By Bob Garver Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” did rather well for itself over Thanksgiving weekend, opening in the #2 position at the domestic box office behind the second weekend of the new “Hunger Games.” A debut at #2 behind a not-particularly-beloved returning champion may not sound impressive, but my prediction was that it wouldn’t even finish in the top three. The film is a three-hour, R-rated historical epic that isn’t getting great reviews or generating much Oscars buzz outside of the technical categories. I thought for sure its performance would pale in comparison to family-friendly fare like “Wish” or “Trolls Band Together.” Yet the film pulled what I would consider a major upset over those seemingly surefire hits. Something tells me that Napoleon himself would have a hard time hiding a smirk over how badly I underestimated his biopic. The movie follows Napoleon Bonaparte (Joaquin Phoenix) from his days as a gunnery officer watching the execution of Marie Antoinette to his rise in the military to General to his participation in a coup that sees him become Emperor of France to his eventual downfall, exile, and worst of all, defeat. We never see him as a child or any version of him that can’t plausibly be played by Joaquin Phoenix. Again, if the real Napoleon was anything like the way Phoenix plays him, I bet he’d agree with that decision – skip the humble beginnings and start from one of the most important events in history and go from there. As with most biopics, half the movie is a love story. He woos a widow named Josephine (Vanessa Kirby), who does not initially believe he is who he says he is. I suppose he’s attracted to the challenge. The two have a rocky relationship fraught with obstacles, such as long stretches apart, infertility, affairs on both their parts, and his megalomaniacal nutjob personality. The real Napoleon might begrudgingly concede some wrongdoing in the relationship, though I’m sure he would vehemently object to his portrayal in the couple’s intimacy scenes. Right or wrong, it’s the sort of thing one invariably denies. Director Scott wants the audience to care about the relationship, and especially Josephine as a character. As with “The Last Duel,” the film chides history buffs that ignore the female perspective. But people aren’t coming to this movie for the relationship, they’re coming for the battle scenes, and there are plenty of them. There’s no shortage of shootings and skewerings, but it’s the cannons that do the most damage, especially when the venue is a frozen lake and the cannons can shatter the entire battlefield. And the less said about what a cannonball does to a horse in one scene, the better. The real Napoleon would probably nitpick some details, but overall approve of the grand scale of these scenes. There are so many battle scenes in “Napoleon” that I was actually tired of them by the movie’s end. I found myself nodding off during the Battle of Waterloo, and then I had no problem making it through a scene of Napoleon eating breakfast the next morning. The relationship stuff drags too, and the film keeps introducing new characters and can’t make any of them interesting or memorable to save its life. It can’t even make Napoleon himself that interesting, though Phoenix plays the character with some endearingly insecure touches. Basically, there’s too much of too much here. The real Napoleon would probably approve of all the excess, though even he might think the movie wastes an excessive amount of time. Grade: C- “Napoleon” is rated R for strong violence, some grisly images, sexual content and brief language. Its running time is 158 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu

The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) has named Mississippi School of the Arts educator Tobie Lambert a grant winner. The funds will help her establish an instructional training program for ACT college entrance examinations. The Society recognizes top educators who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to education and commitment to helping students achieve academic success. “On behalf of NSHSS and our co-founder Claes Nobel, a member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, I am honored to recognize the hard work, passion, and commitment that Tobie Lambert has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of educational excellence,” said NSHSS co-founder and President James W. Lewis. “Tobie is now a member of a unique community of educators — a community that represents our very best hope for the future. We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development. We also help educators like Tobie Lambert foster academic success by connecting them with learning experiences and resources to help with meaningful initiatives in their classrooms and schools. NSHSS Educators constantly inspire our community through their daily dedication to students and their commitment to help students achieve academic success.” “As a public school that accepts students based on artistic potential instead of academic prowess, MS School of the Arts’ student population is diverse, not only demographically but also academically,” Lambert noted. “I am excited to put this grant toward ACT instructional training as I institute a program that offers free, professional, after-school ACT prep for students