Tuesday, March 22, 2016

When a movie messes with a book

Here's a great example of when a movie really messes with a book and overstays its welcome...


Movie Title:      The Divergent Series: Allegiant

Grade:   D

Rating:   PG-13, 2 hours 19 minutes

In a Nutshell:    Filled with TONS of CGI and special effects, this third installment in the Divergent franchise stretches out the story probably more than it should.

You definitely need to have seen the first two movies in the series in order to understand what the heck is going on in this one.  This isn’t really a stand-alone movie.

Click here to read my movie reviews  for Divergent and Insurgent and be sure to watch the movies in the correct order so they make more sense. 

Uplifting theme: 
  •  “Great leaders don’t seek power.  They’re called out of necessity.” – Johanna (Octavia Spencer)
  • What do we do when we lose our humanity?
  • ‘I don’t know who told you that being different was a bad thing…” –  David (Jeff Daniels)
  • “Maybe it’s time to start embracing everyone instead of dividing them into groups.” - Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley)

Things I liked:
  • Shaleilene Woodley looks more grown up and beautiful.  Super cute hair cut.
  • I liked the concept of the cool bubble things that surround people and allow them to float, although it definitely looked CGI and fake.

Things I didn’t like:
  • Everything looks fake.  While “Star Wars Awakens” used a lot of CGI, they were successfully able to create enough real sets that made the scenes truly believable.
  • Characters are paper thin.  
  • Lots of crowds of extras yelling and shaking their fists halfheartedly.
  • “Purify the human genome” sounds a lot like what Hitler was trying to do…
  • That’s hilarious that the other side of the wall has such advanced technology, yet a lot of their areas still look like beat up warehouses.
  • The chase scene towards the end was super fake and lame.
  • Some of the actors seemed as bored as the audience.


Funny lines:
  •  “This is fun.  I’m glad we did this.” – Peter (Miles Teller) 

Interesting lines:
  • “You are the only one worth saving.” - David
  • “Hello.  I come from outside the wall, where we have all but destroyed each other.” – narrator
  • "We created factions to create peace.” - narrator    (What kind of logic is that?)
  • “Sometimes walls are designed to protect us.” – announcement lady on screen
  • “It’s impossible.” – Tori (Maggie Q)       “So.” – Tris
  • “People are sheep and they need a shepherd to guide them…and when they resist, they are slaughtered.” – Max (Mekhi Phifer)
  • “Why did you go to war with Janine if you were just going to become her?” – Four (Theo James) 
Tips for parents:   


  • Point blank shooting in the head.
  • You see Shalene’s naked body (silhouette)  in the dark.
  • Lots of shooting, explosions, fighting
  • Dead bodies on the ground
  • No profanity.