The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
This was such a pleasant surprise, and far better than I was expecting. I like the original films so I was already fairly interested in checking this out, but many it really makes some great first impressions. DP <PERSON> is cooking right from the outset with these immense wide lens shots that look amazing in theatres and showcase the production design immensely. And man, I was in love with the production design this time around. The sets and overall visual designs are so much more effective with expansive sets which all look terrific. 83
The Games' tv set and <PERSON> supervillain laboratory are huge standouts.
Top to bottom, the whole cast rules. <PERSON> carries this so well as <PERSON>, and the supporting work by <PERSON>, <PERSON>, <PERSON>, basically everybody understands the assignment pretty perfectly here. The dual perspective of the <PERSON> and their Capitol Mentors gives this a freshness that helps nail the pacing and the overall narrative.
<PERSON> is a super engaging protagonist, and while I think the final third rushes things a little the impact still remains. I can see the argument that a two-parter could have made this even mroe effective, but I think they were mostly scared off by the lukewarm reception to the original splitting of Mockingjay. Either way, I would be totally down for a follow up to this, whatever <PERSON> decides to do with the material. There's a freshness to the storytelling here, and all the crew have levelled up so hard since the originals that I'd really love to see more.
Maybe the biggest pleasant surprise of this year, heaps of great stuff in this. 282