Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet
Genre: Drama, sci-fi, thriller, romance
Director: Neil Burger
Writer: Veronica Roth (book), Evan Daugherty & Vanessa Taylor (screenplay)
Rated: 12A
It’s nobody’s fault, but the plot for the first
instalment of the new young-adult franchise Divergent
sounds remarkably like The Hunger Games – a young girl in a dystopian world, trying
to discover who she is and what she stands for.
However, as many parallels you can draw between the two,
these two franchises very much succeed on their own, and Veronica Roth’s
Divergent book-turned-movie series is guaranteed to be a box office hit.
The story follows Shailene Woodley as Beatrice, a sixteen year old whose time has come to choose her future. Although similar to what teenagers go through nowadays, this decision doesn’t involve what GCSEs or A Levels to take, or what university to go to – it involves identifying your personality and changing your entire life accordingly.
This dystopian world 150 years into the future is empty and mysterious after a war ravaged the land. Chicago is its only city, guarded by high fences and walls to protect from whatever lies on the outside. But it is the inside that is most frightening.
The city is split into five controlling factions to keep the peace – Abnegation: the selfless; Erudite: the intelligent; Dauntless: the brave; Amity: the peaceful; and Candor: the honest. On one day a year, every teenager who has come of age must take a hallucinogenic test to discover their own mind and help them decide who they want to be. Individuals can either stay within the faction they were brought up in, decide based on their test results, or choose for themselves - but once they have chosen, there is no going back.
Of course, Beatrice is not like the others. She is a Divergent, meaning she fits into every category. Divergents have the ability to exercise their own independent mind and act upon human nature – making them a threat to society as they cannot be controlled like everybody else. With her test results kept a secret from the faction leaders – most importantly the threatening Erudite leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet) - Beatrice chooses Dauntless, an energetic and daring faction she has admired since childhood.
The story follows Shailene Woodley as Beatrice, a sixteen year old whose time has come to choose her future. Although similar to what teenagers go through nowadays, this decision doesn’t involve what GCSEs or A Levels to take, or what university to go to – it involves identifying your personality and changing your entire life accordingly.
This dystopian world 150 years into the future is empty and mysterious after a war ravaged the land. Chicago is its only city, guarded by high fences and walls to protect from whatever lies on the outside. But it is the inside that is most frightening.
The city is split into five controlling factions to keep the peace – Abnegation: the selfless; Erudite: the intelligent; Dauntless: the brave; Amity: the peaceful; and Candor: the honest. On one day a year, every teenager who has come of age must take a hallucinogenic test to discover their own mind and help them decide who they want to be. Individuals can either stay within the faction they were brought up in, decide based on their test results, or choose for themselves - but once they have chosen, there is no going back.
Of course, Beatrice is not like the others. She is a Divergent, meaning she fits into every category. Divergents have the ability to exercise their own independent mind and act upon human nature – making them a threat to society as they cannot be controlled like everybody else. With her test results kept a secret from the faction leaders – most importantly the threatening Erudite leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet) - Beatrice chooses Dauntless, an energetic and daring faction she has admired since childhood.
Under the watchful eye of two unforgiving instructors
Four (Theo James) and Eric (Jai Courtney), Beatrice (now renamed Tris) and the
new Dauntless initiates undergo unisex training to ensure they really are cut
out for this faction, and if they fail, they will be factionless – homeless
beggars who fit nowhere. It is because of this and the relentless government
that Tris is now pressured to become a successful Dauntless, and even more
pressured to hide her dangerous secret.
It’s no doubt that Divergent is going to be popular
amongst young-adults and those who enjoyed any of the recent blockbuster
franchises, however I think it reaches out to an even wider audience than it
may seem. Shailene Woodley is remarkable and extremely endearing– she didn’t
get nominated for that Oscar for nothing. The chemistry between her and Theo
James is rare, and very realistic. Their romance acts more as a back story, so
the main plot doesn’t become forgotten, which is good because the main plot is
so fantastic.
Although there’s not one dull moment in Divergent, by the
end it does kind of feel like a warm-up for the next set of films. This isn’t
necessarily a bad thing, I just hope that the first movie does rake in enough
money to guarantee the second instalment. It would be a shame to see something
with so much potential go to waste.
For a surprisingly enjoyable cinematic experience, go and see Divergent immediately. Especially if you like a bit of eye-candy, because Theo James is unbelievable to look at. Shoot me if it’s too unprofessional to say that.
***
For a surprisingly enjoyable cinematic experience, go and see Divergent immediately. Especially if you like a bit of eye-candy, because Theo James is unbelievable to look at. Shoot me if it’s too unprofessional to say that.
***
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