***WARNING THIS POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***
Welcome one and all to a new feature on my blog, Movie Mondays! I have written film reviews before which you can see here.
The first thing I want to say about this film is you should definitely see the first one before you go ahead and jump into this one.
I'll be 100% honest here, I have not read the books that this film series is based on. It is on my list, and I am normally of the opinion that you should read the book before you see the movie! To be honest when I saw the trailer for the first movie, whilst I was interested, I wasn't overly excited about it. In fact it was my sister (who in fact has actually read the books), that was so excited about it, and demanded that I go and see it. I did, and I was pleasantly surprised. So when I found out that the second in the series was being released on my sister's birthday, I just knew I had to go and see it with her...
Insurgent is set shortly after the events of the first film. Tris Prior (main character) is on the run from Jeanine and the Erudites after their attack on Abnegation. The faction system is crumbling, and Jeanine scrambles to find an answer to keep the situation under control. All the while Tris and Four try their hardest to find a way to stop her.
When you strip back the plot, in it's most basic form it is very similar to other films in it's genre, such as The Hunger Games. One strong female individual bringing down the entire system, whilst seemingly by accident. All seems very familiar right? In all seriousness though, I don't feel like it's similarities to other novels/films (mainly the Hunger Games) discredit it in any way. The film itself held my attention, it wasn't entirely predictable either (well if you haven't read the books already). Although one thing that struck me at the end of the film was that it felt complete, despite knowing that there is a third book (so therefore undoubtedly there will be a third film), I honestly don't know where they can go from here... I guess I will have to wait and see.
Shailene Woodley who plays the main character Tris Prior, is fast becoming one of my favourite actresses. Some of you may know her from her role in 'The Fault in Our Stars' based on the best selling novel by John Green. I think the reason I like her so much is that she has such an expressive face, without really having to do a lot with it. I don't even know if that makes sense, but what I mean is, she doesn't have to do a lot with her face for you to know what her character is feeling, and that is one of the reasons why I think she really sells the character of Tris. I think one of the most interesting parts of her character in this sequel is that fact that she is having her own inner struggle with the events that unfolded during the attack against Abnegation. All the while this is running parallel with the physical struggle she is having with everyone around her.
As for Ansel Elgort, Shailene's co-star in both the Divergent series and also in 'The Fault in Our Stars' his character, Caleb, couldn't be any more unlike-able if he possibly tried. I think it's Caleb's weakness that makes him the most annoying, in fact if it wasn't for Ansel's performance in TFIOS I think that I'd dislike him solely on his character in this franchise. Then again when you are sister to one of the strongest individuals in the entire faction system, it stands to reason that you would come across as weak. I literally wanted to reach into the screen and slap him, and I don't know whether that means that Ansel did a very good job, or a very bad one.
Overall if you are into The Hunger Games then this is worth a watch, if you've read the Divergent books then you have probably already seen this and therefore I am wasting my breath. However if you are thinking about seeing it, I didn't regret handing over my money for this one, and once it comes out on DVD I am sure I will be watching it again!
Let me know in the comments if you have seen this film and what you thought!
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