Happy Eternity Discussions: Divergent Part 2
Welcome to the new feature Happy Eternity Discussions! It’s where Jeann from Happy Indulgence and I discuss various topics. Be prepared for fangirling, swooning, critique, and snark.
Today’s discussion is about the Divergent movie, and our thoughts on this particular adaptation. The first half of this discussion can be read here.
Chiara: Mmm. I don’t know. I liked the jumper scene in the book because it showed from the get go that she wasn’t going to take crap from the other initiates. And I definitely agree that there wasn’t enough focus on other characters. Like, I get that Tris is our MC and the majority of the movie was going to be about her, but there wasn’t any development for other characters. Even in regards to the little things like Christina and Will! They’re cute, and then now it won’t make us much sense when Christina is all pissy about the fact that Tris killed her boyfriend….
AND NO BUTTER KNIFE IN THE EYE. WHERE WAS MY BUTTER KNIFE IN THE EYE, HUH? That was pivotal in showing exactly how cruel and PSYCHO Peter was. Based on the movie, you’d just think he was a bully – and he is so much more than that. It wasn’t even clear that he was one of the people who attacked Tris in the dark. I’m pretty sure you only knew it was Al and two other people. I thought that was disappointing because Peter is definitely a villain in the Divergent book.
Jeann: WHAT you have not read Allegiant yet? Maybe don’t read it because it ruined Four for me >_>
OMG I can’t believe they missed out on the butter knife in the eye scene! I was waiting for it all movie and at the end I was like, maybe that happened in Insurgent? Christina and Will didn’t even seem like boyfriend and girlfriend for the whole movie o.O sooo weird! It’s going to be weird if they don’t show how pissed she is going to be in the next few movies.
YES I am glad you agree about the chemistry, Four was like oh yeah I’m going to make you melt *pulls sexy face and intense stare* and Shailene is like yeah, whatever *smiles* I kind of know what you mean about her aloofness and felt like she needed a bit more “bring it” attitude as Tris. Most awkward scene ever – seeing Four after Tris’s fear landscape when she was scared about doing the deed with him haha! That was hilarious.
One gripe I had about the movie were how stupid the Dauntless looked on screen. I mean them jumping around and yelping and being hooligans didn’t seem appealing at all. Even from the books, I’m like just because you jump off buildings, beat up your initiates and get tattoos doesn’t mean you’re brave! I liked the portrayal of other factions and their segregation was even more evident on screen. First time I saw the movie, I took my boyfriend and this is his way of explaining the factions:
So Dauntless are the douchebags, Erudite are the nerds, Abnegation are the religious, Amity are the hippies and Candor are the dickheads? Hahaha I thought that comment was hilarious – because it’s so true!
The setting of Chicago and the trains and everything were spot on. Where the Dauntless live in these hardcore caves, the Abnegation in relative poverty and the Erudite live in clinical, scientific sorts of places, it was all really good. And the SOUNDTRACK! It was so good and got my heart pumping so much!
Chiara: I haven’t! *ducks head* It came out and I just never got around to it. Which happens too often >.>
I was uber disappointed with the removal of the butter knife scene. It was integral, dammit! And then it made Eric’s decision to leave Peter un-brainwashed more obvious. Because they’re both evil and everything. Speaking of: NO. Eric was all wrong! He was so douchey! He was supposed to be COVERED with piercings and have black hair and this actor was wrong wrong wrong.
Maybe they won’t focus on Christina being pissy? Although I guess their friendship was important, anyway.
Aw, no I thought it was cute! ACTUALLY. I hated how they did that fear. Like, she’s afraid of intimacy not of Four wanting to have sex with her, and he got very rape-y, which I really did not like at all.
Ohmygosh YES. In the book, I think Dauntless are idiots, and they portrayed that very well in the movie, haha XD Yeah, their definition of ‘bravery’ is kind of wack.
Your boyfriend sounds hilarious, and the way he described the factions is pretty spot on, haha.
I was disappointed with how the Dauntless headquarters were presented! They were all moderny D: When I think of Dauntless, I think of LITERAL DARK CAVES. Like caves. Sigh. So I didn’t like the grey stone that much.
And why did they do the weird toilet + shower thing? I am pretty sure they had their own bathrooms in the books ….
The soundtrack was pretty fab, even if there was the tacky girly singing during the kissing scene, haha!
Jeann: Yes now that I think about it, there was a lot of tackiness in the movie lol but not so much that it came off as totally corny. Your comments just makes me realise that I can’t remember a lot of the book from when it was first released, cos I read it all in one day lol.
That toilet and shower thing was just…wrong. I can’t remember whether it was like that in the book now.