who want to improve their scores but may not have the financial means or transportation to access help. ACT prep can be expensive. By providing more inclusive access to individualized ACT prep, we will, in turn, help students earn more scholarships and graduate college with less debt. The impact could be felt on a very real and practical level.” Lambert is a National Board-Certified English and literature instructor with 18 years of experience at both the secondary and collegiate levels. She is from Silver Creek, Mississippi, and has an eighteen-year-old daughter. She was awarded the Mississippi School of the Arts Teacher of the Year (2018), Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction (2019), Claes Nobel Educator of the Year (2020), Mississippi Professional Educator’s National Board-Certified Teachers’ Diverse Practitioner Scholarship Award (2020), and was recognized as a S.T.A.R. Teacher (2022). She is currently the English instructor/department head at Mississippi School of the Arts and an adjunct instructor for Copiah-Lincoln Community College. She teaches Dual Enrollment English Composition I and II, AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, English III, and English IV. She is also the Beta Club sponsor and participates in MSA’s Annual Grief Retreat where she instructs seminars on grief journaling and its benefits. NSHSS is the premier honors and scholarship program co-founded by Claes Nobel, the senior member of the Nobel Prize family, and James Lewis. NSHSS offers a lifetime of benefits, pairing the highest performing students worldwide with high school and college scholarships, events, connections, internships, and career opportunities that begin in high school and carry on through college and careers. For more information, visit https://www.nshss.org

As the holiday season unfolds, New Life Cathedral of Worship is poised to make Christmas come alive in a unique and innovative way with their Drive-thru Live Nativity event. On December 8, from 6 PM to 9 PM, the grounds of New Life Cathedral of Worship will be transformed into a mesmerizing journey through the timeless scenes of the nativity, all from the safety and comfort of your car. This one-night-only event promises to be a magical experience for individuals and families alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to drive through carefully crafted scenes depicting the key moments of the Christmas story, from the humble manger to the arrival of the Three Wise Men. To ensure that the magic of Christmas is not dampened by weather, New Life Cathedral of Worship has a backup plan in case of rain. If the skies open up on December 8, the event will be rescheduled for December 15, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy and wonder of the Drive-thru Live Nativity. So, mark your calendars for December 8, gather your loved ones, and set out on a magical journey to Bethlehem at New Life Cathedral of Worship's Drive-thru Live Nativity. It's a night of enchantment, celebration, and the true spirit of Christmas, all from the comfort of your car.

Here’s what happens so often. A person becomes an adult, marries, has children, grows ill or old, and dies. Then the family of the deceased comes together to grieve, and to then plan the funeral. The flower shop gets notified to send flowers, and they all attend the service where the bouquets are usually on display. Afterwards, they often follow the casket to the burial site and watch attentively as the flowers they ordered are placed on the grave. Then the family slowly and mournfully walks away, to grieve and attempt to somehow get on with their lives again. Putting the pieces back together somehow, so they can begin living day to day. But without the one they lost. A life over, body buried, love expressed by the beautiful bouquets of flowers that were laid on the fresh grave. This is a repeated heart-wrenching scenario in this country when we lose a loved one. Flowers ordered and placed on the grave. And honestly, because it has happened with such regular frequency throughout time, it is accepted as the normal way to honor those we lose to death. But I would love to see a different scenario. One that isn’t dependent just upon flowers placed on a lonely grave to express our love and grief for the person we lost. We need to acknowledge something…our loved one who died can’t see those flowers! They are incapable of inhaling the gorgeous scent, nor are they able to feel the heartbreaking sadness in our spirit as we gaze down at the flowers placed on their grave. They have no way of looking into our eyes and seeing the love that those flowers represent. It is too late to tell them, to hug them, to express our love and appreciation for what they have meant to us. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Don’t wait and send beautiful flowers to be placed on the grave. Send the flowers now, while they can still see the vibrant colors, while they can bury their nose in them to catch the fragrance. Go to their side and whisper ‘I love you so much,” while they are still living and can smile into your eyes, hug you tightly and say, “I love you too.” We are missing out on a chance to possibly mend a splintered relationship, or express our deep tender feelings, or to show our appreciation for a life that intersected with ours - by waiting to simply send flowers that get placed on a silent grave. I’m not saying to quit sending flowers to honor the loss of someone you loved and respected - not at all. But I am saying this. Give verbal flowers and warm hugs now, while that individual is still breathing, alert and alive. While they can hear and feel your love surrounding them. We are missing out on so much, by just sending flowers to be placed on a grave.