tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post272753445757251856..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: Divergent (2014)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-4555702681350982832016-04-21T09:41:20.150-04:002016-04-21T09:41:20.150-04:00I'm one that actually also liked Divergent mor...I'm one that actually also liked Divergent more than the Hunger Games . It's similar with it's settings, but that's where it ends. Divergent is pretty goodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-40998434477582430702015-02-08T21:58:41.345-05:002015-02-08T21:58:41.345-05:00Jason, Divergent does have a lot in common with Ha...Jason, <i>Divergent</i> does have a lot in common with <i>Harry Potter</i> and <i>Enders Game</i>. I think ultimately, they are all using the same formula and how enjoyable the films are will depend on the worlds they build and the chemistry the leads develop with the other characters.<br /><br />I agree with you about liking that aspect of <i>The Hunger Games</i> the most. I just personally felt they didn't do much with it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7224703724151949522015-02-08T21:55:42.697-05:002015-02-08T21:55:42.697-05:00Thanks Scott! I thought both movies were ultimatel...Thanks Scott! I thought both movies were ultimately better than they deserved to be and they were a good deal better than I expected, though I can't say that either was a great film. I would call them "entertaining/interesting enough to be worth seeing."<br /><br />I too will be interested to see where the sequel goes.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44147286534977128222015-02-08T21:53:31.347-05:002015-02-08T21:53:31.347-05:00Thanks Kit! I can't blame you.Thanks Kit! I can't blame you.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16894878861269545522015-02-08T21:02:54.561-05:002015-02-08T21:02:54.561-05:00Good review, Andrew.
I probably won't see it....Good review, Andrew.<br /><br />I probably won't see it. In fact, the trailer interested me very little but a good review, nonetheless. Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54447971513363890492015-02-07T10:12:03.230-05:002015-02-07T10:12:03.230-05:00I didn't expect to like The Hunger Games, I wa...I didn't expect to like The Hunger Games, I was not the target audience and when I saw it I was quite surprised at how much I liked it, even the fact that it ripped off Battle Royale didn't sour me to it. When I heard about THG rip off Divergent I didn't bother seeing it as I thought there is no way it would be any good. <br /><br />I finally say it last week at a mates house when we had nothing else to see that we hadn't already seen and again I was wrong. I didn't enjoy it as much as THG but it was a pretty good little movie, I will check out any sequels like I did for THG (I really liked #2).<br /><br />Scott.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78693763523539344362015-02-06T20:14:51.407-05:002015-02-06T20:14:51.407-05:00I did like the movie, though I’m can’t say I liked...I did like the movie, though I’m can’t say I liked it better than <i>The Hunger Games</i>. I liked the ideas THG was exploring: the celebrity culture crossed with gladiatorial games, how Katniss needs to make herself likable so that she’ll draw sponsors, and as I love the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” I was intrigued by the actual Hunger Games part of the flick. <br /><br /><i>Divergent</i> felt like it had the more familiar story. We have the young protagonist who joins a school/military force, not unlike <i>Ender’s Game</i> or <i>Harry Potter</i>, rises through the ranks, gains scrappy sidekicks, and proves him or herself usually against bullies or snobby upperclassmen. So it was a bit of a letdown on that front once I knew what kind of story this was going to be; I thought there wouldn’t be much surprise. But I will say Shailene Woodley made for a more believable teenager than Jennifer Lawrence (J Law looked too much like a young woman to me), the mental tests were intriguing, I did like Kate Winslet and the primary male lead, and I think the movie did get better in its second half once it got past the Dauntless training stuff.<br /><br />I guess I give THG more points for the ideas it presented, but I give <i>Divergent</i> props for its good points. I’ll be interested to see what happens in the sequel.Jasonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-58482714167660934692015-02-06T15:37:07.973-05:002015-02-06T15:37:07.973-05:00Koshcat, I watched this because my daughters wante...Koshcat, I watched this because my daughters wanted to see it. Otherwise, I would have skipped it. Ultimately, I enjoyed it. And you are absolutely right about the target market.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-1046929643722070142015-02-06T15:34:47.435-05:002015-02-06T15:34:47.435-05:00tryanmax, Thanks! I think these films compare qui...tryanmax, Thanks! I think these films compare quite easily with some clear distinctions, seeing as how <i>Divergent</i> is clearly a copy of <i>Hunger Games</i>.<br /><br />You make a really good fourth point and it's something I wish I'd thought to discuss. The idea of society dividing itself this way is a classic science fiction set up for a social commentary on a great many things. The idea of a cartoon villain government, by comparison, is generally just an easy out to give the hero a purpose. Indeed, as you note, Katniss really has no choice. It's revolt or die. But Beatrice must make some interesting choices.<br /><br />So in that respect, this film does set itself up for a lot more interesting issues. Sadly, I doubt these sequels will dig too deeply into these issues, but they are there should they wish to.<i> Hunger Games</i> doesn't have anything similar.<br /><br />Excellent comment! :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-55013883409226908852015-02-06T15:21:24.890-05:002015-02-06T15:21:24.890-05:00I haven't seen this movie. I've read all ...I haven't seen this movie. I've read all the Games books and saw the first 2 movies. They were ok. I have read Divergent and part of the second book (Insurgent I believe) there are now 4 including Four. I thought the writing was a little better in Games up until the third book.<br /><br />My daughter has devoured all the books and is begging me to watch this movie so I will probably watch it with her. Obviously, the writers and directors are aiming right at the 10-16 y/o market especially girls so in that respect they are successful.Koshcathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552108950848576633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78245281722169253622015-02-06T15:06:12.026-05:002015-02-06T15:06:12.026-05:00djski, Agreed about the male lead -- he had a very...djski, Agreed about the male lead -- he had a very strong presence. I liked him a lot. I also felt he had strong chemistry with Beatrice.<br /><br />As for your "I didn't hate it," I can't disagree with that either. Like I said, this isn't a great or amazing film, but it's not a horrible film either. It's an enjoyable enough way to pass the time.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67654872218638545412015-02-06T14:58:27.141-05:002015-02-06T14:58:27.141-05:00Bob, I will respect your lawn! LOL! :)
