A Ballad of Subpar Acting & Shattered Expectations: Why the Hunger Games Prequel Lost the 2023 Cinema Games
It goes without saying, that like most popular franchises, the Hunger Games series is home to a loyal and dedicated fanbase that has embedded itself in popular culture. That's why, when Suzanne Collin released a prequel novel to the series and later announced a film, there was a deep-seated sense of anticipation and excitement. The re-emergence of the Games back onto the big screen was something to look forward to. While the art of written literature is relatively distinct to cinematography, the immense success of the trilogy, almost guaranteed that the prequel would live up to its legacy (or so we hoped). After all, the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was appointed to the same group of directors who had led the previous films to box office and pop-culture success. Although Francis Lawerence had big shoes to re-fill, it was his own role that he was expected reconquer. But ladies and gentlemen, it seems the odds weren't so much in his favour this time. Before I dive into the d
