Insurgent - A dark sequel

So I got to see the highly-anticipated sequel to the Divergent Series. I have to admit, I had no idea what the series was about, but since I got in on the advanced screening, I decided I better watch the first part, Divergent, to get the scoop on what would be happening.

Let's put Insurgent into context before I dive into anything. Friends will betray friends. Families will also turn on each other. Dark secrets will be revealed. And death is inevitable for some characters.

One thing I noticed off the bat is that Insurgent was going to be darker than Divergent. It opens with an awful nightmare that Tris Prior (played by Shailene Woodley) is having in the aftermath of her parents deaths. She continues to have these nightmares. She is clearly haunted by them and blames herself throughout the movie, feeling responsible her parents are no longer alive. She has become isolated and tough on the exterior, but is very vulnerable inside.

You can see her and Four (played by Theo James) have gotten very close and have become each others protectors. Their chemistry is undeniable and the bond they share cannot be broken.

As the movie progresses, you will see that both Tris and Four are on the run from Jeanine (played by Kate Winslet) who seeks out to hunt every Divergent and have them brought to her to open a mysterious box that unlocks a message from their ancestors. Only one divergent will be able to pass all five tests to open it, and you will see many of them die trying. Speaking of death, there is lots of it in this film. As I said, some characters do not make it to the end.

Visually, the film is AMAZING! I suggest you see it in 3D as I did. I literally felt like I was right in the middle of the some of the action scenes. The effects were that good!

I must say all the actors were great at channeling the emotional core of their characters, and some played very good villains. Yes, not everyone is on Tris' side in this one. Tris herself doesn't even want anything to do with herself, feeling that everyone around her either dies or suffers for her being a divergent. She will do anything to protect them, even if it means sacrificing herself.

So if you liked the first film, then you'll like this one as well. Just don't expect a lighter storyline, because you definitely won't get it in this sequel. Overall, it was a great continuation of the series with all the elements that make a good action-packed film. Insurgent is in theaters everywhere this Friday, March 20. You can check out the trailer in my movie segment below, as well as a look at the other films out this week. ENJOY!