The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Hello and welcome to another episode, a special episode of Patreon exclusive and preview of bass news network. Today, we are going to be getting into some epic tea, but first it's me Joana Varca, gay Sophie, and I'm here with Kaya, a gay punk revolution. Now say hi Kaya. Hi Katniss. Hi Pia. So for remember when we watched Hunger Games together a month ago? That was a month ago. How long ago was it? That was, I think that was the end of June or mid-July when we went to Philly. Wow. That was not a month ago. After Sophie and I watched the original Hunger Games movie together in July, Sophie and I spent a whole three months. She would exclusively call me Pita and I was exclusively call her Katniss. Yeah, and don't ask what the ship name is. Anyways. Well, the Hunger Games. Let's just say this. We are reviewing the new Hunger Games film, The Prequel, The Ballad of Songwords and Snakes. It is an epic prequel to the Hunger Games series. It takes place like about like 60-ish years before the events of the first book/film. So yeah, and like there hasn't been a like Hunger Games film in like about 10 years. So it's a big deal and we went to see it. Yes, and there, so this is the fifth movie, right? Yes, because Mocking J was a two-part film. So yeah. I didn't see Mocking J, but it's a prequel, so that's okay. Yeah, Mocking J is a little bit mid and yeah, it's, yeah, it's not the best. I really liked the first two Hunger Games movies. Yeah, and that's kind of what I said. I think I was like, you don't really, like if you really want to have the fun of it, you really only need to watch the first two films. The second to do kind of, you know, explain, you know, what happens. I mean, I doubt anyone here is getting spoiled on Hunger Games because like anyone who listens to this podcast probably knows. But spoiler alert, in Mocking J, basically, they start another second rebellion against the Capitol. It's very violent and there's like another, like the District 13, which was supposedly like destroyed, has like an underground society. They kind of do like a French slash communist revolution. I don't know. And a cat-ness like over throws president snow and there's all this tea and drama. I like how in the new Hunger Games movie, the prequel, the ballad of song, the ballad of songbirds and snakes. I'm sorry, that's a goofy, goofy name. I love it because the Hunger Games, the ballad of songbirds and snakes, like that phrase could be the name of like a restaurant in Bushwick. Either that or like a big thief album or something. Oh my goodness. Alright, so yeah. Well anyways, so I like how in this new movie, they call president snow. They call him by his name, Coriolanus. Coriolanus, just call him Cornelius at this point. His name is literally just Coriolanus. It's Coriolanus. It looks like it literally looks like that first glance. It looks like Colin Anus. No. This is what happens when you let a boy watch the Hunger Games movies. It's like it's supposed to be a girl's secret, but just getting Coriolanus. How do you pronounce his name? That's right. That's how you say it. That's literally how you say it. You literally have to say Anus. Lainus, like Anus I suppose. Yeah, well, very mature. Coriolanus. Coriolanus. Coriolanus is the main character. Yes, so president snow, the tyrannical, sadistic president who really hates catness. This is his, he's the main character of this film. This is his origin story. This is the villain origin story essentially and he is like a 18 year old man. He looks older. You know, it's like every movie in like show nowadays, like the actor looks a way older than like how they like he looks like 25 to me post 18, which you know, you can usually kind of tell a difference. Anyways, he has like blonde hair. He's like Draco Malfoy, like fan art type looking guy. And yeah, Hunter Shafer plays his cousin Tigris, Tigris, sorry, Tigris, who is like really slay and mocking Jay. She like, she's like a stylist. She was like a stylist and she was like, I think like something happened to her because of snow, but she like dresses really like Coriolanus. She dresses really like cool and like like a tiger or like on her face, like where's tiger face paint and stuff. But Hunter Shafer plays her. Oh, yeah, that's right. I forgot. Yeah, she looks very like innocent. Well, she is a good person, but she looks very like cutesy and kind of like she's got fashion, but she hasn't like turned into the the fashionista. She isn't mocking Jay. But anyways, she's alive and mocking Jay. Yes. Is she really old? She's really old, but she still serves. I'm going to send you a picture right now because it's slice. But anyways, she's in there every I think a lot of people went for Hunter Shafer. And she's like, you know, she's a little