for their characters . Davis and Dinklage both play villain , andthey just do n’t bewitch viewers ' hearts the way Effie and Haymitch do .

The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes' Story Vs. The Hunger Games

The Original Movie Lays The Foundation For Everything

When it get along to the stroytelling aspect of both movies , one Sojourner Truth must be recognized : TheBallad of Songbirds and Snakes’plot would n’t be as meaningful withoutThe Hunger Games . The 2023 film is a prequel , and as such , most of its charm lies in its relation to the original serial . Without an savvy of who President Snow becomes , Coriolanus ' journey is far less interesting . Likewise , The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesis incredibly impressive in its earthly concern - building . However , the originalHunger Gamesmovie build Panem and its politics in the first place , opening the door for the prequel to elaborate .

Not only doesThe Hunger Gamesoffer a fully original and flesh out story without further circumstance , but it focuses on themes of dissent . AsThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis a villain beginning tale , it treat the Games as an inevitable position quo , and criticizing them from a less direct angle . The Hunger Gamessees Katniss pushing back against the Capitol multiple times throughout its run , andit makes her story a more powerful and compelling one overall .

How Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes' Hunger Games Compares To Katniss' First Hunger Games

Lucy Gray’s Games Have More Powerful Moments

Although Katniss ' first Hunger Games are more interesting visually — the Capitol ’s engineering and methods of torturing evolve significantly from the tenth tourney to the 74th — Lucy Gray ’s time in the arena is in reality more memorable . The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesdoes a better job of making viewers feel for every protection , offering some truly tragical moments over the trend of its run . Between Lamina pour down Marcus out of mercy and Reaper cover the deceased testimonial in Panem ’s masthead , the 10th annual Hunger Games contains more hefty mo from supporting players than the 74th , which mainly focuses on how the tourney impacts Katniss , Peeta , and Rue .

Why The Hunger Games Is Better Than The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes

The Original Movie Has More Going For It

AlthoughThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesis a strong follow - up to theoriginalHunger Gamesmovies , the firstHunger Gamesfilm still reigns supreme . Katniss ' story is spellbind from the moment she volunteers in spot of Prim , and her journeying maintains a strong common sense of hope throughout . Lucy ’s Games feel bleaker , and truly so . They ’re meant to amplify on Panem ’s tragic and violent history , and they do a great job in that regard . However , The Hunger Gamesis the film that establishes that world and gives substance to the dealership overall , kickstarting the rebellion that eventually necessitate down the corrupt system Katniss and Lucy both live in .

The Hunger Gamesalso has a hard cast and trail , make it one of the most iconic ledger adaptations to date . While Lucy and Coriolanus leave an belief , too , it ’s hard to root for one of the prequel ’s hint . And even Lucy ’s narration has less of an shock than Katniss ' , no matter how catch she is inThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes .

The Hunger Games is a multi - movie dealership star Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen . The films are based on the immature grownup dystopian book series by writer Suzanne Collins . The first film was released in 2012 , followed by Catching Fire in 2013 , Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014 , and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015 . In 2023 , the 5th picture show in the serial was resign , The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes .

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray, and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games movies

The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Lucy Gray Baird looking shocked in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes next to Katniss Everdeen sitting on a throne in her red Mockingjay suit from The Hunger Games

Katniss concerned in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Snow and Lucy Gray looking at each other in The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games with Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

hunger-games-ballad-songbirds-snakes-lucygray-made-sugar-katniss

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Hunger Games