Divergent Heading in The Right Direction?

Okay, so I'll admit that I haven't read the book of Divergent but when watching it with friends that have, I quickly learnt it isn't a movie better than the book.

But too be fair, not many are. For example, The Fault in Our Stars, War Horse and My Sisters Keeper were all better books than films, just on the basis that when reading books you can create your image of the book and it doesn't miss out your favourite scenes.

Divergent, starring Shailene Woodley (Tris) and Theo James (Four) is an action based film set in a universe where people are split into districts (of their choice at a choosing) on the basis of human virtues. They take a test to find which suits them best which works with all but few- the Divergent - who fit in more than one category. Tris being a divergent is warned about the dangers, and at all costs has to try make sure no-one finds out.

Once again, faultless acting from Woodley and James made the film what it was. You felt the characters choices and pains like it was real life which even though is expected in all films sometimes isn't the case. Woodley's personality and slight shyness suits the role of Tris perfectly and James plays Four perfectly too, fitting the role well.

However, the movie plot was far from perfect. It actually told an interesting story and I imagine the book is a complete must read, however the film slightly disappointed due to the fact that in many places I was confused as hell. It's good to be a little confused especially at the start, but asking friends every 5 or 10 minutes what was happening or how something happened or having to explain parts of the film to me probably both wound them up and ruined the movie for me.

And actually some of the scenes were really cute, romantic and heart-breaking, making me 'aw' or make pouty sad faces a few times, however a confusing plot is just unacceptable. And how Tris and Four become a couple so quickly anyway amuses me. It's like one minute he's throwing knives at her and the next he's kissing her senseless.

If you read my last review, you may have gathered I hate a lack of originality which brings me to my next point. The name 'Four'. Okay, so I'm not a world class name maker, but calling a character after a number is both confusing and idiotic. Why? Why would a n y o n e call a characters a number? At first I thought his name was Thor because of a terrible pronunciation, but when I heard it was Four, I had a 10 minute debate with my friends about the idiocy and terribleness of the name. If he had four nipples or four fingers then I may understand the name, but by the love of flapjacks don't ever call a person after a number.

In comparison though, you actually felt an emotional attachment to some of the characters. For example, the evil characters you really hate, the kinder characters you really like. That's how films should be and thankfully 'Divergent' really pulled off the character connection which not many films in my opinion do. The character connection makes the film and in reality any film without this connection will never be a 'top of the box office' film even with an amazing plot, so this aspect of Divergent makes it great.

In conclusion, Divergent was an okay film. There's no other word really I can use to describe it, but amazing acting, character connection and a half decent story evens out the confusion, the terrible names and the fact that the book was indeed better than the film. I would however say to give the film a watch, because even though I personally think there are better films out there, a few times watching it and perhaps reading the book will in fact make the film go from a confusing cinema screening to a fantastic film.

Breaking Up with The Break Up?

'The Break Up', starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston tells the story Gary (Vaughn) and Brooke (Aniston), a couple that push each others boundaries so much that the film starts where other romantic comedies finish: a break up.

Where the title lacks in originality (even though it does set the tone of the film), the plot doesn't help the film's Oscar chances either. After another typical 'why can't you do one thing for me?' row, the couple call the relationship quits. However, neither want to sell their luxurious condo or move out, so they decide to live together even though they can't stand each other. How realistic!

Even the way Brooke and Gary meet is a pretentious cliché that many rom-coms possess, but at least they tried to make it less diabolical. But still, Gary buying a random stranger (sitting 7 or 8 seats down from him in a baseball game) a hotdog she didn't want, then trying to insist a date even though she was dating another man- is definitely not the worst start I've seen but that doesn't make it great.

However the film wasn't all awful, there are some more manageable moments that actually made me laugh in the least funny rom-com. Firstly, the reason of their argument. Lemons. The break-up is initially an argument about the amount of lemons that Brooke needs for a centre piece. I was delighted that the writers came up with a random start to a long chain of arguments in the film.

Also, the acting of Vince and Jennifer gives the movie some credibility, and some explanation on how it won two awards. The acting of the two protagonists makes the £10 I spent on the film nearly worth it. The acting makes it feel like they are a real life couple going through the break-up not on screen with a memorised script.

Sadly, the few good things about the film don't personally make up for the fact that the plot and some of the rarely seen minor characters are flawed. In some ways, it's not the idea of the plot that makes the plot horrendous, its the complete difference in job seriousness (Gary being a bus tour guide and Brooke an artist dealer) that does make you wonder to start with why they are together. Gary and Brooke are from two completely different worlds, with two different personalities and hobbies and in reality two people so different wouldn't make it past the first date.

In conclusion, 'The Break Up's' comedy gold, actually turns out to be comedy old in a film where the jokes feel like their from the 1700's. Even though it isn't the worst film I've seen, I wouldn't recommend it unless you love Jennifer Aniston or Vince Vaughn so much that you wouldn't mind enduring 104 minutes of plot disaster and a replaying argument that never seems to end.

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12812173/?claim=r9bbdj77852">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>