The destruction of humanity in the Hunger Games, where survival means killing innocent strangers, and the audience becomes accomplices in the violence.

If the Roman Empire could continue to this day, it would probably be something like what is depicted in the movie “The Hunger Games”. According to the “Homer’s Epic,” the son of the King of Crete died in Athens and forced the Athenians to select 14 young men and women as “tributes” to be sent to the Minotaur for slaughter each year, thus preventing the Athenians from falling victim to a terrible plague.

Those who have seen the “Hunger Games” series know that the “Capitol” is divided into one city and twelve districts, and the residents of the central city are born as “superior beings”. They live a lavish life by exploiting the labor of the people in the twelve districts, just like vampires. In addition to being oppressed by the central city, the people in the districts are also required to select teenagers as “tributes” from the twelve districts each year to participate in the dangerous “Hunger Games” and provide entertainment for the residents of the central city.

This background setting is completely a futuristic version of the Roman Empire. In the “Hunger Games” trilogy, President Snow, who appears noble and elegant on the surface but is actually sly, cruel, and dictatorial, is actually the incarnation of the King of Crete from a thousand years ago. How did such a master of manipulation of human nature, a PUA king, come to be? This is the main content of the recently released film “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”. So, what are the terrifying aspects of this film? Today, let’s have a good chat about it.

I. Authoritarian Oppression

The technology in Panem is already very advanced. In the first film, when the protagonist Katniss leaves District 11 on a train, she is astonished by the prosperity, luxury, and technological progress of the Capitol city, far beyond her imagination.

In the technologically advanced Capitol city, they possess the most advanced scientific technology in the world, but the people under their rule still live in poverty.

The people in the agricultural district cannot eat enough; the people in District 12 rely on coal mines for a living, but the safety facilities in the coal mines are completely inadequate. The father of the protagonist Katniss and her friend Gale both suffered from mine accidents, causing almost devastating blows to their respective families.

In the central districts, the government controls various advanced scientific technologies. In the arena where the Hunger Games take place, the organizers can freely change the environment. With such technological advancements, the living standards and tools of the twelve districts are nearly stuck in the previous century. The central government even has advanced medical and genetic technologies, and can even alter memories in people’s brains.

In other words, from the youth of Snow to his old age, all the advanced scientific technologies were never used to improve the living standards of the people. Technology has become a terrifying tool for persecuting the people in this country.

In “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” drones, trains, and even the Hunger Games themselves are not perfect. In the first two films of “The Hunger Games,” whether it was the Tracker Jackers that can track humans or the venomous snakes that can distinguish friend from foe, the designers of the game can create a forest fire or even create mutant monsters to accelerate the killing. All of this indicates that the technological level of Panem is beyond what current technology can achieve.

These high-tech tools have become instruments for the upper class to entertain themselves and torment the people in the twelve districts. Technology, in the hands of the president, not only controls the life and death of the participants, but also maintains Snow’s high-pressure rule.

II. Ignorant Masses

Starting from the first Hunger Games, there have been a total of 74 editions, producing a total of 24 survivors who have endured brutal competition and survived, gaining better living conditions and higher social status.

However, at the beginning of the movie, it is clear that the Hunger Games is an outright killing game, a morbid celebration at the cost of innocent young lives. But there is no one among the audience in Panem who opposes or criticizes the Hunger Games.

Under this authoritarian rule, participation in the games by the people in each district is compulsory. They are escorting laborers day and night, drawing lots for sacrifices, watching the live television broadcasts of the Hunger Games, listening to speeches by the winners who killed their own children…

Just like in Lu Xun’s “The Spectator,” when faced with criminals, they are not concerned about why the evil happens or if it even happens at all. They don’t want to think about anything, becoming as numb as “wooden dolls” that were previously set up.

As the direct symbol and tool of political power, peacekeepers are everywhere, monitoring people’s every move. They carry weapons, giving off a cold mechanical feel, more like heartless robots in appearance. If anyone in the districts shows slight disobedience, they are punished on the spot or even lose their lives.

