Film Review – The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

The cinematic exploration of “The Hunger Games” ended eight years ago, concluding with two pictures meant to bring finality to the saga of Katniss Everdeen, following the epic scale of revolution envisioned by author Suzanne Collins. The saga was over, making a killing at the box office in the process, giving fans a rest after dealing with four straight years of class turmoil in the fictional world of Panem. But something this profitable could never be finished, finding Collins resurrecting the brand name for a 2020 prequel, going back in time to see how the villain of the franchise, President Snow, became the monster he was meant to be. To some, it was a welcome return to this universe, while others were critical of Collins’s true creative mission with the release. To Lionsgate Films, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes” means the moneymaking machine is back online, quickly ordering up a film adaptation, with director Francis Lawrence (who helmed the last three “Hunger Games” features) returning to explore a time of development and betrayal, making a plodding movie in the process. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com