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Child Nutrition is seeking sponsors to operate the 2024 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in counties across the state of Mississippi. The federally funded program provides nutritious meals to children during school vacation periods, though the program operates from June through August in most areas of Mississippi. Meals and snacks are served to children in places such as schools, churches, playgrounds, libraries and parks. Public or private nonprofit schools; units of local, municipal, county or state government; residential summer camps; and public or private nonprofit organizations may qualify as sponsors of the program. To be eligible, potential sponsors must: Be currently licensed through the State Department of Health Possess a current food permit Show you are financially and administratively capable of operating the program Provide continuing services to the community Serve meals on a regular schedule to children or provide meals as part of an organized program for enrolled children at camps New and returning sponsors are encouraged to attend a virtual training session set for Thursday, Jan. 11. For additional training information, contact SFSP Outreach Coordinator April D. Catchings at acatchings@mdek12.org or call (601) 576-5000. More information about the SFSP may be accessed through the USDA website at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/summer-food-service-program. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Full nondiscrimination statement: https://www.fns.usda.gov/civil-rights/usda-nondiscrimination-statement-other-fns-programs. Find all MDE news releases at mdek12.org/news.

Dr. Amanda Hood is the new Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin. Dr. Hood previously served as Director of eLearning responsible for the coordination of all online college programs, served as the district-wide learning management system administrator, trained faculty and staff in instructional design, managed eResource implementation for all online courses, and supervised the eLearning office staff and proctored testing. She has been employed at Co-Lin since 2011, beginning as a mathematics instructor and academic advisor on the college’s Natchez Campus. At Natchez, she also served as a Phi Theta Kappa advisor and director of the Southwest Regional Science Olympiad. In January of 2018, Dr. Hood transferred to the Wesson Campus to begin serving as Director of eLearning. “We are fortunate to have Dr. Amanda Hood at Co-Lin and are excited for the new role she will begin as Dean of Academic Instruction,” said Dr. Dewayne Middleton, Co-Lin President. “Dr. Hood’s strong work ethic, expertise, and dedication to our college are evident to all who work with her. I feel confident she will continue to move our academic programs in a positive direction as we look for new ways to serve our students.” The Dean of Academic Instruction oversees all academic instructional divisions and programs, eLearning and the associate degree nursing program; and supervises all academic division chairpersons and faculty members on the Wesson Campus, the director of library resources and library staff, and associate degree nursing director and instructors. As Dean, Dr. Hood will also monitor all student academic advisement, maintain and update academic programs of study to align with the articulation agreement and ensure articulation and transfer matters are current. “We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Amanda Hood as our Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin,” said Jackie Martin, Co-Lin Wesson Campus Vice President. “An esteemed alum, Dr. Hood's journey has come full circle, bringing her back to lead our academic endeavors. With a distinguished background as a dedicated math instructor and eLearning Director, she embodies our commitment to academic excellence and innovation. Her deep connection to our institution, combined with her passion for education, makes her the ideal leader to inspire and guide our students, faculty, and institution toward new heights of achievement.” A 2000 graduate of Co-Lin, Dr. Hood earned a bachelor’s degree in foreign language and international trade and a master’s degree in teaching arts from Mississippi College, and went on to earn her doctorate degree from Mississippi State University in community college leadership. Dr. Hood’s many awards and achievements include Co-Lin Outstanding Staff Member, the Horizon Award from MS/LA Region of Phi Theta Kappa, S.O.A.R. Golden Apple Award, and Outstanding Academic Faculty Advisor. She is a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy, Leadership Natchez, and the Community College Policy Fellows program. She currently serves as a Commissioner for the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. She is married to Charles Hood and has a stepdaughter, Lauren and two grandchildren, Bryson and Lilli.