All thirteen districts are production districts, but the people who work hard every day cannot even have enough to eat, and the living conditions are extremely harsh. The Capitol nobles, on the other hand, live in luxury and waste.

The ruling class, who are on the other side, rely on violence to rule over the laborers in the twelve districts. The twelve districts are forcibly divided into individual production districts, with District 4 for fishing, District 10 for agriculture, and District 12 for mining. District 13 was long ago destroyed because of rebellion.

The Hunger Games itself represents the oppression of the people by the totalitarian government of this nation. In the annual Hunger Games, President Snow does not hide his intimidation and threats to the people: “Look, we can take away your children and let them sacrifice their lives. There is nothing you can do about it. If you dare to lift a finger, we will destroy you, leaving no one behind, just like we destroyed District 13.”

Therefore, the holding of this competitive game does not adhere to the principle of voluntary participation but is an extreme presentation of violent rule.

III. Law of the Jungle

In “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” there is a classic line: “Look, civilization has disappeared quickly.”

Through the perspective of young Snow, the director allows us to understand that the basic concept that the Hunger Games follows is the law of the jungle. From the moment young Snow enters the game area, he is forced to participate in the law of the jungle.

From a social perspective, the law of the jungle is characterized by vicious competition, which in most cases contradicts the moral and ethical principles of human society.

The basic rule of the Hunger Games is based on the law of the jungle, where all participants fight each other until there is only one survivor, who becomes the winner of the game. It can be said that the law of the jungle destroys the legitimacy of progressive civilization and hinders the awakening, resistance, and revolution of the populace. It makes the people dependent on the strong and trample the weak. Therefore, the law of the jungle is essentially the ideology of the central nation’s authoritarian rule.

Due to the existence of competition at both the national and individual levels, relationships of competition with more or less intensity, if these competitions resort to any means and have no bottom line, and serve only the purpose of winning, it is a state of the law of the jungle.

It is necessary for us to recognize that this social-level law of the jungle is characterized by unjustness and anti-civilization. However, it also objectively exists to a certain extent.

From a social perspective, the law of the jungle has these two characteristics: impropriety and anti-civilization. But in the world constructed by the novels, the law of the jungle is perfectly applied in the Hunger Games, a nationwide competitive game, fully reflecting the cruelty and reactionary nature of the Capitol and its leadership. This anti-human and totalitarian rule is the origin of conflict and contradiction in this movie.

From the movie, it is not difficult to see that even among the lower classes in the twelve districts, they are unable to unite.

One major reason for the emergence of the law of the jungle is the scarcity of resources. Due to the scarcity of survival resources, a natural competition arises among organisms that depend on these resources. In the first film of “The Hunger Games,” it is explicitly stated that the winning district will receive rewards provided by the Capitol government throughout the year, with food being the most common reward.

The poor cannot eat enough, and the rich are wary of the poor.

The scarcity of resources leads to inequality and poverty, which in turn breeds the alienation and confrontation between social classes. For the authoritarian rule of the Capitol, this is extremely beneficial. Due to the lack of unity and mutual resistance among the lower class people, the possibility of resistance against the ruling elites is greatly reduced. Even if there is resistance, it is weak and difficult to pose a threat to the totalitarian rulers.

Another important factor is the oppression at the ideological level. In order to consolidate their rule, Snow also uses “mockingjays” and even develops technology that can alter memories. Once the ideology of the law of the jungle takes root in the hearts of the people, they will not pursue social justice and equality, or resist the brutal authoritarian rule of the Capitol. Instead, they will form a mindset of dependence on the strong and trampling the weak, becoming accomplices of the totalitarian rule of the Capitol.

This is the concentrated embodiment of the Panem’s terrorist totalitarian rule, representing an erroneous moral view that is anti-civilization and anti-human nature. It is a means of spiritual enslavement by the authoritarian rule. It can be said that the law of the jungle destroys the legitimacy of progressive civilization and hinders the awakening, resistance, and revolution of the populace.

