DIVERGENT

When I watched this movie based on another young adult best selling series, I couldn't help but compared it to "The Hunger Games". Starring Shailene Woodley as Beatrice (otherwise known as Tris), Theo James as Four, Jai Courtney as Eric, Ashley Judd as Tris' mother, Maggie Q as Tori, Kate Winslet as Jeanine etc, this movie was set in a future world where Chicago was what was left after a war. All the surviving members of its society was divided into five factions, based on the character traits that each possesses or their personal choice, to maintain balance and harmony.

All children who reached the age of 16 had to go through a mandatory serum test to determine if their personalities belong to which one of the five factions:

• dauntless e.g. policeman, the brave ones who maintain societal discipline,
• amity e.g. farmer, the peaceful ones who provide for society, 
• candor e.g. lawyer, the truthful ones who uphold law and order,
• erudite e.g. scientist, the intelligent ones who invent stuff or
• abnegation e.g. charity workers, the selfless ones who help others out.

Tris was found to belong to neither but possesses qualities of a few factions and thus belonged to a minority group known as divergent. Jeanine, leader of the erudite, had her own plans to maintain peace, harmony, law and order, and her aim was to eradicate society of all divergents, who threatened the execution of her grand plan, at all costs. Four, the trainer for dauntless, fell in love with Tris and they combined forces to bring down Jeanine.

Many aspects of the movie really reminded me of "The Hunger Games" but I was particularly impressed by the cold and ruthless Eric, played by Jai Courtney whom I remembered from the recent "I, Frankenstein" movie. The movie was good enough for me to watch out for the subsequent parts, that is if they are going to be made.

Four and Tris

Eric and Four

the cold look Eric

Tori running tests on Tris

Tris and Christina

Tris and her brother Caleb

the scheming Jeanine

I, FRANKENSTEIN

First, I must say this movie didn't receive rave reviews from the critics but I think it is not bad at all. I am not a movie critic but I do like the storyline, acting and special effects.

With a cast including Aaron Eckhart as the lead character or monster without a soul created by Frankenstein, Bill Nighy, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto, Socratis Otto, Jai Courtney etc, the movie was reminiscent of the "Underworld" movies from the same producer where war between two opposing legions i.e. vampires and werewolves in Underworld, angels and demons in this movie. All these beings and creatures lived amongst the humans and threatened the existence of mankind but their battles took place for centuries right under our noses unbeknownst to all humans, except the lucky or unlucky few who were drawn into the battles.

Before I comment any further, I must say I enjoyed a number of Aaron Eckhart's past movies where he wasn't the lead protagonist and played good guys. I started to sit up and noticed the change in him when he appeared as Two-Face in the "The Dark Knight". With this movie, I didn't actually see it coming for him to be the lead and took up the challenge of playing such a dark character. Not that he wasn't capable of doing it. It was more of seeing the friendly guy-next-door suddenly becoming a totally different person kind of strange feeling. For one, I think Aaron made the right move in coming out of his comfort zone playing good guys and took on more and more interesting roles to challenge himself. At least in this movie, he was the lead and his acting was good, I must add. Who knew he had such a good bod too? Hollywood must certainly pay notice to a new leading man if this movie performs well at the box office.

It is also interesting that Bill Nighy, who played an evil elder vampire in the "Underworld" movies, took on the role of Prince Nebarius, the leader of demons in this movie. Be careful Bill, before you are typecast forever to play characters from the dark side.

I shan't give the rest of the story away but we all know and believe that good will always triumph evil in the end in such movies.