bit of screen time. It's not like a lot, but you know, it's, you know, she slays in it. I really like Hunter Shafer a lot. Like I, I think I really like her like the way she acts. I don't know if she was like kind of natural to me, but like in a like she's really like bubbly and kind of sweet. I don't know. I just really like her as a person. So it was cool seeing her and also like seeing, I don't know, it's cool to see like trans women getting like these mainstream roles, you know, that aren't like necessarily like canonically trans, you know. Well, maybe maybe she is, but like it's not, but it's not specified and that's kind of cool. I feel like that that is like becoming more of a thing, which is so basically the hunger games is better than Harry Potter is what we're trying to say at this point. It literally is. I'm sorry. It actually is like I've been thinking this. Now we can finally say it out loud. Yeah, sure. We can finally speak the truth. Well, I really liked the first two Hunger Games movies and I, I've always kind of been like a little bit lukewarm on the Harry Potter movies. So anyways, let's just say I was ahead of the crowd on that and Sophie was too. So shout it to us. But I will admit though, you know, so what this movie is very ambitious, you know, it's like it is. It is. It's it's two and a half hours. Three parts. I mean, I feel like two and a half hours is really ambitious for like, I don't know, I don't know, whatever kind of movie this is. I mean, it's a blockbuster. So I can't say I'm super surprised. Like when I think of the Hunger Games, I think of like a really long movie, but I don't know if it was as it was definitely long and I was expecting it to be long. But what I think made it feel super ambitious is just the amount of time. Like, you know, not time skits, but like there's there's literally three parts, you know, of the film was like three movies combined into what it really does. It really does. I honestly like in retrospect, I enjoyed the movie. Like it was fun to watch. Like I actually did enjoy it too, although I will say and this is well so first off to be entirely fair to the listeners of the podcast. I did fall asleep for a half hour, which which means I still watched about two hours of movie. So that's a lot of movie that I absorbed. And yeah, I'm like looking on Wikipedia, like the plot on Wikipedia is like 10 paragraphs. I slept through about two paragraphs of plot. But I will say you went to the bathroom during the one of the funniest parts too, which was what was the part I missed? You went to the bathroom when Lucy Gray, who is played by Rachel Ziegler. Oh, first start singing, right? Yeah, she starts like she gets reaped, you know, in the reefing she like they pick her name. And she goes on board and like someone in the crowd starts like singing something and then she starts singing and does a whole performance and that's a really good idea. like off-putting and cringe. Not because she's a bad singer, she's a great, she, Rachel Zegler is really talented singer. She's a great and West Side Story, blah, blah, blah, we know this, but it just feels like fan fiction written by a Hunger Games stand, so I guess it's appropriate, but it felt really funny. I feel like before we get into the review, we've just been sharing our general thoughts, but I feel like we should just kind of have a spoiler warning now, and also say like, I wanna give, we're gonna talk about the movie, so we might spoil you, so don't, you know, be aware of that. But I kinda just wanna give an overview of like, kind of what happens. And then like, I think, well, I don't know. I feel like we should talk about, like, the basic-- I think we gotta talk about a little bit of the plot. I feel like the plot was just super confusing, and-- - It's definitely confusing if you don't know the lore. - I think that's actually kind of a pretty significant downside, because, and I know, like, it kind of sounds ridiculous for someone who slept through half an hour of the movie to like complain about not being able to follow the plot, because I'm sure I slept through some stuff that might have made things make more sense later. But like, I just read through the plot on Wikipedia, and I'm still like, okay, there's just like, so many names, and like, I don't know, there's things that like weren't clear to me in parts that like, I was awake for, and I don't know, I still is enjoying it. You know, it's still, you can still enjoy movies even when you're not able to fully follow along. But there's other times where like, I'm like, why did this person all of a sudden like, do this to this other person? Like, let me see if I'm an example. Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, I did not have this problem at all. But that is because I'm hyper familiar with the Hunger Games, and I even know the like, story of this film, like what the book, like the book lore. Like, I really know the lore pretty well. So for me, that was not an issue. But if you aren't familiar, like, you have to at least watch one of the Hunger Games movies to like, even, you should watch it because they're good. They are, you know what's really weird? And we might have talked about this already in our first Hunger Games podcast, or maybe we didn't. But I feel like the Hunger Games as a middle school boy, when the Hunger Games kind of started coming out, maybe I was in high school. Doesn't matter. I always just, I always kind of like in my brain, like kind of categorized this movie and this franchise as like girl stuff. Like girl movie, girl books, girls like this stuff. And, but upon becoming a feminist, just kidding. Well, no, that may have a part of it. But I guess upon actually watching the movie, upon actually watching the movie 11 years after it comes out, it definitely just seems very silly that it would be something that like the world would categorize that way, or I would categorize that way. It's ridiculous. 'Cause it's just so, it's such like a violent action movie. It's like a Marvel movie. It's literally, it's the only reason that it's categorized as a girl movies because it's a, the main character is a girl, like a girl. And like, she's also super, like, she is not very feminine. Like, she's a tomboy. She really doesn't like feminine things at all. She's a very like, boyish in a lot of ways. So, I think it's literally just 'cause she's a girl. - It's literally that, it's literally that. Like, if catfish was for that, no, I did. I literally did. - And that, I mean, it's not their fault. Like, especially if you're like a boy, you know what I mean? Like, like a kid. You don't know any better. - Well, if you see, like, and all the girls like it, you know, like, all the girls maybe read Twilight and that book was not my favorite. So, I thought I could do all the girls. If that's the taste girls have, then maybe I'm not gonna like Hunger Games. - Oh my God. - Well, I mean, you can't name a movie. - No, no, no, no, no, it's okay. It's funny to me because I like, also did not like, Twilight either. And I, well, you also can't name a movie, like the ballad of songbirds and snakes. You know what I mean? And like, expect the story. - That's true. - Well, I guess, now in 2023. But also, though, like, I, I, well, I, one thing I'm wondering is like, given that, like, it's basically like a, like a pretty violent action movie that's like really not very feminine or all besides the fact that the main characters are woman. And like, obviously the books and movies are good. But do you think maybe like, a part of the reason why it was like such a commercial success was just like, there was like a, like, untapped demand or like, taste for, like, this kind of, - Yes. - Content that woman wanted, but they weren't getting 'cause every time, like, a movie or a book, that was like an action book written was, like, focused on a man. - Yeah, I think that's part of, definitely part of it. Another big thing too, I think, well, of course, at this time, like, teen dystopian, like, genre was kind of becoming a good big thing, you know, like dystopian, like, like, I, there's like divergent, which I never read or watched. That was like a poor man's hunger game. Just kidding. - I remember hearing that and people still liked it, though. Like, they, like, - No, people do like it. I just think it's just like, yeah. - Well, I think everyone just liked Hunger Games so much. They were willing to, like, consume a less good copycat 'cause that's still above average. - And I feel like, I feel like the Hunger Games, like, was definitely, like, a leader in, like, maybe initiated a lot of the hype for this kind of genre. But, I don't know, did you ever read the city of Ember or watch that movie? - No. - Okay, well, that was kind of like a teen dystopian, like, book as well that I had read, and I think that was pro-proto. I don't know why I need to say "pros" before the Hunger Games. As far as I know, I'm pretty sure. - I feel like this is important stuff because the Hunger Games, like, the, there was a huge, like, surge in, like, this teen dystopia media that everyone was, like, starting to consume in the early 2010s or whenever, late 2000s, or whatever. And then, in 2016, Donald Trump becomes president, and then we actually live in a dystopia. - Well, that's funny that you say that because a lot of people made Hunger Games memes about when Trump became president, like. - It literally is. - Cornelius, cornus, corny, cornus. (laughing) - No, it's literally Trump. - He looks like Trump. - He does not look like Trump. - Was there a scene in this movie when, like, a bomb blew up in a