Cert 12A
139 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence and threat
How highly would I have scored Divergent if I hadn't have seen Hunger Games? I suspect that I might have made it one of the films of the year so far.
In short, I was engrossed in Neil Burger's movie but whenever Shailene Woodley was on screen as the lead character, Tris, I couldn't help thinking of Jennifer Lawrence's Katnis Everdeen.
Woodley should see this as a compliment because Lawrence was terrific in both of the Hunger Games films.
Divergent is based in a future world where Chicago is a city which has survived a great apocalypse.
It is split into five factions and each has their own area of responsibility for the peaceful running of society.
Tris's family are 'Abregation', a selfless and unconfrontational group who govern the territory.
However, when she takes the right-of-passage test to see in which group she belongs, she bucks society's norms by showing tendencies of other groups.
Indeed, when given the choice she opts to join 'Dauntless' - the faction whose fearless members uphold the society's laws. However, the initiation is tougher than she ever imagined.
Tris, like Katniss, is a combination of physical power and intellect - a heroine for female teenagers of today.
And she has a bit of handsome love interest in the shape of Theo James, one of the Dauntless trainers.
Meanwhile, the villain (every action film has got to have one) is portrayed by Kate Winslet whose 'Erudite' faction is threatening a coup.
A few years back I loved Burger's The Illusionist with its wonderful twists but I thought he lost his way a touch with Limitless.
Here, he is back to his best with a movie which deserves its young following but which will attract adults too.
The special effects and fight scenes are impressive but so is the pathos and while Woodley doesn't quite have the charisma of Lawrence, she has star potential.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: bare bum
Overall rating: 8/10