Bai Yu’s Commentary: The meaning represented by the Hunger Games itself is the

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1

No matter whether a movie is good or bad, whether it caters to the times or gazes upon them, you can always discern certain clues and signs.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 is such a film that reflects the current living environment and condition of people.

In this film, the story is set in a technologically advanced era, but the development of technology has not brought about more goodness, instead exacerbating the gap between the rich and the poor, with the lower class even having to suffer hunger.

What’s even more cruel than hunger is that they could lose their lives at any moment. Because they are forced to participate in a deadly game.

In an era of consumerism, live streaming is ubiquitous. There are live broadcasts selling products, live broadcasts selling meat, and even live broadcasts of killings.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 depicts a “live-streamed killing” game. It is a “slaughter game” designed by the upper class, with the lower class being forced to participate.

This “live-streamed killing” game is no different in essence from the ancient Roman spectators watching the battles between men and beasts in the arena. Similarly, the people watching live broadcasts in front of the camera today and the people sitting in the arena thousands of years ago watching the battles between men and beasts are no different in essence.

Technological progress merely makes it more convenient for us to watch this kind of “competitive game.”

The rules of this “competitive game” are simple: place several lower-class individuals together and force them to kill each other, with the last person standing being the winner. It follows an ancient law of the jungle: survival of the fittest.

The fact that this bloody game has continued for thousands of years begs the question: what does it signify?

It signifies that humans are inherently bloodthirsty and naturally inclined towards violence. This is human nature.

From animals to gods, the bloodthirsty nature of humans has not changed, which is why war has never ceased, and killing has never ceased. This small-scale “competitive game” is merely a substitute for war.

In other words, this game has never stopped because humans need it. Just as from the perspective of human civilization, war is necessary and cannot be eradicated.

Therefore, President Snow, an upper-class individual, initially opposes this game but eventually becomes a supporter and designer of this game.

His transformation is crucial to understanding the entire film and is also where the problem lies in the film.

Whether as a supporter or a designer, he is not resolute. He has always been an observer.

In this game, all he wants is to win, to survive.

President Snow comes from a fallen noble family and is financially constrained. He wears shirts that have been altered by his sister.

His dependent grandmother and sister have no financial means, and the entire family relies on his scholarship to get by.

And he participates in this “competitive game” in order to obtain the scholarship.

In order to win, he must gain the trust of Lucy Gray, a lower-class individual from District 12.

So, he actively cares for her, approaches her, and helps her at all costs, even if it means cheating, getting injured, or being punished. It is all for the sake of winning.

When he takes the initiative to get to know her, he finds Lucy Gray’s voice very captivating and able to resonate with the masses.

When Lucy Gray sacrifices the chance to escape in order to save him, she sings her feelings in front of the camera, and he notices that the viewers, especially female viewers, shed tears of sympathy.

From that moment on, President Snow understands that Lucy Gray’s true lethal weapon is her singing voice.

What is important is that he realizes the audience enjoys watching this kind of violent game.

Through a chance event, he also discovers his own bloodthirsty nature.

When he is forced into the “arena” to save his classmate, he accidentally kills someone.

After killing, what he feels is not fear and guilt, but rather exhilaration and a sense of control. In other words, he experiences the power of authority.

So, when he kills again for the second time, he does it smoothly. When he picks up the gun and shoots the district mayor’s daughter who wanted to expose him, he remains calm.

The bloodthirstiness of humans is not only evident in President Snow, but also in the participants of the game.

For Lucy Gray, the biggest threat among all the participants is the short-haired woman wearing a plaid shirt.

She possesses a natural leadership quality and after the game starts, she quickly rallies the remaining few people to attack Lucy Gray together.

In this siege, she demonstrates excitement and ruthlessness.

When Lucy Gray hides, she leads her companions to kill the remaining few. As the number of competitors decreases, she mercilessly kills her followers.

