"The Hunger Games Prequel Falls Flat Without Jennifer Lawrence's Presence"

"The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," a prequel to the blockbuster series based on Suzanne Collins' YA novels, fails to capture the natural pluck and charisma of Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen. The film lacks compelling reasons to exist, with unimaginative death-match arena action and a campy archvillain played by Viola Davis. The protagonist, Coriolanus Snow, is a love-struck teen who ultimately betrays his love interest, Lucy Gray, in a predictable manner. The film's design elements are polished, but it offers little new or innovative to justify resurrecting the franchise.