The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the prequel to the first four movies in The Hunger Games series. It focuses on the upbringing and backstory of the notorious leader Coriolanus Snow. Coriolanus Snow is President Snow in the later movies and he is known for his cold-blooded spirit and ruthless leadership. Coriolanus is one of the top students at his school and is going to be a mentor at the 10th annual Hunger Games. He is chosen to mentor a girl for District Twelve named Lucy Gray. Throughout the preparation phase for the games they grow close and develop a strong relationship. In the end, Lucy Gray wins the games but it comes at a cost for Coriolanus because he cheated so she would be victorious. He ends up getting sent to District Twelve as a punishment and stripped of his noble status. Luckily this is where his dear old Lucy Gray went after the games. They hatch a plan to escape together and go live out in the forest after a series of unfortunate events. Unexpectedly though Lucy Gray runs away from Coriolanus and leaves him behind, sparking the fire and rage in his soul that we still see today.
I would give this movie 5 out of 5 stars for a couple of different reasons. This was an amazing prequel to the Hunger Games series. It perfectly demonstrates the background of President Snow and reveals why he rules like he does. I think the mix between singing and action keeps it an interesting movie to watch. I would say one thing to keep in mind is the scenes during the games are more violent and graphic than the prior movies. But overall the plot and introduction of new characters like Lucy Gray made this movie super interesting and informative. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoyed the original Hunger Games series.