By Kara Kimbrough It’s time for my annual “Please stop sending all your hard-earned money to large out-of-state conglomerates with no interest in Mississippi” plea. On a more positive note, I'm also asking you to at least consider baking some of your Christmas gifts. But first, the shopping dilemma. I don’t consider shopping at large supermarket and specialty chains located throughout our state a bad thing. They employ local residents, pay local and state taxes, support local causes and keep the economy strong. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: If we stop shopping with our local stores, we’ll be reduced to a nation of 18-wheelers (try traveling on crowded highways now for a preview) and empty cardboard box landfills. Last, for no other reason, shopping locally can be fun, invigorating (it’s free therapy!) and you actually get to see and touch firsthand the items you’re buying. With that out of the way, I’d also like to encourage everyone with a working oven to at least consider making homemade Christmas treats for friends, family, teachers, co-workers and bosses and others who deserve a pat on the back during the spirit of giving. Nothing says you care more than a bag filled with Christmas tins containing a few sweet treats you made yourself. This Christmas, I’m feeling nostalgic for a bygone era, so I began searching for tried-and-true Christmas treats that have withstood the test of time. Here are four of my favorites; I’ll share more as we get closer to Christmas. Last, don’t forget…do your part to keep your community viable and healthy...shop local! Rocky Road Fudge 12 ounces chocolate chips 1 cup butter 4 cups sugar 1-1/2 cups evaporated milk (not sweetened condensed milk) 1 teaspoon vanilla 20 large marshmallows, left whole 2 cups chopped nuts 10-15 large marshmallows cut into pieces (then freeze them) In large bowl, cut the chocolate chips into the butter. Set aside. Next, combine the sugar, milk and the 20 marshmallows to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour this mixture over the chocolate chips and butter mixture. Stir until thick. Add the nuts and the vanilla and the frozen marshmallows. Pour into buttered 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Chill until firm. Cut into squares. Candied Pecans ½ cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 large egg white 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 pound pecan halves (about 4 cups) Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a small bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the egg white and vanilla extract until very foamy, about 1 minute. Add the pecans and stir until well coated. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the pecans and toss until fully coated. Spread pecans into an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Stir and spread out evenly again. Bake for another 20 minutes or until the nuts are very fragrant and are starting to darken in color. Let the pecans fully cool in the pan on a wire rack (the sugar will harden as it cools). Break into individual pieces. Store in an airtight container in the pantry for up to 2 weeks. Old-Fashioned M & M Sugar Cookies 2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, softened just to room temp ⅔ cups sugar 1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding (dry powder) 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup white chocolate chips Shaker of red and green Christmas sprinkles or sugar Cup of red and green M&M's, divided In a large bowl, add flour, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together well and set aside. In bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter and sugar on medium high, until light and fluffy. Add pudding mix and beat until incorporated. Add eggs and vanilla extract, blending well. Slowly add in the flour mixture. Using rubber spatula, fold dry and wet ingredients together just until fully incorporated. Add the white chips and 1/2 cup M&Ms and mix into the dough. (If it gets too hard to mix, use clean hands) Gently work in 3 TB sprinkles, taking care not to manipulate the dough too much, which may result in the bleeding of sprinkle colors. Dough will be a bit sticky. Cover tightly and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Form 1 inch balls of dough and lightly press down on dough balls to form 1/2 inch rounds. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Sprinkle on more of the colored sprinkles on top (or lightly roll cookie tops in a bowl of sprinkles.) Press on the remaining 1/2 cup of M&M's on top of each dough round. Bake about 8 minutes or just until edges look golden brown. Cookies may seem slightly underdone, but they will firm up upon cooling. Don't over bake. Cool on baking sheet about 10 minutes, and remove to wire rack to finish cooling. Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer and travel agent from Mississippi. Email her at kkprco@yahoo.com.

