Insurgent



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Notice~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Because this is a movie based right off a novel I won’t be reviewing this movie like other films, even those based off books of their own. This is a world-wide best seller which is very well known, most of those going to see the movie have read the books, so I don’t have to review much except intent, acting, and for this, the production (cinematography, editing, CG). Because of this I can’t give a numbered rating.

Summary – The story picks up RIGHT where it left off and gives you an idea of what happened right after escaping the city from the first film. It is a movie that has switched gears and no longer focuses on the wonder of this world, but of the change and devastation that is starting to befall it and its inhabitants. Lines have been drawn in the sand and we get to see what happens when worlds collide when those who fit, and those who “don’t fit”, come together in a brutal way! It’s no holds barred!

Story – Although not applicable in rating the film I will say that the story does progress very nicely. For those who haven’t read the books this isn’t the same world you knew in Divergent. In the first film the world they live in is broken and a shell of its former self, but it still has basic functions, advanced technology, and a special sense of adventure and discovery we rarely find in our whole world. There was more life, more fun, and more adventure in the first whereas in this film, the sequel, there is more death, more sorrow, and while there is adventure and action there is also a lot of drama. The movie works hard to set up the changes which the character’s experience.

We also get to see a lot more of the world of Tris. Before, in the first film, we saw mostly where she grew up, where she chose to live in her society, and the training grounds she worked at. In this film, the sequel, we the remaining faction’s home base how they operate. Their world opens up to us and revels itself to be much larger than we saw before.

Character – Although not applicable due to the novel nature of the film, I would like to point out a few things for those who haven’t read the books. Insurgent is a movie of reinvention. Their whole world is on the brink of it with some fighting for that change and others fighting against it. Same goes for the characters, they all experience a complete reinvention of themselves. Some will leave you with a smile, others in disappointment, but all will leave you in aww.

And . . . this is a bit off color but, what's up with Four's mom? I mean, she is totally HOT!!!

Intent – The intent of the story is to show the change happening with the characters and their world. Without spoiling anything for those who haven’t read the books, I’ll say that the film does a great job of doing just that. Some characters change physically to fit their internal change and the message of the film is clearly announced through the film. As change is a rough and tumultuous road, the film takes a darker path thus corresponding to the nature of change. And while the very end leaves me personally wondering “where can they go from here” with the story, I also was left thinking “I don’t know, but there is definitely more to the story . . . and I can’t wait to see what it is”.

Acting  – The reason I give the acting a mediocre review isn’t due to the acting in general. In general the acting was actually really good, but the main character’s performance was seriously lacking in my opinion. Shailene Woodley was brilliant in the first film. Her acting revolved around her resilience and curiosity while in this film she is at war with herself. She portrays the internal conflict just fine but she went too far in making her character Tris more vulnerable. Just SO MUCH CRYING! About every scene where she isn’t fighting, she’s crying, and that just got annoying to me. I loved that she didn’t cry hardly at all in Divergent, and was afraid that this would happen where now she cries way too much in Insurgent.

Everyone else was spot on, loved them all! Theo James was appropriately intense and reacted to the lines he was supposed to very naturally. He keeps up like this and he’ll have a long and fruitful future ahead of himself. Miles Teller is great as the comic relief while maintaining a complicated role of antagonist/protagonist … he just doesn’t know WHAT “ist” he is!

Production  – This film was made very well. The locations picked (or built) for the live settings were very unique and felt like they didn’t belong in our current world, but in the world of Triss. The CGI was well done and felt very finished. A lot of investment went into the CGI and it wasn’t wasted, in my opinion. Between the CGI and the live locations, Insurgent does a great job of realizing the world of the original author, Veronica Roth.

Over all I would say if you haven’t read the series and didn’t care for the first all too much than skip this film altogether. But, if you are following the movie series then I mean let’s face, no matter what I or anyone else said, it’d be a movie to go see. I understand that completely. They’re coming out with another Friday the 13^th movie and I know I’m going to go see it, regardless if it rocks or sucks! MOVIE FREAKS UNITE!!!