Divergent - Movie Review

I absolutely love the young adult movie genre. I tend to anticipate these adaptions more than most other genres, and it's for the simple reason that they're entertaining and usually refreshing. They whisk you into other worlds constructed by an author, and builds fan bases that support the series like no other. It's like one big party, and I'm so glad to say Divergent was no exception.

The most impressive thing Divergent did (now keep in mind, at this point I have not read the books) was build a new and exciting world. It was well thought out and completely drew me in. Many speculated it would be too similar to how the Hunger Games world is set up, but I can safely say now these are two very different worlds from two different authors. The costuming and sets also supplied nicely to this new world we see, and just on this alone, I can't wait until the sequel hits theatres next year.

But that's definitely not all that was impressive. The next thing that stood out to me was the great acting brought in by Oscar nominee Shailene Woodley. She was intense when she needed to be, vulnerable, brave, and full of emotion, all in one performance. It was so much fun seeing her character Tris unfold on screen, and her acting skills added to the film's success tremendously. And secondly, Theo James plays a decent love interest that will appeal to both male and females alike (though a lot of the eye candy is aimed towards luring teenage girls.) And the last performance I'd like to point out is Kate Winslet, who brings secrecy and suspicion to the movie. Her character unfolds slowly, but she is always unsettling and eerie on screen.

And finally, I'd like to comment on the incredible soundtrack used in this movie. The songs bring emotion and they also support the epic-ness of a lot of the movie. I'm a firm believer that music is a huge part of making a movie's emotions go into the audience, and Divergent did a very great job in intertwining music with some unique cinematography.

My one complaint would be that the movie was simply too long. I felt like some scenes dragged out a lot longer than necessary, and the buildup to the big climax stumbled a couple times. The direction of the movie just seemed to get confused every once in a while, but it still ended in a very satisfying way. I can't wait for the sequel! B+

Bates Motel - My Newfound Obsession

We all know that Netflix is truly an amazing thing, and with spring break it allowed me time to search thoroughly and find some awesome television. But the one show that I absolutely got hooked on was Bates Motel. And now that I've been watching intensely for the past few days, I've compiled a list of reasons why I believe it works so well and stands out from other tv shows.

1. It's actually written with thought
So many writers for television often just throw random plot points into things or to not utilize all the characters it has. This is found way too often in contemporary television shows, yet Bates Motel manages to stay written with such intensity and twists that it can hold your attention for the 45 minutes the episode plays. This is not an easy task nowadays. With technology and distractions, many only half-watch a show while they're busy doing other things. Bates Motel is not that kind of show; it demands your full attention.

2. There is incredible acting
I feel like television actors tend to get in the swing of things and once they do that, their acting techniques hit a generic wall. Nothing really changes, and while for some people that's ok, a lot of what I notice on TV is that actors just seem to stick to what they know. However, with Bates Motel, these actors bring so many different things and techniques to their characters that you never know what to expect. There's hardly any generic material in this, and with actors like Vera Farmiga (nominated for an Emmy award, and also happens to be my favorite on the show) bringing such drastic contrast to her character, it's hard not to be pulled in.

3. It's actually an original idea
For those of you who don't know exactly what this show is about, let me explain. It's a prequel to the classic horror flick Psycho (the famous shower killing scene, to spark some memory), and focuses on that murderer (Norman Bates) and his childhood. It deals immensely with his rough family life and his complicated relationship with his mother. You don't need to have seen Psycho to know what's going on, but if you have seen it, it's incredibly intriguing to get a background story on such a famed film murderer. Finally, a show that isn't contrived on some overly dramatic love story or ridiculous another crime investigation show.

4. There's emotion
Now I'm not talking about wanting to cry every episode, but I'm saying you genuinely begin to feel for the characters. Your mood will change on each one episode by episode, and I think that's just the most fun thing. It's written in such a way that you can find a bit of yourself in each character (ok, well maybe not every single one, there are a lot of very weird people), but it's so good because you can feel what the characters are thinking and actually understand why they do what they do. It's not just some random and poorly written plot line.

5. I can never wait until I get to watch another episode
This show always manages to end each episode on a crazy cliffhanger, and I always want to push the "Next Episode" button. I know I need to start thinking more of how it will affect my life and education, but in the zone I just really don't give a damn. I always crave more, and when you can find that in a TV show, you know you've found a gem. Now, as I write this, I want to sprint to Netflix and flick on the next episode. I will think better of it, because I do need to sleep and fulfill other biological needs, but damn is this a good show indeed.