With a 13-0 victory over Hinds Community College in its season finale, the Co-Lin Wolves are number five in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) football rankings and sit poised to meet all comers in the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) football playoffs at Stone Stadium in Wesson with an 8-1 overall record and 5-1 among their South Division opponents -- besting everyone else in the conference and division. On Saturday last week (November 4), the Wolves hosted Northwest in a MACCC semifinal game, the winner of which will play for the MACCC championship against the winner of Gulf Coast-East Mississippi -- both losers to Co-Lin in the regular season -- in another Saturday semifinal matchup. If Co-Lin won on Saturday, it hosts the championship game. Jones College, the only team to defeat Co-Lin during the regular season, will not be in this year’s playoffs with a 6-3 record. To get to the playoffs, Northwest Mississippi (7-2) defeated Northeast Mississippi 28-27 in overtime in its final game, while Gulf Coast beat Jones 23-0. East Mississippi (7-2) closed out its season with a 52-6 victory over Mississippi Delta. In Co-Lin’s finale against Hinds, the Wolves got 105 yards on the ground and one touchdown from sophomore running back Johnnie Daniels and a pair field goals from kicker Brandon Gilliam. Co-Lin’s season also included upset wins over East Mississippi (23-20) and Gulf Coast (28-23), an exciting overtime victory over East Central (40-34), wins over Mississippi Delta (34-7), Southwest (29-21), Coahoma (20-6) and Pearl River (33-9); and its sole loss to Jones College (42-32). This is the first time Co-Lin has played in the postseason since 2018 and in playoffs at home since 2014 when it beat Northwest 44-30.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told Mississippi business leaders he wants to make the state’s 15 two-year colleges tuition free. Speaking at the annual Mississippi Economic Council’s Hobnob event, designed to allow the state’s business leaders to hear from political leaders, Hosemann said providing free tuition for community college students would help grow the Mississippi economy. He said in recent years the Legislature has expanded public pre-kindergarten programs, and he believed expanding higher education opportunities is the next logical step. “We want to have the best economic life we can have for our citizens,” said Hosemann after his Hobnob speech at the Mississippi Coliseum. “You do that by educational opportunities.” According to Hosemann’s office, 28 counties already have put in place local programs to provide free community college tuition. Under Hosemann’s plan, those counties probably would be able to divert their funds to expanded educational opportunities for their citizens. Many of the counties offering free community college tuition are located in northeast Mississippi. In the past, Rep. Jerry Turner, R-Baldwyn, who represents a portion of northeast Mississippi, offered a proposal similar to Hosemann’s, but it did not make it through the legislative process. The program, which already is offered in some other states, is called “the Last Dollar” program. People entering community college are required to apply for any available grants and scholarships. The amount of the tuition not paid for by the grants and scholarships would be paid for by the state. Hosemann said a bill will be drafted to be considered during the 2024 session.The program would cost the state $25 million annually when fully enacted, Hosemann estimated. He also said most likely students would be required to meet certain standards in high school to be eligible for the program, and he said it would most likely be fashioned in a way to enhance opportunities for those going into high demand areas, such as medical fields. Hosemann already has met with the Community College Board to discuss the program.

During the fall and winter months, Mississippians need to prepare for respiratory viruses like influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and COVID-19, which tend to increase as more people gather indoors, the State Department of Health (MSDH) warns. Being aware of the risks and taking appropriate precautions will curb infections and severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death, health officials say. Simple steps that can be taken to prevent disease: stay home when you are ill, cover your coughs, and wash hands or use hand sanitizer often. This year, there are newly approved options for RSV prevention for certain at-risk individuals -- people aged 60 and older, pregnant individuals and infants or children 19 months and younger. MSDH recommends all individuals aged six months and older get an updated influenza and COVID-19 vaccination. These vaccinations are widely available at many pharmacies and healthcare provider offices. Children 18 years old and younger, as well as uninsured or underinsured adults, can receive influenza vaccinations at MSDH county health departments. "Early diagnosis and treatment can limit poor outcomes with influenza and COVID-19," said MSDH Interim State Epidemiologist Dr. Kathryn Taylor. "Vaccination against respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV remains the best protection against hospitalization and severe outcomes related to infection." For more information on county health department locations and services, visit HealthyMS.com/locations.

