'Insurgent' Movie Review: Dull, Plodding Plot & Bland Characters Make Latest 'Divergent' Film A Bore
http://www.latinpost.com/articles/43725/20150320/insurgent-movie-review-dull-plodding-plot-bland-characters-make-latest.htm
Hollywood studios know that to seize box offices is through the young adults.
Hence, the domination of superhero films these days as well as the Young Adult genre. While the Superhero films, led by Marvel's renaissance, have proven increasingly lucrative, the YA films are going in the other direction.
And it is not hard to see why. While Marvel and Disney are doing the impossible to continually refresh their films and mature their content, YA films have "Insurgent." The film, which is the sequel to the financially successful (but critically loathed) "Divergent," is an example to hold up for everything it does wrong in modern Hollywood.
So let's get to plot. At the end of the last film, Tris and her beloved Four -- or Tobias Eakon, as he reveals (who continue to exhibit no chemistry or real interest in one another, regardless of what the story is imploring us to believe) -- are on the run. They head to the factionless zone where they meet Tobias' mother Evelyn and ask for some protection. Meanwhile, Peter (Miles Teller) is conveniently lost from the group while Caleb, Tris' brother, struggles with a crime he didn't mean to commit.
What follows is a mess of betrayals, fake deaths, another simulation and just messy plotting all around. Those who have no vested interest in the franchise will likely be wondering the logic of some of the plot twists consistently with no end in sight.
And unfortunately, unless this film plunges into disaster at the box office, the end is not in sight with more films likely on the way.
Those familiar with the first film will be unsurprised by the fact that this film has continued to look as bland as its predecessor. Tris has a new, "edgier" haircut, but the rest of the film looks as dull as its predecessor with gray and black the dominant colors; this world still feels excessively sterile. There is really nothing fantastical about it. The music is generic, even by action movie standards, with the standard emotional effects played to the T.
So this is not a good movie. It happens all the time. But what is most infuriating about watching this latest YA mess is the talent on board and how shamefully it gets wasted.
Shailene Woodley is undoubtedly one of the most talented actresses of her generation. But no one will ever know that watching this film. She does her absolute best to make Tris feel like an increasingly fragile girl trying to find new strength to save the world, but the thin plot around her makes those efforts in vain.
It does not help that her co-star Theo James, for all of his good looks, is rather one note throughout the proceedings, rarely convincing anyone that he is actually feeling anything.
Then you have Miles Teller. He has showcased his tremendous talent in such work as "The Spectacular Now" and "Whiplash." But here he is a rather pointless character who becomes a running gag. Is he good? Is he bad? Does it even matter? Sometimes you get the feeling that Teller does not even care to answer of these questions from his rather bored delivery.
Kate Winslet tried her best to make Jeanine somewhat likeable in the first film, but in this film there is simply nothing for her to do. Her villain is as flat as they come, evil to the core with nothing redeeming about her.
Naomi Watts plays what comes across as a carbon copy of the Jeanine character.
At least one of these actors will not have to endure this much longer; those familiar with the book will know who it is. Those who do not know may have to watch the film. Assuming they care that much.
This is rather unfortunate. One can imagine that most people working on a film like this certainly cared about the end product and reaching their fan base. But the unfortunate reality is that this film cannot even aspire to clean the boots of its predecessor, which in and of itself was not anything to marvel about. Fans of the books and first one will likely take to "Insurgent," while the uninitiated will remain uninitiated.
Theo James
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theo_James
Theodore Peter James Kinnaird Taptiklis (born 16 December 1984), better known as Theo James, is an English actor. He is known for portraying Jed Harper in Bedlam, Walter William Clark, Jr. in the crime drama Golden Boy and Tobias "Four" Eaton in the film adaptation of Veronica Roth's dystopian sci-fi novel, Divergent.
photos
https://www.google.hr/search?q=Theo+James&client=opera&hs=JtC&sa=N&biw=1745&bih=857&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=Rm4VVc-LIsT1ONPkgcgF&ved=0CBoQsAQ4Cg
Shailene Woodley & Theo James On Set of 'Insurgent' | TODAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcTW4AGp7cc
Shailene Woodley, Theo James On ‘Insurgent’ Stunts | TODAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHR1nyQQZPA
'Insurgent' | Unscripted | Moviefone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWAayKgolCg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JrTQPH9fvI
Shailene Woodley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shailene_Woodley
Shailene Diann Woodley (born November 15, 1991) is an American actress. Her first roles included Felicity Merriman in the 2005 television film Felicity: An American Girl Adventure and Amy Juergens in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–13).
photos
https://www.google.hr/search?q=Shailene+Woodley&client=opera&hs=cDD&sa=N&biw=1745&bih=857&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=MXMVVevCMYO6OsrQgdAM&ved=0CBoQsAQ4Cg
The Divergent Series: Insurgent
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Divergent_Series:_Insurgent
The Divergent Series: Insurgent (also known as Insurgent) is a 2015 science fiction adventure film directed by Robert Schwentke, based on Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent trilogy, written by Veronica Roth. It is the sequel to the 2014 film Divergent and the second installment in The Divergent Series, produced by Lucy Fisher, Pouya Shabazian and Douglas Wick, with a screenplay by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman, and Mark Bomback. Robert Schwentke took over from Neil Burger as director, while Burger served as the executive producer of the film. Along with the first film's returning cast, the sequel features supporting actors Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, Suki Waterhouse, Rosa Salazar, Daniel Dae Kim, Jonny Weston, Emjay Anthony, and Keiynan Lonsdale.
The plot of Insurgent takes place three days after the previous installment and continues to follow Tris Prior; Tris and Four are on the run after evading a hostile takeover from Jeanine and the rest of Erudite. The faction system in post-apocalyptic Chicago is crumbling, and everyone is desperate for power — and answers. Filming began on May 27, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia, before officially concluding on September 6, 2014.
The Divergent Series: Insurgent was released on March 20, 2015 in the United States in the IMAX 3D format as well as regular 3D and 2D. Critical reaction to the film was mixed: some have considered the film to be an improvement over its predecessor, with reviewers highlighting the visual style, action sequences, and Woodley's performance, but the film still received a significant amount of negative criticism, mainly focused on the film's storyline. The film was a commercial success, grossing over US$99 million worldwide during its opening weekend, making it attain the #1 spot at the box-office.
A sequel, The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Part 1, is scheduled to be released on March 18, 2016