divergence
1. The action of diverging: moving off in different directions from the same point.
'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' (catchy title!) is one of those young adult, "Dystopian Future" movies that they have now instead of High School movies. Remember High School movies? Jocks, nerds and misfits battling each other for their place in the social pecking order. Long corridors full of lockers, yellow school buses, sports day humiliations and Prom dances. A soundtrack of non-threatening punky-pop sounds. The kids united in their first world problems ("Dad won't let me borrow his car!") and all that raging against the world that adults created. Yeah, well they don't make those any more. Unless there's a singing competition involved. Or vampires. Or both. I blame 'Glee' which seems to have seen off the genre for good.
What they have now is "Dystopian Futures". Instead of school you have a whole post apocalyptic world organised into factions. You have a feisty female trying to make sense of the world and the lies that she's been told. You have the beginnings of a rebellion and kicking against oppression. You get to blame your elders. There's an anxiety and paranoia about everything. You have betrayals and death- match fights to contend with. The villain is rich and smart and controlling. A bleak future is mapped out for you. And there's usually some great big "mad bugger's wall" to tear down before things can get better. In short these films are all about growing up and facing the fears of adulthood and responsibility. I love 'em! They're a lot more interesting than the high school soap operas of my day and we all need a break from vampires. In a world where most adults can't even face up to anything it is no wonder that these tales connect with a wide audience.
I'm sure that when the dust has settled on the decade 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' will be looked upon favourably as one of the better examples of the genre. I like its 'Brave New World' caste-style social setup, it's fear of individuality and the idea that those who don't conform must be controlled. It's well done and feels more believable to me as a possible future than that of 'The Hunger Games'. I think Tris is every bit as compelling a character as Katniss Everdeen but with the added advantage of not having a love-triangle thing holding her down all the time. Sure, she is motivated by love and sometimes she is saved because she is loved, but at least we don't have to sit through the usual guff about choosing between 'team Hunky guy' and 'team sensitive guy'. Divergence seems to be less about romance and more about transcending the self. For me it's the better for it.
You also get a lot more thrills and spills for your money than the plodding, lugubrious 'Hunger Games' series. There's always something interesting happening; whether it's a well executed chase scene, a new concept, a fight or a dream-like visual effects sequence. Even the running-down-corridors-with-guns bits are good. There are moments where it all becomes as gloriously daft as anything in The Resident Evil series but the concepts keep it grounded and compelling. It's complicated but not confusing. The "are we still in a drug induced mind trial, or are we back in reality?" mind game playing is especially well done in this film (this is the 'Inception' of YA movies) and it props up a tense, exciting final act. It left me wanting answers; wanting more. Job done I'd say.
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