Co-Lin has been ranked number one for student success among Mississippi community colleges on the 2022 Report Card. Each year, all 15 Mississippi community colleges must provide data to the Mississippi Community College Board to be compiled into a Report Card as required by the Mississippi Legislature. On the recently released 2022 Report Card, Co-Lin had the highest percentage for student success of all 15 community colleges in the state, with a total student success rate of 66.4 percent, far exceeding the state average of 59.7 percent. Co-Lin also ranked second in the state in the student retention/progression category at 65.7 percent, again exceeding the state average of 60.2 percent. Additionally, Co-Lin came in third in the state in the adult education category with 61.9 percent of adult education participants showing measurable skills gained. Student success is captured as earned awards, transferred, or retained at the institution within 150 percent of expected time to graduation. Among all 15 community colleges in Mississippi, Co-Lin has the highest percentage of graduates. “We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding success of our students, whose achievements stand as a testament to their unwavering dedication and hard work along with faculty, staff, and administrators,” said Dr. Tiffany Perryman, Co-Lin Director of Institutional Effectiveness. “The data show why Co-Lin is truly ‘The Place To Be.’” Schedule a campus tour or apply now at www.colin.edu.

By Bob Garver I’ve been referring to this movie as “Hunger Game of Thrones.” It’s a prequel to “The Hunger Games,” but the influence of a certain HBO fantasy series is pretty apparent with the casting of Peter Dinklage and the “Song of Ice and Fire”-like subheading. I’ve seen it as little more than an attempt to combine two franchises that were wildly popular in their 2010’s heyday, but audiences have since left behind, frankly with a bad taste in their mouths after underwhelming finales. Watching the whole movie as opposed to gleaming the advertising does make it feel like less of an ill-advised cash grab, but still not great. We follow young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth), the son of a former President of Panem (formerly North America), as he struggles to restore his family’s name in a government that has barely rebuilt itself after the rebellion that killed his father. The rebellion ultimately failed, and every year each of the twelve remaining “Districts” have to send two child “Tributes” to the “Hunger Games” where they’ll battle to the “Death.” Sorry, I used quotes on that last one out of habit, they’ll battle to the death. The good news is that Snow lives in the Capitol, which doesn’t have the problems of the Districts, and he has the highest grades in his class, so he’s looking at a promising career. The bad news is that he and his remaining family are on the verge of financial ruin, and the school’s dean Casca Highbottom (Dinklage) has declared that lucrative grants are no longer given just for good grades. The only way to get a grant now is to mentor a Tribute into becoming the biggest spectacle of the Hunger Games – not necessarily the winner, but the biggest generator of public interest. Snow is randomly (or perhaps not – Highbottom hates him) assigned Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler) from District 12, the district with the lowest chance of winning. There’s no way she’ll last long in the Games, so Snow has to focus on making her popular in the media while she’s still alive. Lucy Gray has a nice singing voice, maybe Snow can exploit that. The Hunger Games have been going on for ten years at this point, yet somehow Snow’s idea of turning the Tributes into likeable characters is considered revolutionary, so much that it impresses Volumnia Gaul (Viola Davis), the Games’ sadistic overseer. She has a nasty surprise in store for the Tributes this year. It’s there in the movie’s title, and it’s not a ballad. Snow strives to make Panem fall in love with Lucy Gray, and in the process he falls in love with her. The film is divided into three chapters: Snow preparing Lucy Gray for The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games themselves, and… the events following The Hunger Games. I won’t get into spoilers, except to say that the third act is lengthy. I expected the movie to wrap up maybe ten minutes after the Hunger Games, which are its selling point, but it kept going. I suppose I should be grateful that this “Hunger Games” movie even contains the actual Hunger Games – both the third and fourth movies went without them – but the movie plods along afterward for an unnecessarily long time, especially considering that we know certain things will and won’t happen. The prequel aspect takes a lot of the suspense out of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” We know Snow will be alive 64 years in the future, and he’ll be President, so things will work out there. We can be less optimistic about the fates of his cousin Tigris (Hunter Schafer), his District-sympathizing friend Sejanus (Josh Andres Rivera), or Lucy Gray. Some of the action scenes work, some of the scenery-chewing from pros like Dinklage and Davis and Jason Schwartzman as the Games’ host is enjoyable, but mostly this movie is the unwelcome slog that I expected. Grade: C- “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content and disturbing material. Its running time is 157 minutes. Contact Bob Garver at rrg251@nyu.edu.