In order to survive, she is willing to kill anyone. She is the strongest and most determined to survive. So, when she is attacked by a group of snakes in the end, she struggles fiercely because she is unwilling to give up.

On the other hand, there is the man wearing a hat.

He gathers the bodies of several participants and arranges them neatly, finally placing the Congressional flag over the bodies.

Then, he stands up and glares angrily at the camera, expressing his anger towards the game. Every viewer is made to feel ashamed by his silent glare.

In the end, when he is besieged by a group of snakes, he still looks directly at the camera without making a sound.

He is a truly brave person who still retains human conscience and nobility.

As for Lucy Gray, among the remaining competitors, she uses almost all poisonous methods, including the poison given to her by President Snow.

Even the reason the group of snakes stops attacking her in the end and instead entangles her is because of the effect of President Snow’s poison.

Her singing voice is meant to stir up the viewers' emotions, and in the end, under this intense public sentiment, the designer of the game has no choice but to spare her life.

One could say that all of this was within President Snow’s expectations, as he designed the strategy for the latter half of the game.

In reality, he doesn’t believe in anyone, so he always keeps an ace up his sleeve.

For example, he knows that Lucy Gray cheated, but he still leaves her a bottle of poison.

For example, he knows that his good friend trusts him wholeheartedly and reveals the escape plan of the lower-class individuals to him, but he still records their conversation.

Later on, not only does he record the conversation, but he also sends it to the highest designer of the game, the female doctor. For this, he causes the death of his most trusted friend.

In the end, because of exposing his friend’s deeds, he successfully returns to the Capitol district.

The Purpose of the Hunger Games: Punishment and Betrayal

I haven’t seen the previous installment, so I won’t combine it with the previous one.

Let’s just talk about the details of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1”.

Why make the Hunger Games?

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The principal said: When I was young and drunk, I came up with this plan - I want the rebels to always remember their crimes.

The principal wants to punish the rebels.

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Doctor Gao Shi: He talks about ratings on one hand, and teases the male lead on the other, making the male lead think for himself.

Dr. Gao Shi’s intentions are not very clear.

Ratings is just one aspect.

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Why are the participants in the Hunger Games called “tributes” - to punish the rebellious acts of District 12.

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As a mentor, the male lead selects the female tribute. The female tribute wins and survives.

Because of cheating, the male lead is exiled to the border to become a guard for 20 years.

At this point, we thought this matter was over.

The male lead’s good friend follows him to exile in District 12.

The male lead and the female lead reunite and fall in love.

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The rich second-generation friend starts causing trouble in order to “save” people, ignoring the male lead’s safety concerns - the male lead betrays his good friend.

The male lead sends the recording of his good friend’s betrayal to Dr. Gaul.

Because of the crimes of betrayal and killing the District 12 mayor’s daughter, the good friend is executed.

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The male lead and the female lead plan to run away together.

On the way, the male lead obtains a crucial fake identification - the female lead realizes that the male lead has a choice and no longer wants to escape with her, and the male lead realizes that the female lead has started to doubt him. And so, the male lead decides to kill the female lead.

After shooting the female lead (who goes missing), the male lead successfully clears his name and returns to Dr. Gaul’s side.

At this point, Dr. Gaul once again emphasizes the purpose of the Hunger Games - always be prepared to betray each other.

Love and friendship are not worth mentioning in the Hunger Games.

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People always surpass themselves, but only after reflection; they weigh their thoughts and actions and then act. They show their intentions through their expressions and voice before they express them in words.

When you cannot solve the problems at home, foreigners become invincible; when the country is in a constant state of crisis, it will perish.

Then you will know that one is born from hardship and dies from comfort.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - A Journey into the Demon’s Growth

Since the release of the first film “The Hunger Games” in Mainland China in 2012, it has been 11 years since we have been able to see this series on the big screen, and the level of surprise is beyond words.

The core theme of dystopia, the thrilling elements of real-life survival games, and the intellectual impact and lasting power brought by the interplay of human nature have made this IP popular worldwide, with the series grossing nearly 3 billion globally.