In all ser...Bob, I will respect your lawn! LOL! :)<br /><br />In all seriousness, I can't disagree with you. The film is ultimately ridiculous if you stop to think about it. These are people who live without visible means of support. They randomly have high tech. Their system of government is nonsense, as is the very idea that people have one completely dominant trait you can classify them by. And, as you note, she could never do the things she does. That said, it's an enjoyable enough film that it's worth recommending to anyone who is into this genre.<br /><br />BTW, I should add that I don't think this film has any political intent. I think the only intent was to copy something that made money and hopefully make money too.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-23955983030588465632015-02-06T14:45:34.822-05:002015-02-06T14:45:34.822-05:00Rustbelt, Your instincts were right. This is abso...Rustbelt, Your instincts were right. This is absolutely a copy of <i>The Hunger Games</i>, with only minor differences at various points. That said, I thought this was slightly better than <i>The Hunger Games</i>. So if you like those kinds of films, then this one is worth watching. Our two girls really liked this one (they liked <i>The Hunger Games</i> too, but not as much).<br /><br />P.S. BTW, that second link (honest trailer for <i>Divergent</i>) is fantastic! LOL!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79761437367541326352015-02-06T14:39:02.715-05:002015-02-06T14:39:02.715-05:00Anthony, In all honesty, you won't miss this f...Anthony, In all honesty, you won't miss this film if you don't see it. It's nothing special or memorable. What it is, in my opinion, is a slightly better film than <i>The Hunger Games</i> and it's interesting enough to watch if you are into those kinds of movies. I enjoyed it, but I don't fell particularly enriched having watched it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-81455439393197962252015-02-06T14:34:14.323-05:002015-02-06T14:34:14.323-05:00I didn't hate this movie, and I think the male...I didn't hate this movie, and I think the male lead, Theo James has some real screen presence. I kept thinking I'd seen him in something before, but his IMDB profile says otherwise.<br /><br />And I agree on the Hunger Games, the first movie was all set up, the second movie paid off and the 3rd movie was more set up. But I did feel that it had a better command of drama and emotional impact than Divergent. djskithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13497045723185560102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84038239818503832862015-02-06T12:48:54.046-05:002015-02-06T12:48:54.046-05:00Excellent comparison, Andrew. I think you contrast...Excellent comparison, Andrew. I think you contrasted the two films spectacularly, and I agree, <i>Divergent</i> is a much more involving narrative than <i>Hunger Games</i>. (Though, in defense of <i>Games</i>, I maintain that Katniss being a passive heroine is rather the point--which is a remarkable artistic choice.) <br /><br />A fourth distinction <i>Divergent</i> has, that you almost touched on, is that unlike the government in <i>Games</i>--which is a cartoonish puppy-kicking evil totalitarianism--the voluntary caste system in <i>Divergent</i> is believable as something that well-meaning people might have come up with to scrabble order back from disaster and chaos. <br /><br />Overthrowing the <i>Games</i> regime is an obvious choice, it's not even binary as the alternative is death. In <i>Divergent</i>, however, Triss uncovers a coup plot and chooses to defend a system which heretofore persecuted her. Granted, the rising faction would have been worse to Triss, but the choice to defend a system that would not have defended her makes Triss' decision inherently more interesting than any choices* Katniss is confronted with. <br /><br />(*Choices other than which boy to kiss. Which, in the face of national upheaval, civil war, and figure-heading for the rebellion is like, "Really!? This is your most pressing concern right now?") tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-9813894222254115892015-02-06T07:08:19.387-05:002015-02-06T07:08:19.387-05:00Okay....Another film with a beautiful, teen waif w...Okay....Another film with a beautiful, teen waif who we are supposed to believe can kick a@* and lead men into battle. Sorry. To me this looks like another film in the "Women are Strong!" genre to "support" females efforts in self-esteem. Just like boys liked our super-heroes when we were young, I wonder how many young girls want to be super-heroes and leaders who can beat up men? <br />Yet, I guess a film showing a young man striking and physically assaulting a young woman to the point she'd be in hospital every time, wouldn't really sell well.<br />Thanks for the write-up Andrew, but just like Hunger Games and Jennifer LAwrence, I think I'll pass on this one for the same reasons. <br /><br />.....and stay off my lawn!!Bobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-78775634080775674762015-02-06T01:19:37.135-05:002015-02-06T01:19:37.135-05:00Andrew, when I saw the posters, they had "tee...Andrew, when I saw the posters, they had "teen hero" this, "dystopia"that... 'Hunger Games parallels yadda, yadda... written all over them.<br />Glad to hear that there was (at least a little) more to it than that.<br />However, a few comedians were also quick to point out the similarities between <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hp_xsUg9ws" rel="nofollow">The Hunger Games</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPUZo3dQSEM" rel="nofollow">Divergent</a>.Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-14037507159118762582015-02-06T01:04:32.791-05:002015-02-06T01:04:32.791-05:00Interesting. I dismissed this movie earlier becaus...Interesting. I dismissed this movie earlier because the book was so terrible I did not finish it. While I liked that the MC was certainly plucky, there were too many things that did not make sense.<br /><br />If it was on Amazon Instant Video I would watch it, but uh. Lucas Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01405530729663443670noreply@blogger.com