Back To The Future..."Insurgent"

Insurgent (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller

Directed by Robert Schwentke

The Story:

Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) continue their fight for survival and to overthrow the current leadership that won't stop until the Divergents are wiped off the face of the earth. 

Did you see Divergent?

Then Insurgent picks up almost exactly where the other one left off as the further adventures of a dystopian future unspool before you.

Treachery.
Lies.
Betrayal.

And that's just Miles Teller's character throughout the series thus far!

The funny thing, the more of these I watch, the more they all begin to blend together.

Wait, there's a mysterious wall? Wasn't that the Maze Runner?

The secret to this society is revealed? That was done in one movie, The Giver. It's taken this franchise 2 films to do it.

I'm sure there's some similarity in The Hunger Games as well, but I've yet to dip my toes into that franchise.

I'm sure there's another part coming, but everything is really wrapped up rather nicely, so I'm not sure how much incentive I have to come back for a part 3.

Final Grade: C

This Week's Dystopian Future Flick: "The Giver"

The Giver (2014)

PG-13

Starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites

Directed by Phillip Noyce

The Story:

In the future, society is naturally perfect. As the latest wave of children graduate to take on their role in society, one boy, Jonas (Thwaites) is selected by the Chief Elder (Streep) to become the "Receiver of the Memories". He learns from The Giver (Bridges) all of the secrets of society that the people no longer remember. As he begins to learn, he begins to realize that all of society is a lie...

The book that has been around forever is now a major motion picture!

And really, it's not that bad.

However, when you finally come along after The Hunger Games, Divergent and a million other "this is the future and society is different now and you are the special chosen one..."

Well, they all begin to blur together after awhile, and it's a lot of been there, done that.

That said, this one is rather interesting in the passing of memories from The Giver to the Receiver.

There are some uncomfortable truths that are offered in here that show how cruel society can become.

How Jonas chooses to handle what he learns and decide what is best for society is what makes the story work.

Plus, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt since the book has been around for over 30 years.

Had this been filmed first, all bets would be off, and those other films would be compared to this one.

:)

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: It was one of the better dystopian future movies of late, but once was enough.