As a prequel to this series, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” shifts the focus to President Snow’s youth. It is not only very friendly to non-fans, requiring little prior knowledge, but also allows the audience to have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the growth and birth of a devil (PS: The male protagonist, Snow, is the extremely evil old man in the series).

Before watching the movie, I didn’t really understand why a successful female-led movie like this was transformed into a male-led movie. But at that moment when I finished watching, I suddenly realized that Snow’s journey from an ambitious student to a devil trapped in the quagmire of desire is nothing but moving the Hunger Games arena from a physical battlefield to everyone’s hearts.

The biggest difference from the previous series of movies is that this time, the mentors and tributes are bound together. The success or failure of the tributes directly affects the mentors' success or failure. This forms a three-tier relationship between the audience, mentors, and tributes, with the higher-level audience watching as the mentors guide the lower-level tributes while they fight and please.

It is precisely because of this three-tier relationship that the entire movie is filled with conspiracy everywhere. Trust between individuals collapses under fear and oppression, gradually turning into manipulation and calculation, and survival becomes everyone’s ultimate goal.

You may wonder, what about the higher-level audience? What do they have to worry about?

I think Snow’s ending gives the best answer. Even if he reaches the higher levels, he still has to live under the nightmare of the female protagonist. Even if he completes the cycle with his father, he still has to succumb to fear and power.

Imagine this, as we strive and struggle in the workplace, aren’t we also engaging in a “Hunger Games” with our colleagues? Aren’t the frenzy of competition and the invisible weapons used against us just like being slashed with knives and axes?

The viewers are also participants, and I think this is the true message that this movie wants to convey.

Father’s Name: Crassus Snow, a Powerful General in Rome

The father of the male protagonist is named Crassus Snow, sharing the same name as the Roman consul contemporaneous with Caesar. In the film, he is also a high-ranking and influential general. Nowadays, his son engages in arena battles with tributes/slaves.

Film Summary: Male Protagonist, Soviet Influence, Practicality, Deception, Female Protagonist, Environmental Activism, Escape, Lack of Rebellion, Gypsy-like Identity.

1. At the beginning, the male protagonist was still at someone’s home, and when the fluorescent tube clock appeared, I noticed that the Soviet flavor became stronger as I looked at the buildings in the congressional district. (Fluorescent tubes are special products of the Soviet Union).

2. Actually, the male protagonist’s character didn’t change quickly. From beginning to end, he was quite pragmatic. The following points 3-5 serve as evidence:

3. At the beginning, the male protagonist told the President’s son that he was just pretending to be a rich second generation.

4. When the female protagonist was singing on television, the male protagonist’s first reaction was to observe the reactions of the people around him.

5. In the end, he eloped with the female protagonist because he couldn’t find the gun, and he had leverage over him.

6. The girl with the Chinese face claimed that she wrote the report, although it may seem stereotypical, I think it’s something a “banana person” can do.

7. The female protagonist is truly complex. She appeared at the beginning like a warrior, then became a group of hypocrites, and in the end, it was unclear whether she was really using the male protagonist. It gives the feeling of a puppet manipulated like an “environmental girl.” Singing in front of the camera really resembled “how dare you!!”.

8. It turns out that she can escape!!! Leave this country!!! I don’t remember the storyline of the original work, but this escape is truly remarkable. Emigrate to a beautiful country.

9. Some film reviews talk about resistance and struggle, but this movie has no hint of resistance. Throughout the entire film, it’s all about submission and taking whatever comes. The transformation of a wealthy heir. I estimate that most of these critics are just trying to make a fuss…

10. The female protagonist’s character as a wandering singer makes it hard for people not to associate her with the Roma people, which is also one of the reasons for her complex personality.

That’s all for now. Overall, I think the movie is still enjoyable.

A love story doomed by a totalitarian regime.