stadium? - Yes, the arena of the 10th Hunger Games, like, rebels, like, like, district rebels. So people against the Capitol, in rebellion, like, bombed the arena for the Hunger Games before it happened. - So that was the part I felt I was asleep. - That was far into the movie. - Wait, really? - Yeah, it was in. - Well, it was like, okay, it was, like, it was definitely, like, it was probably, like, about 40ish minutes in, maybe, like. - Okay, so, yeah, no, I, that sounds right, 'cause I was awake for the first 20 minutes, and then it's like half an hour. - Yeah, so. - I'm sorry, I got confused. - It's okay. - Well, I was just saying, 'cause, like, I feel like this is a fun movie to nap to, because there's, like, random explosions, so you wake up, and then look, and then you fall back asleep, and then you sleep a little bit more. (laughing) So anyways, very, I feel like this movie is very relevant to today. And no, I'm trying to go further than that. I'm trying to say this genre, like, the culture predicted reality. - But, yeah, and I do think, though, like, at this point, like, people were kind of imagining, like, these dystopian realities as, like, becoming increasingly real. And there's a lot about the Hunger Games, in general, that I've, I mean, like, especially, like, the spectacle, and this, and this, this film was a kind of about how the Hunger Games became a spectacle, rather than a simply punishment, but, like, as a form of, like, sadistic entertainment, which I thought was really interesting, too. - That's an interesting concept, and I was sort of able to kind of get that, but, like, I feel like, that also, like, like, I understand the why they did that, but I feel like the movie didn't really communicate that so well. Like, they were just kind of like, guys, we need to make sure this Hunger Game is entertaining, rather than anything else or whatever and it's just like they didn't really explain the like the reasoning behind that so well, or like, weren't they also saying that, like, Cornelius, Coriolinas Snow was, like, not gonna get this scholarship or something like that? - Yeah, yeah, that got kinda convoluted, but I think like, he broke some rules by like going into the sounds of ridiculous people who didn't watch it. But like, he broke the rules by going into the zoo. Like, they had a zoo for the tributes for people to like, look at. So, already kinda showed, like, beginning to make it, like, a spectacle. And also, like, dehumanizing the tributes. Anyway, like, he went into the zoo with his, like, he's meant, by the way, in this movie, like, they have the tributes, like, be mentored by like, like, students at the Capitol. - So, this is why it was like, you can see, like, now that you're saying it loud, like, as someone who's read the books, like, when you have, like-- - Yeah, it's crazy. - So, there's some scholarship that's on the line, he's not gonna get, and also I'm hearing that he needs to focus on making the show entertaining rather than winning. Like, it's just like, like, I understand now how these pieces kinda fall together, but like, when you're watching it as a noob, it's like a little hard, you know? Yeah, it's not for, it's a challenge for noobs, definitely. That's why I recommend not watching it first. (laughs) 'Cause I think, like, in order to understand, especially the part about the entertainment, like, you have to kind of have read/watch the first, like, the trilogy, because what it really does, like, throughout, is like, show how much of a, like, spectacle, like-- - Oh, yeah, they explain it, yeah, that's right, they explain that in the first movie, so. - And, like, as a form, they also talk about it in, like, the, there's like a lot, there's big themes of, like, propaganda, obviously, but, like, during the rebellion in the last book, in the last two movies, they use Katniss as, like, a figurehead, and, like, they film a lot of propaganda videos using her, and it's really interesting, because it gets into, like, the, you know, like, obviously, you're rooting for the rebels, but there's, they've got corruption within, you know, their own organization, and you see sort of the ugly parts of that too, which is, you know, like, teaching, honestly, teaching young girls about, like, apologetics, and, um, revolutions, and, you know, like, it's kind of, it's kind of a cool thing, but anyway, like, a big theme is, like, entertainment propaganda, and, like, capitalism, like, it's definitely a critique on how, like, entertainment and capitalism, like, work together, because, like, again, like, a lot of these tributes rely on external sponsorships to survive, and in order to gain those sponsorships, they have to make the public like them, by, like, doing some, like, that's why, that's exactly why Katniss pretends to, like, that she's in a relationship