'Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes': The villain's journey

Nov. 15—"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" is to its hugely popular universe what "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" is to a galaxy far, far away, but with a couple of key differences.

First, "Ballad" does not appear to be the first in a trilogy of prequels set in the dystopian world created by author Suzanne Collins but instead a stand-alone story.

Also, it's a better movie.

Instead of the backstory of fallen Jedi Anakin Skywalker, we get the origin of Coriolanus Snow, future tyrannical president of Panem and persistent thorn in the side of "Hunger Games" franchise protagonist Katniss Everdeen. The world may not have been clamoring for a tale built around a pivotal chapter in the life of Coriolanus, but the 2020 novel from which this movie is adapted was well-received.

The screen version illustrates why, as it is a reasonably compelling narrative about a conflicted young man, a man torn between his ambitious nature and his moral compass and feelings for a charming and beautiful young woman.

After a brief prologue featuring Coriolanus as a boy during the Dark Days, precisely three years before the first Hunger Games, we move ahead to catch up with the 18-year-old version (Tom Blyth). His deceased father once a powerful man in Panem's Capital, Coriolanus now lives with cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer of "Euphoria") and their Grandma'am (Fionnula Flanagan, "Waking Ned Devine") in a meager home. When he's among his classmates at the Academy, Coriolanus does his best to project that he still comes from wealth, like the rest of them.

Right before the Reaping ceremony for the upcoming 10th Hunger Games, in which the "tributes" from Panem's various districts will be chosen for the fight-to-the-death tournament, Coriolanus and other students learn they will be serving as mentors to those future combatants. He becomes the mentor for Lucy Gray Baird ("West Side Story" star Rachel Zegler) of District 12 — which, several decades later, will produce Katniss for the contest.

Coriolanus, as well as everyone else who watches her selection, is taken by Lucy Gray's impromptu singing, which will become a constant (and welcome) occurrence throughout the movie.

If she wins the Hunger Games, it could be great for the aspiring Coriolanus, who has a nemesis in the Academy's dean, Casca Highbottom (Peter Dinklage), but a potential champion in Dr. Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), an Academy instructor and the head gamesmaker.

However, Coriolanus develops feelings for Lucy Gray, which are heightened after he sneaks aboard a truck carrying her and other tributes to the Capital Zoo, where they are kept behind bars until they are faced with killing one another.

As the story continues, the pair — both orphans, he proudly wears his father's dress shirt and she finds comfort in being in her mother's dress — grow closer, and Coriolanus does all he can to help her survive. The Hunger Games are far from the elaborate, high-tech affair they will become in 60-plus years, but they're just as dangerous given the stakes, and Lucy Gray isn't exactly the out-for-blood type, so she'll need some assistance.

Another key player in Coriolanus' story is classmate and friend Sejanus Plinth (Josh Andrés Rivera, another "West Side Story" alum), who comes from a powerful family but yearns for great change in how the opulent Capital oppresses the poverty-plagued districts. Coriolanus also finds himself protecting Sejanus, but the latter's actions make that increasingly difficult.

Told in three parts, "Ballad" probably is a little longer than it needs to be at about two and a half hours, and yet it still rushes through its all-important final few minutes.

That aside, it is fairly well told by screenwriters Michael Lesslie (Assassin's Creed") and Michael Arndt ("Hunger Games: Catching Fire"), the script holding little nods to the existing saga that fans will appreciate.

That the film is deftly directed by Francis Lawrence is hardly surprising given that he helmed all but the first of the original four "Hunger Games" entries. He understands Collins' world and always seems confident and comfortable when conducting the goings-on within it.

Franchise producer Nina Jacobson and others responsible also did well with the casting of its leads.

A lot is asked of Blyth ("Billy the Kid") as Coriolanus: He must make the character likable while infusing him with qualities that allow the viewer to believe he could become the future authoritarian we know and loathe. (It doesn't hurt that, at least if you squint, you can picture Blyth becoming Donald Sutherland-esque in his later years.)

And Zegler is a no-brainer choice for Lucy Gray, the actress lighting up the screen, just as she does in 2021's "West Side Story," and enhancing the proceedings with her lovely singing voice. (Don't be surprised if, after seeing "Ballad," you find yourself spending a good bit of time with its soundtrack thanks to the movie's many enjoyable songs.) Zegler also brings a hint of mystery to the character, as well, which helps make the whole formula of this romance work.

Effective comic relief is provided by Jason Schwartzman's ("Asteroid City") Lucretius "Lucky" Flickerman, host of the Games' TV broadcast — and Panem weatherman — and an ancestor of Stanley Tucci's Caesar Flickerman.

On the other hand, while they are excellent actors, Davis ("Fences") and Dinklage ("Game of Thrones") aren't all that impactful in portraying their rather uninteresting characters. Gaul calls for the former to go way over the top, wild hair and all, and it's not where the Academy Award winner excels, while Highbottom is a bit of a bore.

Although Coriolanus's fall to the dark side is better executed than Anakin's in the "Star Wars" prequel trilogy, it's nice to think that his story now has been told.

The guess here is Collins at some point will return to her fertile world for another novel — later resulting in another movie — but that she'll make a game of another aspect of it.

'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'

Where: Theaters.

When: Nov. 17.

Rated: PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material.

Runtime: 2 hours, 37 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.