On Friday, Nov. 20, 2015, the world was watching as the final installment of The Hunger Games franchise premiered. Adapted from the novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 topped the box office this weekend with an incredible $101 million.

Francis Lawrence, who previously directed The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1, returned for his third time to deliver the epic final movie of an unbelievably brilliant franchise. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen, one of literature’s most powerful female protagonists, along with Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as Everdeen’s love interests Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne, respectively. Sam Claflin stars as the charming Finnick Odair, Julianne Moore returns as the determined President Alma Coin. Additionally, Woody Harrelson returns as Everdeen’s drunken mentor Haymitch, Donald Sutherland resumes his role as the well-hated antagonist President Snow, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman appears as Plutarch Heavensbee, one of the leaders of the rebellion.

The film picks up from where the last one ended. Right from the beginning, the movie does not disappoint. It dives right into the plot and doesn’t waste time. Many readers believe that the final novel in Collins’s series is not as exciting as the first two. Some even go as far as to say that it is an incredible disappointment on the author’s behalf. However you may feel about the book, it is no question that the movie makers excelled at bringing it to life. Every aspect of the film, from the writing to the producing, the make-up and the costumes, the music and the special effects, is both phenomenal and well-done. From a story that starts off a little slow, the movie is able to get everyone interested within the first few minutes.

The film is filled with constant twists and turns and every scene leaves you wanting more. It’s an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat type of movie with a hint of dramatic elements and emotional scenes. There are points that will leave you angry, sad, and even nervous. This movie is responsible for tying up any loose ends from the previous films, as any final installment should, and makes you wish there was another one coming out next year.
Ashley Gill and The Hunger Games fanatic Grant Gibbs, two students from Hillsborough High School, were lucky enough to score tickets to see the premiere of Mockingjay, Part 2 in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 16. The two friends found themselves on the red carpet of the premiere as the stars of the film were walking past them. When asked how he felt, Gibbs said, “Slightly starstruck! It was cool to see them in person because you spend most of the time seeing them through a screen.” They were privileged enough to be able to see the movie a week before it came to theaters.

No matter where or when you see the movie, it is guaranteed to blow your mind.