"Divergent" is all about identity—about searching your soul and determining who you are and how you fit in as you emerge from adolescence to adulthood.

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2015)

Smart, tough and a little bit cool, this is an intriguing opening. The blend of action, romance and political plotting is handled with smooth efficiency, leaving us breathlessly awaiting the next chapter. Yes, kids should embrace individuality, and yes, they should think for themselves. It is simply an action-packed romantic fantasy with an earnest message that ... encourages trusting oneself over a corrupt system, and values nonconformity. It may be because I like Shailene Woodley but I enjoyed Divergent much more than The Hunger Games films, to which it is superior. I thought the acting, the direction, and structure of the screenplay were all solid. Yes, there is a pattern to it which is recognizable and arguably derivative, but I was not able to predict what was going to happen or to whom. And I was emotionally moved, which always scores big points for me.