Srsly, what I feared would be just another big budget Hollywood shit piece taking advantage of a successful franchise (think Jar Jar Abrams getting his unleavened rat claws on Star Wars and the lackluster results), turned out to be quite affecting. It's probably the best Hunger Games installment. In short if you enjoyed the other films, you'll like this one. If you haven't seen the other films, then watching this one will make you want to watch them. For those who have seen the other films, be on the lookout for homages to the great Katniss.
"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" could just have easily been titled "The Birth of President Snow" <---SPOILER but anyone with a brain figures it out quite quickly and it is just as much an incentive to know so that you watch as it is a spoiler because knowing that going into the film doesn't spoil the grit and grime of seeing District 12 in a deeper light as well as a film rich in Humanity contrasted against the heartless yearly spectacle of hurling children into deadly gladiatorial games so that the State can gloat about its Victory over its rebellious provinces.