"Divergent" Movie Review

This Post Contains Spoilers

(long story short-it was good)

         

     Overall, I enjoyed the movie adaptation of "Divergent."  I felt that the cast did a great job of portraying their characters and that the main ideas and themes communicated in the book were also communicated by the movie.  Aesthetically, the movie was great, although I did picture the Dauntless Compound differently when I read the book.  Right off the bat, the Factions are visible through the clothing that everyone is wearing, additionally the Abnegation houses were exactly what i pictured when reading the novel.  I was very concerned that the zip line scene would be cut from the movie(if you have finished "Allegiant" you know why)  but thankfully the zip line scene made the final cut and was everything I hoped it would be.  

     However, as is with most book to movie adaptations, there was a loss of detail.  One of the main things missing that I picked up on immediately, was that Edward did not lose his eye.  The butter knife incident did not even occur.  There were also some bits of the movie that were narration explaining background and reasons for things which, as a person who read the book, these were a little annoying to sit through, but they did not ruin the movie, and I can see that they would be necessary for those who have not read the book.   

     There were also some plot changes.  When it comes to Tris' mother saving her during the attack simulation, she saves her from being executed at gunpoint rather than breaking her out of the water-filled tank as she does in the book.  Additionally the shut down of the simulation occurs in the movie as Tris and Four forcing Jeanine to turn off the simulation rather than Four having monitored and then shut down the simulation as he does in the book.

     Although there were differences between the movie and the book, I do not think that these differences took away any real meaning from the movie that there was in the book.  I came away from the movie impressed with how much it did manage to remain true to the book, and was entertained by the entire movie.  I can't wait for the "Insurgent" and "Allegiant" movies, and will honestly most likely end up seeing "Divergent" again while it is in theaters.  

"Allegiant" From Tris to Four and Back Again

This Post has Divergent and Insurgent Spoilers

     “Allegiant” is the third and final book in the “Divergent” series written by Veronica Roth. While a overall good read, I felt a tad let down by this installment in the trilogy.
   
     This book begins where “Insurgent” left off, with the Edith Prior video having been seen and the characters and readers knowing that those who are Divergent are meant to venture outside of the fence and into the world. “Allegiant” follows those who leave the confines of the fence into the outside world as they discover how their city was made and what has gone on in the world.
   
     The novel is written in a different fashion than the first two books, with “Allegiant” being told from both Tris and Four's perspectives. I felt that this was not very necessary as their viewpoints were not all that different until about the middle of the book. Therefore, although the chapters were labeled with whose perspective it was, I was confused a bit in the beginning in a “Wait who's narrating now?” type of way.
   
     In my opinion “Allegiant” moves at a much slower pace than the previous two books did, but once it picked up speed toward the end, things got quite interesting. If you have read and enjoyed “Divergent” and “Insurgent” I would recommend that you read “Allegiant,” however, I do feel that the first two books pulled me in a bit more.
   
     Next week there will be a post chock-full of spoilers explaining my feelings on the trilogy as a whole and my reaction to the end of “Allegiant” as it left me feeling a bit uneasy.
   
     Also, this weekend I will have a review of the “Divergent” movie! The trailers have made me feel pretty good about how the movie will compare to the book but we'll see how it all goes down this Friday!

"Insurgent": What will happen after the attack?

This Post Contains "Divergent" Spoilers

     “Insurgent,” the second book in the trilogy by Veronica Roth, was a great follow up to “Divergent.”
   
     “Insurgent” picks up where the previous book left off, with the city in disarray after the attack on the Dauntless Compound and Tris and company dealing with their new found Factionless status. As Tris stated at the end of “Divergent,” “I have no home, no path and no certainty. I am no longer Tris, the selfless, or Tris, the brave. I suppose that now, I must become more than either”(pg 487).
   
     “Insurgent” follows Tris and her friends through this new world they have found themselves in and includes just as much drama as the previous novel did. Through trying to find a new faction to reside within, or joining the Factionless, dealing with situations that test Caleb and Tris' sibling ties, the book keeps readers entertained.
   
     I do recommend this book if you enjoyed “Divergent” however, I must say that there were aspects of “Insurgent” that did get on my nerves a bit, but those spoilers will be saved for a future post.
   
     With the upcoming release of the “Divergent” movie, I think it's safe to say we can expect an “Insurgent” movie in the future.

Do you think "Insurgent" was a good sequel to "Divergent"?

"Divergent"

     “Divergent” is the first in a trilogy that chronicles Beatrice Prior's life through the dystopian society in which she lives. Written by Veronica Roth, the book begins by explaining the structure of this society which is located in a future version of Chicago.

     The city is surrounded by a fence and divided into five factions, each of these factions have very strict rules and expectations for their members. If you do not fit into one of these factions you become a member of the factionless, homeless and excluded from any faction and shunned by your family.

     When the children of Chicago turn 16 they are given a simulation test to determine what faction they are best suited for, this may or may not be the faction they were raised in. They take the results of the test and have 24 hours before the choosing ceremony to decide which faction they wish to spend the rest of their lives in. This is where the trouble begins for Beatrice.

     "Divergent" was a book that honestly started out a bit slow for me but by the third chapter I was completely involved in the story and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I would highly recommend “Divergent” to anyone who enjoys dystopian novels such as “The Hunger Games” as the two series are quite similar in the way of having a mysterious government and a young female protagonist.

     “Divergent” has also been made into a movie and premieres March 21, 2014. The movie stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Ansel Elgort. I will be watching the movie as soon as I can once it comes out, so keep an eye out for a future review and comparison of the book to the movie! You can watch the trailer for the movie below.

     One thing I must say before having seen the movie is that I find the casting decision of having Woodley and Elgort as brother and sister in “Divergent” and as a couple in “The Fault In Our Stars” is a little bit strange, however it most likely will not affect either of the films negatively.