2014: Week 12: Divergent

Divergent

Genre: Action, Adventure

Main Players: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Miles Teller, Zoe Kravitz, Ansel Elgort

General Gist: A futuristic Chicago is divided up into five factions.  Every 16 year old has to decide what faction they belong in.  One girl realizes she doesn't fit into just one faction and has to figure out what that means.

Tiff's Take:
Such a highly anticipated movie!  I love these kinds.  Reading all three books in the series within about 9 days helps a little with the anticipation.  I felt a little bit like a teenage girl waiting for this one.

Let's start out with, of course the book is better.  That's a given like 99.9% of the time.  But obviously some do it better than others.  This one was on the better side of it.  It wasn't perfect but it was good.  The main reason I thought it was so good was the casting.  Maybe not everyone physically looked exactly how I envisioned the characters in my head but they all played the part so well.  It seemed like the actors really got the characters.  Shailene Woodley and Theo James played the parts of Tris and Four fantastically.  I was worried that Shailene wouldn't seem weak enough to play Tris but she really nailed it.  And Theo James. *swoon*  I felt like there was a lot of hype from the teenage girls about him.  Boy am I on that bandwagon.  Not only is he easy to look at but he really took on the Four persona.      

Was it perfect?  No.  Did it leave you a little disappointed after reading the book?  What movie doesn't.  Am I still thinking about it?  Yes.  Do I want to see it a second time?  Is it wrong if I say I do?  I think not.

Tiff's Rate: Friday Night

Deb's Take:
I didn't read all three books in the series like my dear sister (I did read the first one in a day or two though).  How can you not look forward to a movie that was a book?   It's all about bringing the characters to life.  Movies like this are about the anticipation, the energy in the theatre as everyone waits to SEE what they have only imagined.  The whole experience is just fun.

I will agree with Tiff, the book is always better.  A book allows you to see in the brain of the characters, allows you to know their thoughts,  not really possible in a movie.  So..yes the book was much, much MUCH better.  So, let's take the book out of it.  The movie was good.  I believe the casting of Tris and Four were good.  I didn't like Eric and Christina so well..Peter was right on.  I think where the movie was lacking was the whole romance between Four and Tris.  I just didn't get that "first love" passion.  They had good chemistry, but the movie didn't play on that.  I also was unimpressed with the relationship between Tris and her parents.  I felt it was to surface.   I guess when I think about it, none of the relationships were very impressive, and unfortunately that's what makes a good movie for me. 

I'm a little less forgiving with this one.  I think it could have been better, I think the directors got a little lazy and let the book do the talking.  Can't wait to read the next two books though!


Deb's Rate: Matinee

Preview:  One of us is traveling this week so we might have to go to different movies.  
(or maybe two sisters will become one sister and a brother for a twist.)

2014: Week 9: That Awkward Moment

That Awkward Moment

Genre:  Romantic Comedy

Main Players: Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Imogen Poots, Mackenzie Davis

General Gist: Three best friends and their dilemmas with relationships.

Deb's Take:
I needed this movie this week.  I needed to laugh and pretty much sink into a chicky flicky kind of mode.  The thing about this movie is that is wasn't necessarily a chick flick, it was about three college guy friends.  There is very little that is chick flicky about three guys.  However, this movie was about relationships, and love, and sex, and friendship and MY perfect combination of romance, comedy and seriousness.  Now by no means is this movie an Oscar type of show.  There is no deeper meaning, no hidden messages, just flat out relationship craziness.  In all actuality it's the "fairytale" portrayal that I liked.  Chase the girl, lose the girl, get the girl (although not completely).  The better part though is it cracked me up.  There was a scene that made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. It was crude, but I guess my humor runs a little on the dirty side at times.  I will never think of the word "cocktail" in quite the same way.

Now about the actors,  yes I am 42 but I still think Zac Efron is nice to look at.  Also, the chemistry between the three guy actors was so natural.  Not sure if they are really friends but they seemed pretty believable to me.  I also liked the chemistry between the couples.  I liked how the dynamics between each couple was different and  all seemed like plausible situations.  Another sort of hokey likeness in the movie were the cliches and puns.  I am a sucker for one liners be it serious or funny. 

If you happen to see this movie stay for the outtakes.  They are funnier than some of the scenes.  Oh, and another thing...not one naked woman, but a couple naked men..see, chick flick!  I say take a friend (like your sister) and enjoy some girl time, and really, I think a guy might enjoy some of the funny men situations, if for no other reason than the fact that they could probably relate to every situation.

Deb's Rate: Friday Night

Tiff's Take:
Another love story (sort of) for the third week in a row.  This one was more from the male perspective though.  Meaning a lot about sex and a lot of swearing and definitely funnier than the other two.  Seeing relationships from the male perspective can be refreshing.  And this was.  But.

There were a lot of one liners, which were funny, but it didn't seem like there were any real conversations.  It was a little too much for me.  I liked the chemistry between the couples but they didn't ever really talk to each other.  I don't know.  I just didn't get into the rhythm of the movie.

But as Deb said, there was one scene that was so funny we both were practically crying.  We sisters definitely like a good laugh.  That right there is enough to go to the movie.  But overall, for me, it was just okay.

Tiff's Rate: Matinee

Preview:  We'll be celebrating the older sister's birthday this week with a movie!