with PETA, because that gets her sympathy and attention. It's a strategy to survive. - That's why you're in a relationship with me. - Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, that's not true. But, um, it's the Instagram followers are sending, "Don't make these tour patriots because you're blood." - Oh, my God. - Wow, Hunger Games Mindblown. - Yeah, and another thing too, some of the districts are more wealthy than others, especially district one and two, because they're closer to the capital. They produce luxury goods and items, 'cause each, you know, each district produces, like, something towards the economy. They are also, like, they were less rebellious during the rebellion, so they're, like, favored. And what they have is they literally teach, like, children from, from, like, very young age, how to fight in the Hunger Games. They're called careers and a lot of them volunteer because fighting the Hunger Games is, like, an honor. So, and they have the wealth to, you know, do that, to train children from a young age to compete in these things. So, there's that aspect to playing into it. - Yeah, I think that the Hunger Games is my new, like, Das Kapital, Communist Manifesto. Like, because, like, that just blew my mind so damn hard. - Wait, actually? - That there's a district that produces luxury goods. - Yeah. - That's the closest to the capital, and they get the most, oh my goodness. And they-- - The politics, they get kind of, they get complex. Like, if you really know the lore, like, you get this, you understand this stuff, well. And it becomes a lot more interesting, I think, if you understand how the economy works. - Donald Trump was raised in District 1. - True, or the capital, rather, on this-- - Or maybe even the capital. Honestly, probably the capital, knowing. - Yeah, there's a lot more, like, social mobility in, like, the, that's why, you know, how one of the characters in this film, Sejaneis, you know, who was like, he was, like, originally, like, not super, he wasn't from the capital. He was actually from District 2, which is one of the wealthier districts, and his father is super rich. So, he was able to, like, move to the capital. So there is, like, some way for, like, those people, like, especially from people in the wealthier areas of the country to, to get into the capital too. So there's more-- - Yo, Bernie Sanders is from-- - Yeah. - Bernie Sanders is from District 13. - He's running, he's running the underground to resist it. - Isn't that where Vermont is? - Oh, are you looking at the map? I'm not sure, it probably is. - Yeah, I think it is. I don't know, I, I think-- - I think District 12 is supposed to be in Appalachia, or Appalachia, or Appalachia, however you say, but I say Appalachia. - So that's where Pete Buttigieg is from. - Okay. Yeah, no, what's-- (laughs) So, like, I feel like we didn't talk much about Lucy Gray, but she definitely has, like, an Appalachian accent. - We're gonna get to her, but real quick, I really wanna say that not only do they name one of the characters Coriolanus, but they also named another character High Bottom. - I left so hard at that, I'm sorry. - I left so hard. Like, stop doing your characters like this. Like, I'm, I don't know. There's something about, like, naming, like, infanity stuff, like, naming people weird name. Like, I just can't, like, and it's not like they're four, they're not four names or anything. They're literally just, like, names. Like, most of them are literally just names. She, like, made up to sound kind of futuristic, 'cause I'm pretty sure the Hunger Games takes place 300 years in the future. - Um, this makes me wanna write a book now. I wanna write a, I wanna write a dystopian teen book now. - Oh my goodness. - And his name, the character is just like, like, green butt. (laughing) - Or like, oh my god. - Plutonium ass. (laughing) - There's, oh, so, you know, Philip C. Seymour Hoffman. - Yeah. - So he, he was a character in the mocking J movie. And, but, and in catching fire, but he died before they could finish it, you know? So it's, that was sad, but they kind of, they kind of changed some of the plot, you know? From the book. But, his name in the, the movie is Plutarch Heavens B. (laughing) - Oh, I've got to, I have to write a book now. I can't wait. - He can't cut. - I know, but isn't this stuff fun? Like, can you see, like, being like, a 13 year old girl, like, how this could, would be super appealing? - All right, that's the end of this episode's preview. If you wanna hear the rest of this episode, get access to all of our Patreon content. And, most importantly, support our show. Head over to patreon.com/basenewsnetwork and join us for $5 a month. We really appreciate the support. Thanks for listening and we shall see you next episode, based news network.