The final installment in the young adult blockbuster series, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay–Part 2, opened last weekend, bringing the series to a satisfying end four years in the making.

The book-to-movie transition was done really well (from the viewpoint of a fan of the book). It has the same feel and qualities as the book. The scenes, dialog and events were straight from the pages. Now, does this work as a film independent from the book? For a non-book-reader, this film could possibly be seen as a little long, kind of grim and silly at times.

The leading trio (Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth) have really stepped up their acting chops, allowing all of their characters to develop in new ways. In the film, we see more character development in Gale, improving upon his one dimensionality in the previous movies. A darker side of the kindhearted Peeta is seen for the first time in the series, and Hutcherson does an amazing job conveying the severity of the darkness. Katniss is still the reluctant heroine, but she is gaining more acceptance for that role and ultimately embraces her role as the Mockingjay.

Peeta and Gale, and Katniss for that matter, are different than typical movie characters. They are more realistic in the way that they are not insanely interesting and multidimensional. In essence, they are realistic book characters, and it does translate to the films, but this style of character is less attractive on screen. For film, characters have to pop off the screen and get audiences emotionally invested.

Mockingjay – Part 2 is definitely better than The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012), which was a lame and seemingly pointless conclusion to a young adult book adaptation. Although, it does not reach the level of the epic final installment Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, in 2011, which achieved success to through amazing directorship and stellar writing. While Mockingjay – Part 2 is a good movie in the franchise, it is still ranked beneath the second film in the series, Catching Fire, which many claim to be the best of the series.

The audience leaves the theater with a satisfied conclusion to a series four years and four films in the making. For dramatic action series like this one, it is important for audiences to feel that sense of completeness to be able to feel satisfied with the ending to years of they have invested in the content and characters. This movie is unusually satisfying and acceptable as a final installment.

Overall, the final film in The Hunger Games is faithful to the book and provides a grim and satisfying conclusion to the popular young adult franchise. The Hunger Games has started a rebellion of its own, leading the way for more dystopian young adult fiction to make its way to the big screen. For fans of The Hunger Games, there is a lot more content on the way from Hollywood to fill the hole this series will leave behind.