Divergent - Film review

Seeing this film was one of the best £4.30 I have ever spent, and did not even deserve an orange wednesday visit, I would have paid full price, VIP and even for the bloody popcorn to see this film, and if I wasn't a student, I'd treat my whole family to a trip to the IMAX or something, such a successful adaptation.

I had my speculations about this film after watching the trailer, I do not think Shailene Woodley came across as Tris Prior in the trailer and I honestly thought Four (Tobias Eaton) was going to be one of those brooding love interests who I don't believe comes across as desirable at all. This is possibly my favourite book of all time (NOTE: not trilogy), so obviously I am very protective over it so was reluctant in some ways to see the film, but I am so glad I did!

The first thing that struck me was the way they did not shy away from any of the brutality in the fight scenes and Eric was just as cruel as I hoped he would be. The casting was actually perfect, I couldn't tell that half the actors were English (though Marcus may as well as just have been made Irish because there was no masking that accent) and no one made me cringe into my seat the way some actors do who act in Young Adult movies like this.

The film was well explained, even for viewers who may not have read the book, I feel would have been able to understand it, the Dauntless compound was just as I pictured it to be and the film ran at a good pace; no parts were rushed and nor do I think any were dragged out, the right scenes were cut and the screenplay was just right.

Now lets talk about Theo James. I was devastated when he was cast, I know I was being waaaay over-dramatic which I have a large tendency to do but I did not like him, did not think he would fit the part and did not admire any of his other work. It's safe to say that's changed now, do I think someone else should have played Four? Yes, don't ask me who but I still feel there was something just missing from Theo that I can't really explain but his casting wasn't a disaster. He has a good acting ability and is very easy on the eye, I believed there was chemistry between him and Shailene and honestly think there is more to come for him in the future, he's like a new Rupert Grint, massively underrated but no one can deny he has talent.

The only thing I would have liked to have seen was a more dramatic transformation from Tris, I noticed that she was wearing pretty heavy eye make-up whilst she was in Abegnation which I didn't think was accurate and I would have liked to have seen the scene where she chooses out some new Dauntless clothes and wears make-up for the first time, would have signposted her character's development nicely!

I have heard a lot of controversy about the 'intimacy scene' in Tris' fear landscape. I've heard it comes across that she is afraid of rape and after watching the film I understand why it's been interpreted in that way. I feel the director crossed the line between force and submission, it does look like Four is trying to force Tris to have sex with him even though that's not exactly what happens in the book. I don't think the director knew it would come across in this way so I don't blame him, but what do you guys think? Do you think it's a completely inappropriate addition to the film?

Nevertheless, I believe all other aspects were perfect. I was so happy when almost every song was by Ellie Goulding because she is literally my idol and the kissing scene was made that much better by her haunting voice. 

I would recommend anyone reading this goes to see it and I hope I haven't given too much away!

Over and out x

Allegiant Booktalk

Synopsis: The third instalment in Veronica Roth's 'Divergent' trilogy. Told in dual perspective from the two protagonists, it follows the journey of our much loved characters to a place outside of the City they didn't know existed until the shocking conclusion of the last book. After learning that their beloved City was not all they thought it was and after finding that everywhere they go seems to be ruled by corruption, Tris decides that steps have to be taken to save her City and her relationship. A truly brilliant conclusion, if you haven't read the first two books, STOP READING THIS AND GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. 

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SPOILERS

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This book has broken me. Like seriously, I stopped reading it last night and was too much of an emotional mess to formulate a sentence let alone write the booktalk straight away like I usually do. 

I haven't read anything for a while because I've been at uni and have had A LOT of work so I found it hard to fit in time to read anything but when Allegiant came out I knew that everything else would have to be put aside for a few days. It may be because my mind was preoccupied or because I could only sit down for an hour at a time before I had something else to do, but I didn't find it as easy to get into this book as I did for the other two. When it got to 2/3rds in, I couldn't put it down, but up to this point I feel nothing really happened. Tobias' involvement in the mini-rebellion was the only bit of action that got the pages turning however this scene was over way too quickly. The other parts of the book up to this point were mainly explanatory, describing what the world outside the City was really about which took a lot of explaining. It was just a bit less exciting than the first book which had a cliffhanger at the end of EVERY BLOODY CHAPTER.

The concept was really confusing, I got really confused about who was Divergent and who wasn't and what the difference was between GD and GP and the Allegiant and WAHH MINDFUCK. 

This was the first book that we saw a dual perspective between Tris and Tobias. I loved this because Tobias is one of my favourite characters but in a way I feel it was unnecessary to a certain extent, Tobias' perspective didn't really tell us anything that Tris' perspective couldn't have and Tris' chapters were always more exciting. After reading the end though I know that Tobias' perspective was needed :'(

There was a lot of death in this book, I didn't really care about Edward but I don't think Tori needed to die, and her death was so quick and sudden, it was almost like everything she had done for Tris in the previous books didn't matter because Tris seemed so unfased by her death. THEN THERE WAS URIAH's DEATH:'( He was by far my favourite character so as soon as the explosion went off, I knew this book would send me into emotional turmoil. His death was really prolonged for some reason, I know it was probably to build suspense but what with everything else going on, I kind of just assumed he was already dead. 

And then,

There was Tris' death.

OMG. Why the actual fuck would she let Caleb live after what he did. I understand that it was a selfless act that she had been preparing herself for in all three of the books, as in she had never really understood what proper sacrifice meant but why did she have to die :( When she survived the death serum I was like 'YESSS SHE HAS SURVIVED' but the sacrifice still held the same weight because Caleb surely would have died. BUT THEN DAVID HAD TO COME AND FUCK SHIT UP. I was literally in bits when her Mum came to take her away, like I couldn't even see the page through my tears anymore and I just had to take like half an hour to compose myself. Then Tobias found out and it set me off again, I always saw Tris and Tobias as a pair, like they couldn't survive without each other so in a way I could see how devastated Tobias must have been. 

I genuinely thought that the scene where Tobias spread Tris' ashes was the most beautiful scene in this whole trilogy, possibly in any dystopian book I have ever read. It was perfect and I feel that is exactly what Tris would have wanted. I was glad as well that there was the 'two-and-a-half-years-later' epilogue because I would have been so sad ending the book knowing Tobias was still devastated, it was nice to see that he had found at least some peace with her death but that her memory was still not forgotton. 

I am actually talking about them like they're real people LOL.

What I liked about this book is that we were able to see outside the City, outside the story we were already familiar with. I feel like there's still so more than could be explored, another 10 books could be made out of this concept easily but now we only have the films to look forward to :'(

If you want me to review anything or have anything to say about this post that you agree or disagee with, comment below or send me a message on my Tumblr account http://www.tumblr.com/blog/readwithsophie

I'll try to review more regularly, and I will DEFINITELY write a review of Catching Fire as I am seeing it THE DAY BEFORE THE RELEASE DATE BITCHESSSSS. NOT LONG NOW!