"Divergent," the highly anticipated movie based on the first novel in Veronica Roth's trilogy of dystopian thrillers, is released today, Friday March 21. According to the Washington Post, the film is better than the book. It's unusual for a film to be better than the book from which it has been adapted, so this is praise of the highest caliber.
Film critics are writing that director Neil Burger (previously directed the Bradley Cooper film "Limitless") has created an entertaining movie that is more propulsive and satisfying than the novel on which it is based. They also hail screenwriters Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor for improving upon and celebrating the main themes of the original book, which focus on individualism and ingenuity.
"Divergent," set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, imagines a society where citizens are divided into five factions separated by personality. Government is controlled by the Abnegation faction, a class given to self-sacrifice and altruism. The law is run by Candor. Agricultural efforts are run by Amity. Scientific advancement is run by the Erudite. Security is controlled by the Dauntless, a group of soldiers. Tris (Woodley),by birth a member of Abnegation, joins the Dauntless at age 16. She is allowed to declare a new allegiance as a test indicates she is not suited for the one she was born into. Tris is divergent, meaning that she has equal aptitude for more than one faction.
The question remains whether "Divergent" will do as well as, or half as well as the movie that is most often compared to, the "Hunger Games" films. "Catching Fire," the most recent "Hunger Games" movie made $865 million worldwide, a very high number to top. The Divergent book series, including sequels "Insurgent" and "Allegiant," has sold more than 10 million copies. Writer Veronica Roth has more than 200,000 Twitter followers.
Meanwhile, stars Shailene Woodley, previously known for her performances in the film "The Descendants" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" on television is receiving Jennifer Lawrence-level hype. Woodley is currently on the cover of Marie Claire magazine. Her co-star Theo James, and she have been romantically linked in tabloid headlines.
