It was back in 2014 when the Divergent hit the big screen for the first time, a year on and Insurgent was the second of Veronica Roth's novels to be adapted into a film.
Insurgent
I was a big fan of the books, but Divergent was one of the most disappointing films of last year... sadly, things have not improved for the franchise as Insurgent is another major miss. You do have to wonder why they are even bothering moving forward with the franchise.
Insurgent raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris's family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them.
Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.
Sadly, there're not too many positive things to say about Insurgent as it is a dull and incredibly boring watch. I found the books to be a terrific read and I find it hard to understand how they haven't been able to bring this fascinating and complicated characters to the big screen successfully.
Firstly, I hate it when films move away from the original story. Insurgent deviates away from the book in a big way and it doesn't work at all. Seriously, what is that box all about? And who thought that was a god idea? It doesn't move the plot forward on jot and they would have been better sticking with the original tale.
I think that the Divergent Series has spent too much time trying to be a gritty rival to The Hunger Games, instead of trying to find an identity of its own. As a result, the movie brings nothing new to the young adult novel adaptation genre and are certainly no match for the mighty Hunger Games series.
I was excited about the casting of Shailene Woodley as Tris Prior as I think she is a talented actress who could have brought real depth to this character. Again, this is another thing that hasn't quite worked out - I think that's largely down to a very weak script and a lack of major character development.
There are some solid action moments in Insurgent, but director Robert Schwentke just cannot keep the audience's attention for lengthy periods of time - these moments do nothing but break the monotony.
I really like Kate Winslet as a villain and I think that she has captured the character of Jeanine perfectly - her performance is the film's only redeeming feature.
It looks like the Divergent series of movies are doomed to fail as both Schwentke and Neil Burger - who directed the first film - have failed to tell a story that is involving and captivating. The characters are dull and one dimensional and you really don't care for them or what happens to them.
Insurgent should have been a movie that was dark and exciting as the darkness and danger surrounding Tris only deepens as she becomes the hunter. The movie has failed to capture any of this from the book and it really is a damp squid of a film.
We have been treated to some excellent young adult book adaptation films in recent years... but Insurgent is not one of them. If you are a big fan of the book, I would not waste your time on this movie as you will be left bitterly disappointed.
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