Divergent VS Hunger Games

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DIVERGENT VS CATCHING FIRE: 2013, 2014, DRM, ++:  The reasons that I wanted to compare these two movies were that there were many similarities between them and common themes, but radically different results.  Which delivered the best experience?

First of all, both main characters are female and at times even appear like each other.  Katniss is of course Jessica Lawrence, who has been on a roll of great performances lately like in American Hustle.  The main character in Divergent, Shailene Woodley, who isn't as well known as Jessica, still manages to put on a very good performance.  


The two female roles in these movie are very similar in appearance.

The difference starts to arise in their performances though.  Jessica Lawrence has the innate ability to change the meaning of her lines with subtle facial changes.  I especially liked the scene in the elevator where she conveys exactly her thoughts by a nonchalant smirk.  Although she can play the innocent role, she has shown her darker side and this was especially true in Hunger Games II. I felt that Shailene's performance in Divergent was a little belabored and it was as if the director, Neil Burger, had to instruct her in various scenes.  This is just a hunch though.


Beatrice Prior, Shailene, is learning the ropes.

Both movies deal in the "not too distant future" as well as deal with a dystopian society that is separated into distinct factions.  Both movies deal with a "trials" period and a strict hierarchy in society that controls everything.  The similarities don't stop there.  

 
The two movies took on very similar themes regarding groups and a fragmented society.

Some might say that comparing these two movies is a non issue, giving the nod to Hunger Games without a question.  I can't disagree with them but there were some elements in Divergent that were great.  Hunger Games 2 easily had much better action as well as visuals but let's face it, it probably had a much larger budget to work with.  

   
The action in Hunger Games seemed better executed.

You can't blame it on the fact that Hunger Games is based on a novel because so is Divergent.  It's almost like Hunger Games is the Transformer toys, while Divergent is the Go-Bots.  Does anyone remember the Go Bots?  Wow, dating myself but oh well...


Transformers = Hunger Games as Go Bots = Divergent

Hunger Games 2 had a star studded cast while Divergent had only a few recognizable actors like Ashley Judd and Maggie Q (Mission Impossible 3 and Balls of Fire?).   There is no comparison there because Hunger Games wins hands down.  

   
The cast's quality and quantity really can't be compared.

There are some areas where Divergent became a little stronger than Hunger Games.  Primarily when the two main characters fall in love, Divergent is more engaging because at times the Hunger Games chemistry element becomes hard pressed and cheesy. That is not a derogatory aspect of Jessica Lawrence's acting, it's just a deficiency in the movie/ story/ novel itself.  It felt a little like Twilight.

  
Chemistry was a little better in Divergent.

Both movies had some plot lag, especially Divergent.  If there was another test regarding whether or not she was a Divergent I was going to stop watching the movie.  Also, if she knew that she was testing the wrong way, why didn't she just stop doing the tests the same way?  It could definitely have been shorter, at least by 20 minutes.  


Not a test, but there were enough of them in this movie.  This was a tattoo session with Jessica Q.


Not only does Jessica Q tattoo, but she also administers the ever important "tests"

Character development was more robust in Hunger Games, but Divergent did a good job of developing the two main characters and focused on them, making their love chemistry evolve naturally.  The music was a bit better in Divergent, done by Junkie Xl and Hans Zimmer.  

So at this point, you can say that there were some elements that Divergent did well, but its just running against a titan, that has become a serious franchise.  Divergent gets a 73% while Hunger Games 2 gets a 79%.  I thought Hunger Games I was better then the sequel.  


Can Divergent catch the Hunger Games?