In the first act of the story, the young male protagonist and his sister were searching for food in the square at night. In the middle of the square, there was a sculpture called “Group of Children Playing with Crocodile,” which was located in the center of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad).

After the war, the sculpture in the new city district was replaced with a statue of a goddess holding two swords. This statue, called “Motherland Calls,” was also from Volgograd and is located on Mamayev Kurgan.

The round helmets worn by the guards in the congressional area resemble the Soviet SSH60 steel helmet.

In the 1984 film, “1984,” the flags worn by the Oceanian flag guardians were similar to these helmets.

The 12th district security forces wear wide-brimmed hats, which are high and large, resembling North Korean military caps.

The congressional area extensively uses Roman columns, which both Hitler and Stalin liked.

The congressional area loves displaying large flags, just like the Nazis.

The Benefactor State is a combination of the congressional area and the 12th district, while the Soviet Union absorbed the blood of both Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the blood of various member countries. There are also monotowns like Volcuta, which are pure resource-industrial cities built by prisoners, and they are worse than the 12th district.

In conclusion, I believe that the story of this film takes place in a brutal civil war that occurred in the Soviet Union/Russia. The winner of the “Battle Royale” is a totalitarian regime similar to the English Socialist Party, which, when applied to Russia, would be something like Rozhdestvensky or one of those orthodox dictator types. It’s the most scornful kind. This is bad news for the “Honnorians” (fans of Honkai Impact).

The methods used by the Nazis in Germany and the Communists in Russia are very similar to ours, but they have never had the courage to admit their motives. They pretend, perhaps even believe, that they have seized power unwillingly and for a limited time and that just around the corner there will be a paradise where human beings will be free and equal. We are not like that. We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it. Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.
— 1984

When I saw that the main characters met under the hanging man tree, I realized that their fate would likely be similar to that of Winston and Julia, so let’s use their conversation as the ending.

“I betrayed you,” she said casually.
“I betrayed you,” he said.
She glanced swiftly at him, as though verifying the truth of what he had said.
“Sometimes,” she said, “they threaten you with something – something you can’t stand up to, can’t even think about. And then you say, ‘Don’t do it to me, do it to somebody else, do it to so-and-so.’ And perhaps you might pretend afterwards that it was only a trick and that you just said it to make them stop and didn’t really mean it. But that isn’t true. At the time when it happens you do mean it. You think there’s no other way of saving yourself, and you’re quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don’t give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself.
“All you care about is yourself,” he echoed.
“And after that, you don’t feel the same towards the other person any longer."
“No,” he said, “you don’t feel the same."
There did not seem to be anything more to say. The wind plastered their thin overalls against their bodies. Almost at once it became embarrassing to sit there in silence: besides, it was too cold to keep still. She said something about catching her Tube and stood up to go.
“We must meet again,” he said.
“Yes,” she said, “we must meet again."

Possibility of Accidental Snake Encounter

When my boyfriend picked up the scarf he had given me, he was bitten by a snake that was inside it. Without hesitation, he pointed the gun at me, believing that I had set a trap for him.

Is it possible that the scarf was just accidentally dropped by me, and a snake happened to crawl into it?

The Hunger Games Prequel: Personal Struggles and Brutal Escape.

Let’s put it this way, the biggest question after watching the movie is the so-called “open ending”?

1. Did Lucy really want to try to kill Snow? Why? Or was she really just going out to pick vegetables?
2. Did Snow kill Lucy in the end? Is there really a romance between them?

I think these two questions arise because of the limitations of filming the movie. Movies cannot have clear psychological descriptions like language does, and Susan’s books are known for their extensive psychological descriptions. This is also why readers who have finished reading the main novels feel that the film adaptation is average and fails to capture the essence.

