by Cookie N Screen
Oh have you heard of the latest and entirely original movie? It is based on the best-selling young adult novel set in a complete dystopian world where America has dissolved into a futuristic government. For a while, the idea works but our protagonist, albeit girl or boy, soon figures out that there is something much more sinister going on. As if they were the only person to see the cracks, they soon become the face of the rebellion with their edgy personality that makes them stand out from the crowd. Oh, and they are caught in a love triangle and fall head first in love with the only male character who is supposedly 18 but looks 30.
Feels fresh, right?
Oh have you heard of the latest and entirely original movie? It is based on the best-selling young adult novel set in a complete dystopian world where America has dissolved into a futuristic government. For a while, the idea works but our protagonist, albeit girl or boy, soon figures out that there is something much more sinister going on. As if they were the only person to see the cracks, they soon become the face of the rebellion with their edgy personality that makes them stand out from the crowd. Oh, and they are caught in a love triangle and fall head first in love with the only male character who is supposedly 18 but looks 30.
Feels fresh, right?
Obviously I’m joking, but now it’s time for the release of Divergent, a movie based on the best-selling young adult book series set in a futuristic Chicago. The whole city has been sectioned into fractions: Amity; the friendly and caring fraction, Abnegation; the selfless and giving fraction; Erudite, the knowledgeable and thinking fraction, Candor; the honest and truth speaking pack and Dauntless; the brave and fearless pack. Each believe that their world views are right. Young Tris wants to be a Dauntless, coming from Abnegation and at some sort of blood shedding ceremony, she becomes one. But one fraction is trying to take over and destroy another fraction and Tris, who can control her fears which means she is super important, is the only one who can rise against it.
Yawn. This movie takes something entirely different and diverges it (ha) into something tragically plain. The originality of the factions is wasted on characterisation that we have seen before. The fact that it is unnecessarily over two hours long makes it drag on at such a slow pace that the idea gets lost in a lot of preposition. The final excitement takes place in the last twenty minutes and feels forced into the pretty tale about the girl growing up and discovering herself. Divergent feels heinously dull, with no excitement. Compare it, obviously, to The Hunger Games where the true drama hits within minutes of the film and the investment just isn’t there.
Yawn. This movie takes something entirely different and diverges it (ha) into something tragically plain. The originality of the factions is wasted on characterisation that we have seen before. The fact that it is unnecessarily over two hours long makes it drag on at such a slow pace that the idea gets lost in a lot of preposition. The final excitement takes place in the last twenty minutes and feels forced into the pretty tale about the girl growing up and discovering herself. Divergent feels heinously dull, with no excitement. Compare it, obviously, to The Hunger Games where the true drama hits within minutes of the film and the investment just isn’t there.
The acting is class though. Shailene Woodley is a star in the making (she has even fucked up in interviews too), and as Tris, she is memorable, taking herself away from the Jennifer Lawerence comparisons she’ll inevitably get. Alongside Theo James, for those who have seen The Inbetweeners Movie then it’ll be hard to see him without the shit on his nose, but he is the superiorly hot (possibly two old) boy in this. It’s a genuinely charming, slightly creepy relationship that pulls you through. It helps that Four has a really deep back story that needs to be explored more.
Look, my younger sister adores it but she is 13, I feel like she is meant to adore it. And seeing her excitement over the film makes me think that this movie hits all the right spots. I don’t want to take anything away from fans of series but this is a dull movie. There are good moments, particularly the stunning broken Chicago in the background as well as the dreamscapes, but in the end, it's a boring fleshed final product from what would otherwise be a tantalising concept.
So Hit Stop on Divergent otherwise known as Young Adult Movie 101.
Look, my younger sister adores it but she is 13, I feel like she is meant to adore it. And seeing her excitement over the film makes me think that this movie hits all the right spots. I don’t want to take anything away from fans of series but this is a dull movie. There are good moments, particularly the stunning broken Chicago in the background as well as the dreamscapes, but in the end, it's a boring fleshed final product from what would otherwise be a tantalising concept.
So Hit Stop on Divergent otherwise known as Young Adult Movie 101.
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