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Friday, March 21, 2014

[Books Becoming Movies] SPOILERS!!! Debriefing Divergent

If you have NOT seen/read Divergent, the movie or book, then go away now! 
But, pleeeeeease come back when you have :)
You can also stay if you don't mind spoilers (mom, I see you).


So the time has FINALLY come!! This movie is reals and pretty good. So for those of us that did our homework... ahem, read the book, we can now debrief. I love to debrief post-movie/book adaptation.

I noticed some inconsistencies and what not but its a movie and I do expect some liberties since we can't have 11 hour long movies. I really enjoyed the movie and will probably see it again in theaters! Fangirl love!!!

Things I noticed that stuck with me:
  • Peter is not douchey enough. He's just annoying and his most evil acts are not even played out or attributed to him. Bummer... I really enjoyed some of those scenes where he's a bully and total douche. Also on that note, we're almost convinced Molly is nice.
  • With that said... no one loses an eye! This was one of the most memorable scenes in the book for me. TOTAL heartbreak for me when it didn't play out. Always reminds me of the phrase, "It's all fun and game until someone loses an eye."
  • Tris has a Rocky moment. There's a training montage where Tris is determined to move up in the rankings. I wanted to show her how to throw a jab and uppercut. Apparently, these skills are lost in Chicago in the future.
  • Tris doesn't mind touching people and showing affection. Yep, movie Tris has no problem hugging, holding hands and the like. I actually tensed up when the family was giving good bye hugs the night before the choosing ceremony.
  • Too much Janine and not enough secondary character building. Janine only appears in the last 1/3 of the book...maybe. However, we have to tolerate her from her first interaction with Tris on choosing day and a few other random run ins later. I really wish the secondary character development would've been there for characters like Al, Uriah, Zeke, Molly, Peter, Lynn, etc.
  • There's no water in the chasm. I found this really weird. It's just an abyss. Did they run out of money? Could we not CGI the rapids in? I feel like this is important for three scenes in the book.
  • The violence and brutality is toned down. From the moment the person misses the roof to the training fight scenes to Tris' assault its all kind of toned down. I really enjoyed the book scenes where Tris toughs it out after getting the crap beat out of her by Peter. To me that was a huge breaking point for her. 
  • EVERYONE knows what Divergents are... except Tris. In the movie world apparently we all know there are Divergents out there and abnegation is hiding them. The other transfer initiates know, Caleb knows, everyone knows! The only person who doesn't know is Tris, the ultimate chosen Divergent. 
  • Technology substitutes. This maybe a dystopia, but we've traded up for higher tech. This is true for how the ranking board is displayed and also the "guns" used during capture the flag.


Overall I would say this book to movie adaptation is a B+.


Now it's your turn...
What differences stuck with you?

Answer the question above in the comments below by April 1, 2014 at 11 p.m. EST for a chance to
win a pre-order of the Divergent DVD. U.S., only sorry. Must be 13 years or older.
One entry per person please.


24 comments:

  1. Isn't Four like 18 in the book? I thought he looked older than that in the movie!

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    1. Yes! Read they split the difference between Theo's real age and Four's age and that they thought it'd make his leadership more believable. In the book he was only Dauntless for two years.

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  2. Tris and Four didn't have enough flirty-cute scenes as in the book! >:( Other than that, loved it! Thank you for the giveaway; I'd love to own the DVD.

    Email: ellapischikova [at] gmail.com

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    1. Agreed! There can never be enough Tris and Four.

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  3. I really liked the movie and I thought that they did a pretty good job overall. I liked that they added Janine to the control room at the end instead of just having Four there. It added more action and suspense to the movie. But I agree with you on Peter he wasn't nearly evil enough for me and he looked really boyish. I also thought of Al as a bigger more goofy looking guy. Lastly I was really disappointed that they left out my favorite part in the book where Four tell Tris he loves her on the train. But I am just being picky because honestly they did a pretty good job and I am excited it did well in the theaters!!!

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  4. There were a lot less violent scenes and they were toned down, like the train scene. Which is probably a good thing since its the big screen! oh, and if you need my email its christyannackley@gmail.com

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  5. I haven't seen it yet, but I plan too, I'm very much excited to see it though, I've heard mostly great things.

    sezjb81@gmail.com

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  6. I didn't like Tris's Fear landscape with Four. I felt like they changed the whole reason why she was scared. They made it cruel and noting like I pictured it in the book..
    And I also with the Butterknife to the eye scene. My boyfriend never read the book series and I kept telling him about this scene to get him more excited and not think it was some cheesy love story thing. And after words he was like " So..I never seen anyone get stabbed in the eye" I know they filmed it but I am wondering why they didn't show it .
    and another scene I was disappointed in was they didn't show Al's funeral.
    Beside all that and some small parts I would give the movie a B. Still was a really good movie but the book is better.
    Email: myv_dream@yahoo.com

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  7. Haven't seen it yet; interesting info

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  8. I honestly loved the movie, though I didn't reread the book before the film so I did forget a few things. The touching thing for Tris did stick out to me though, as well as how everyone in Abnegation was touchy. I think they tried to show how she didn't like touching through her near rape scene in the fear simulation. I also missed the eye stabbing, but maybe they thought it was too violent or something? I don't know. They might have just wanted to keep it more clean. I really loved the movie though. It was a great adaptation as far as book to movies go, and I can't wait to see it when it's out on DVD!!
    victoriaball182@gmail.com

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  9. I agree that Janine had more scenes than in the book, but its Kate Winslet so its all good! lol

    definitionoflove @ hotmail.com

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  10. Loved the series, but I haven't had a chance to see the movie yet...
    No worried, spoilers weren't bad!!!!

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    Replies
    1. You're the lucky winner of the Divergent DVD pre-order giveaway! Please send me your mailing address at becomingbooksblog@gmail.com

      Thanks - meghann

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  11. I didn't like how Tris's friends weren't really in the movie much (except for Christina) because Tris's friends are an important part of the story.

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  12. I didn't like how they toned down the rivalry amongst the initiates (Christina not grabbing the flag in capture the flag, the eye scene, Molly and Peter v Tris).

    brookea_2006 at yahoodotcom

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  13. Evil and conflict from Peter, and wanted more tension with Four and Tris like in the book.

    maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. The ending. We didn't get the big I love you from Four in the end, which I really missed. I still thought the movie was completely amazing, though. I can't wait to watch it again!

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  15. There wasn't an "I love you" at the end.

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  16. I haven't seen it (yet) :-( I absolutely loved the book though!

    teencrocheter (at) gmail (dot) com

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  17. Yes when I was watching, I was like when does he lose his eye?!? lol Also Peter didn't seem evil enough.

    sienkiel1821 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  18. Definitely with the "no one loses an eye". I was waiting for that seen actually ,but it never came out. I want to see the horror..
    riseearlyat4am[at]gmail[dot]com

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  19. I think the others have mentioned this already, but I thought four looked too old. Although, I'm not complaining at ALL about him. Hehe. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Jana Sparkles {at} yahoo {dot} com

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  20. The biggest difference I noticed was her interaction with Four during the fear landscape, it made me uncomfortable and changed their relationship for me.

    blburslem (at) gmail (dot) com

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  21. I liked the movie as a whole. As much as I love Theo, I think he might've been a little bit too old for the role. I don't mind that much, though. :D The only difference that I had an issue with was the ending. I liked it better in the book.

    dontfoldthepage at gmail dot com

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