Susan’s Hunger Games novels target young adults, so the focus of the books is on personal redemption and growth, rather than the Hunger Games themselves. However, the movies need to highlight the cruelty of the Hunger Games and the so-called political undertones to enhance the sci-fi aspect of the film (especially the complex game rules and futuristic technology in the main novels, which lead to a reduction in emotional descriptions). This creates a different atmosphere between the movies and the books, with one emphasizing personal growth and interpersonal suspicions, while the other focuses on brutal killing scenes. (Those who have read the original work should know that Susan’s descriptions of bloody scenes are very subtle, to the extent that even elementary school students can watch them.)

In this prequel movie of the Hunger Games, I saw a very exciting portrayal of personal emotions and struggles, highlighting the characters' inner thoughts and personal growth rather than just the surface-level Hunger Games competition. In this regard, I am quite satisfied with this movie, as it exceeded my expectations.

Now let me talk about my own perspective. The order in which I have consumed the Hunger Games series is as follows: 1) I have read the main novels of the Hunger Games multiple times. 2) I have watched the main Hunger Games tetralogy (not in the cinema). 3) I have watched this prequel movie. In other words, I have not read the prequel novel, which is why I had the questions at the beginning of this article. It also made me very eager to see how the relationship between the two main characters is described in the book, in order to resolve these initial questions.

So, let me share my conclusions first:

1. Yes. Lucy wanted to harm Snow in order to create an opportunity for herself to escape, but she didn’t want to kill him. In the novel, the doctor tells the injured Snow that his fainting is purely due to his own mental stress, not from a venomous snake.

Lucy didn’t go out to pick vegetables. The thing that looks like a hole in the movie is actually footprints in the novel.

2. The ending is open. In the novel, it also has an open ending, only mentioning Lucy’s voice heard by others when shot. She disappears completely, which is why the 10th Hunger Games in the main series has a complete blank, which is what Snow hoped for (Lucy never appearing again, erasing their criminal past together…). She could have escaped, or she could have received a box lunch. (I think she probably escaped, and Snow didn’t hit her.)

As for whether there is romance between the two of them, I wasn’t sure when watching the movie. In the movie, it is certain that there is a crush between them, but there are doubts as to whether this infatuation has developed into love. Firstly, both of their feelings come from extreme self-protection, and their concern for each other arises from being comrades in fate (also due to their looks, not just because of love at first sight like Peeta’s feelings towards Katniss in the main series). Moreover, it is hard to imagine that the son of a nobleman from the Capitol would fall in love with a girl from the poorest District 12 under such circumstances, with such a class difference making it difficult for this relationship to develop.

Also, in the movie, Snow’s initial kindness towards Lucy was also based on his cousin’s advice, and it was only to secure a scholarship (for survival), which is why in the first kissing scene in the movie, Lucy initiates it but Snow avoids it. Later, in District 12, Snow gradually falls in love with Lucy, but during their second kiss, Lucy avoids it. This implies a lack of trust between them and hints at their eventual separation. So, the movie portrays the romance between them as ambiguous, push-pull, and distorted. (Additionally, when Lucy sings a love song to Snow in District 12, Snow moves away and Lucy looks disappointed, which, of course, is a plot device to lead to the murder scene, but it also suggests that the lyrics of the love song are ironic and not as innocent as snow.)

However, in the novel, the romance between them has a clear definition. Snow does love Lucy, and this love makes him somewhat irrational, but he still cannot let go of power. But Lucy seems cunning and ambiguous; she seems to also love her ex-boyfriend (this ambiguity is similar to what Susan often does in her books, where she likes to make one person’s feelings clear to readers while leaving the other person’s feelings open for interpretation, similar to how Peeta’s feelings towards Katniss are portrayed in the main series). In my opinion, this can be understood as “not enough love,” otherwise, she wouldn’t sing the songs her ex-boyfriend wrote for her every day, nor would she suddenly run away… (On one hand, the movie mentions that Lucy is suspicious of Snow after hearing the principal’s bad words about him when he sends her home. On the other hand, Lucy herself is smart and has guessed some things (which I will explain later).