How hilarious was Four’s “dumb look” face when he tried to show that he was under compulsion? HAHA I laugh at it every time.
Speaking of which, I LOVED Maggie Q as Tori, she was badass!
To wrap things up, I thought the movie was awesome all round, just wish there was more of a focus on other initiates and there was more scenes of Tris kicking ass. BUT IT DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE FOUR WAS HOT.
Chiara: HAHA Four’s brainwashed face was hilarious. Just no. SO BAD WHAT EVEN WAS THAT.
And yeah, Tori was so great. One of the best casting choices of the movie, in my humble opinion.
I gotta say one more thing: I missed the “I think I might love you but I’m waiting until I know for sure”. It’s so cute and swoony and it would have been great to be in there. Hopefully in the next movie or something?
For me, the movie would probably get a 3 out of 5. Just because there were some things that didn’t sit well with me.
What were your thoughts on the Divergent movie? Let us know!
Well I hope you enjoyed the first ever Happy Eternity discussion, and that you will join us for our next one … *drum roll please* Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier!
Until next time,
I actually started hating the book, so I don’t think I might even enjoy the movie, but who knows? I didn’t like the casting for Shailene, especailly with that sweet voice. It doesn’t suit Tris, in my opinion. But Tori looked great in the trailer, I have to say that.
That’s so disappointing! I must say there are things I am not a fan of in the book AND the movie, so I understand.
Yeah, I was not so keen on Shailene, especially since she’s being used a lot in the YA movie world at the moment (which really annoys me).
And Tory was great – one of the best casting in this film!
This was so funny! I loved reading yours and Jeann’s thoughts :D I can’t wait for more!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! :D It will be up once every three weeks!
The butter knife scene was one I was looking forward to as well! The whole first stage of the initiation just seemed really rushed for me. I wanted to see more of it. Probably a three for me too – but I’d go see the next one :)
I KNOW. It’s so important to the overall story and I felt so let down.
And yes, some of the movie did seem a bit rushed. I would have preferred less ‘deciding’ in the beginning and more exploration later on.
Oh yeah I’ll definitely see the next one!
I loved Tori too! I can’t wait to see more of her. And I agree that some characters weren’t given much focus which is such a shame. I wanted the knife in the eye scene too. And Eric was wrong too! I wasn’t into the technology in the Dauntless headquarters either. I also did not like the ending that they changed so much!
She was great, right? :D
I am so disappointed about the knife in the eye. I mean, obviously it’s not about gore and violence in YA movies because heeeeellllooooo Hunger Games, haha. So I really don’t know why they cut it.
Dauntless headquarters were SO wrong. Even the ranking – the Dauntless and other faction initiates were rated together on a screen? SO WRONG, haha.
Yeah, I much prefer the ending of the novel, too.
I personally think we were hilarious, and it was so much fun chatting together Chiara! I look forward to more chats <3
That’s because we ARE hilarious, haha :D It was, and neither can I ^.^ <3
You girls crack me up! Loved hearing your thoughts. And Chiara, you should read Allegiant to save yourself from being spoiled!
Yay!
Yeah, unfortunately I think I may have been spoiled :( But I will try and read it ASAP.
Allegiant ruined Four for me as well. I kept thinking while I was watching the movie, “How in the world are they going to believably turn *this* Four into *that* Four. Because I can’t even imagine Theo James portraying that at all.”
…and I didn’t think they had great chemistry either.
But there were a lot of other things, especially the soundtrack.
very fun discussion :)
I really want to read about what people mean when they say Four was ruined, haha!
Yeah, the chemistry WAS a bit of a let down, to be honest. It felt forced.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Annie!
I thought they did a really good job with this film, it stayed pretty true to the book and it wasn’t too cheesy or ridiculous!
Mands @ The Bookish Manicurist
I did like the fact that it wasn’t too cheesy but I think it could have been more by-the-book, actually!
You two are so cute together, and these movie dates are brilliantly entertaining. What! No knife in the eye? I was just commenting over on Jeann’s post saying I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I’m not sure I can see these two having chemistry either. They just seem like an odd choice, no matter how sexy Theo James is. Looooove the discussion posts, looking forward to the next one ladies.
I’m glad you think so, Kelly!
It is an odd pairing, I agree. I sometimes wish I could cast these YA book to movie adaptations, haha.
Yay! :D
I totally agree with everything you said! i didn’t like the actor they chose to play Four, though. I think he isn’t very attractive and it isn’t at all how I pictured what he’d look like.
He wasn’t my Four and he’s not exactly my type but I found myself ogling him a bit, haha!