Alright, now that I have answered the questions, let me point out some differences between the movie and the novel:

1. In the novel, Lucy is described as “smart, cunning, and ruthless,” and unlike in the movie, Lucy’s performance in the 10th Hunger Games is not as innocent (she accidentally kills people, there is no deliberate act of killing). In the novel, Snow has memories of how cold-blooded she was when killing in the arena. First, the physically weak Wo-Vee, whom he had never seen committing such a ruthless act. Then, she cleverly got rid of Crispus in a calculated manner, luring him to attack her and then using the snake she had hidden in her pocket. And she claimed that she killed Leopold out of kindness because he had rabies, but who knows what the truth really is?

So, Lucy is not innocent; she is a victorious tribute in the cruel Hunger Games, as she says in the movie, “Don’t worry, I’m not made of sugar.” This also sets the stage for her realization at the end that the third person Snow killed was his close friend, prompting her to escape. She doesn’t know how to use a gun, as neither of them had any prior knowledge. Lucy’s escape is because she realizes that Snow has killed his close friend, not because of the terrifying expression Snow has when he finds the guns (the male lead’s expression in the movie does mislead a bit).

Now, let’s talk about the actors:

The male lead did a really great job, in my opinion. (Except for the fact that he somewhat resembles Hu Ge.) But after seeing the actor’s real photos, I realized that he doesn’t look as handsome as he does in the movie, especially without blond hair. I have to admire the stylist; Tom himself doesn’t look as aristocratic with black hair (even though it doesn’t affect his handsomeness).

As for the female lead… well, when I watched the movie, I felt like she wasn’t a professional actress, and I was right; she is a singer and songwriter. It just… gave me a feeling that she wasn’t fully invested in The Hunger Games, and I could tell that she knew she wouldn’t die, giving me a lack of tension. I think the sister from the fishing district acted better, giving a sense of real despair and abnormality. I want to give her a special mention.

Here, I have to say, “the older cousin is really strong.” I didn’t know she was so attractive until now. At that time, I even thought she wasn’t as kind as Katniss.

Also, the songs in this movie are a bit too long. It really gives off a feeling of “can you please stop singing?” while other people are killing each other in The Hunger Games. Your singing is very joyful… (and very flashy… especially after the games, I couldn’t really see the shadow of trauma on you.)

Finally, before watching this prequel, I recommend that everyone:

1. Watch the main Hunger Games tetralogy at least once. Otherwise, you won’t understand anything and it will be very confusing.

2. If you want to better understand The Hunger Games series, you must read the novels. The Hunger Games, as a young adult series, focuses on the self-discovery and growth of young people. This is why the prequel is about the young Snow. It’s not just a random story like Smith’s (a mentor in the 50th Hunger Games, the only champion from District 12 at that time, since Lucy disappeared).

3. In other words, The Hunger Games is more than just The Hunger Games; it focuses on the self-awareness of young people. This is why I feel that this prequel allowed me to see the shadow of the novel, even though the movie still has many limitations in portraying character psychology (as evident from the ambiguity surrounding the two important questions at the beginning). Nevertheless, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a successful adaptation of a novel into a movie.

I recommend that everyone watch it, especially young adults. Remember, as the movie says, in this world we live in, isn’t it also a Hunger Games? Everyone’s life is just about surviving (or surviving well).

The Voice of the Beauty

Beautiful Girl’s Song

A beautiful girl’s song is like a gentle breeze, It carries the melody, touching the hearts of many.

Her voice, so pure and clear, Resonates with emotions, drawing us near.

With each note, she unveils a world unseen, Where dreams come alive, and hope reigns supreme.

As she sings, the lyrics dance in the air, Telling stories of love, sorrow, and despair.

Her talent, a gift, bestowed upon her, Brings joy and solace, like a comforting blur.

In a crowded room, all eyes are on her, Captivated by her charm, her voice so tender.

We listen, enchanted, as she pours her soul, Her music connecting us, making us whole.

A beautiful girl’s song transcends all boundaries, Uniting people through its universal harmonies.

So let her voice soar, let her melodies ring, For in her song, true beauty we shall bring.