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Release Date: August 4th, 2015 Movie Release Year: 2015

The Divergent Series: Insurgent

Overview -

Based on Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times best-selling novel Insurgent, The Divergent Series: Insurgent raises the stakes for Tris (Shailene Woodley) as she searches for answers and allies in this star-powered, action-packed second installment of the Divergent series. On the run and targeted by ruthless faction leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), Tris fights to protect the people she loves, facing one impossible challenge after another as she and Four (Theo James) race to unlock the truth about the past—and ultimately the future—of their world.

OVERALL:
For Fans Only
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Technical Specs:
Region A Locked
Video Resolution/Codec:
1080p/AVC MPEG-4
Length:
120
Aspect Ratio(s):
2.40:1
Audio Formats:
Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles/Captions:
Spanish
Special Features:
Marketing Gallery
Release Date:
August 4th, 2015

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

'Insurgent' is the product of a new type of filmmaking that historically started with James Cameron's 'Titanic' but has been progressively worsening since the box-office giant that is the 'Twilight' series. It's a type directly targeted at a specific demographic and audience that more often than not guarantees high returns against its investment, essentially making it critic proof. And I'm not simply generalizing YA books adapted into movies, familiar stories with an established fanbase, because 'Ender's Game' and 'The Giver' didn't exactly satisfy expectations. Meanwhile, the 'Harry Potter' and 'Hunger Games' films successfully defy the discussion, but the 'Transformers' franchise and 'Fifty Shades of Grey' are further evidence of what I'm trying to arrive at. The larger issue at hand is a seemingly growing generation of moviegoers who care little for narrative quality or development and want it replaced with hyperbolic melodrama or amplified fantasy that feels like a thrill ride attraction. ('Jurassic World' also falls into this category of bad movies, so be warned of my future review.)

This second installment in the 'Divergent' franchise, based on the surprisingly popular books by Veronica Roth, picks up minutes after the first movie. Or, at least, that's what we are lead to believe. After Kate Winslet's voice, playing the leader of the Erudite faction Jeanine Matthews, is heard from a prominently displayed hologram message that insinuates a new totalitarian state, Tris (Shailene Woodley), Four (Theo James), Peter (Miles Teller) and Caleb (Ansel Elgort) are seen running out the woods to the Amity compound in the hopes of finding sanctuary. There, Tris is confronted with the bodies of those who've died for her. But we're soon given respite from this nightmarish scene when it turns out the entire sequence is, in fact, a nightmare from which Tris quickly awakens. In protest to her bad dreams, the young heroine decides to cut her hair short. It doesn't make any sense, but hey, what's the point of inciting a rebellion if you don't look good in the process. Besides, this dystopic future apparently still has access to a good hairstylist.

But let us not quibble over such silly details like who is Tris's barber with the talent of making blond highlights appear natural or how great it must be to live in a post-apocalyptic Chicago with mousse, hair gel and a blow dryer readily available. The larger issue at stake here is a movie and story practically littered with false promises, red herrings and MacGuffins. Sequences, like that gotcha opening, is not the only time the filmmakers pull the rug from under the audience with an emotional fake out. Director Robert Schwentke, who's given us a few respectable features along with the god-awful 'R.I.P.D.,' reverts to cheap tactics on several occasions, practically littering the entire the movie with such deceptive schemes. This only succeeds in negating the plot's emotional core — Tris dealing with the amount of violence and death surrounding her so-called specialness. We don't care or sympathize with the protagonist's dilemma because she can simply wake up at any given moment from a bad dream, rendering whatever internal conflict we just witnessed entirely moot.

By the time we finally reach the moment when Tris performs the Sim trials, we're drained from the constant back and forth between reality and Tris's imagination. We get it; she needs help. But seriously, among the ruins of the city with an abundance of hairstylists, there isn't at least one therapist for treating the poor's girl obvious psychological issues. And if the first movie already failed to make any logical sense, the sequel amazingly expands on its illogical premise and frankly grows dumber. A mysterious box — designed by the same person who created Pinhead's puzzle box? — has been discovered, and of course, only one person can miraculously open it to expose a secret message from the founders of the five faction society. (The voice of Dana Carvey's Church Lady would appropriately interrupt here with her thoughts.) On top of this, we are made to contend with several senseless betrayals, absurdly contradictory double-crosses and characters being once angry with each other but soon forgotten without a single apology ever spoken or a reasonable conversation shared.

From a script by Brian Duffield, Mark Bomback ('Dawn of the Planet of the Apes') and producer Akiva Goldsman, 'Insurgent' is a terrible piece of motion picture entertainment that makes little to no logical sense with a cleverly disguised disdain and mistrust of intelligence and rational knowledge. And don't tell me it doesn't because — especially considering the author's public declaration of faith — we need only look at the plot's enemy: a group dedicated to the pursuit of intellectual understanding. Added to that, we have a story arc riddled with distractingly contrived coincidences and much-too-convenient plot devices to ever be believable or feel remotely authentic. Naomi Watts's character is arguably the biggest offender. And this is precisely the problem with this new type of filmmaking, which has become increasingly popular. As long as it looks pretty on the screen, the action is made overtly exciting and characters grossly melodramatic, narrative failures and the lack of logic goes ignored. An intelligent and genuinely gripping story is a thing of the past in the post-apocalyptic future, replaced by bigger, louder action and histrionics.

The Blu-ray: Vital Disc Stats

Summit and Lionsgate Home Entertainment bring 'The Divergent Series: Insurgent' to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a flyer for an UltraViolet Digital Copy. The Region A locked, BD50 disc is joined by a DVD-9 copy of the movie and housed inside a blue, eco-elite case with a glossy slipcover. After several skippable trailers, viewers are taken to a menu screen with full-motion clips and music.

Video Review

Ranking:

The dystopian sequel incites a rebellion with an excellent, near-reference 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode that's sure to please Tris's devoted followers. Immediately apparent is the sumptuous parade of colors throughout. Thanks to the remarkable photography of Florian Ballhaus, the palette is vivid and energetic with richly-saturated primaries and a colorful array of secondary hues that make each scene very pleasing to the eyes. Contrast is a well-balanced and comfortably bright. Whites are brilliant and crisp, making the picture pop, while visibility into the far distance is exceptional.

Presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the presentation makes for a beautiful watch on Blu-ray, looking very film-like and the preferred method of enjoying compared to its 3D counterpart. Black levels are much stronger and inky rich with deep, penetrating shadows during several poorly-lit interiors. Brightness remains exceptional also during many nighttime outdoor sequences, allowing for excellent visibility of the finer details and creating appreciable three-dimensional depth. Added to that, the freshly-minted digital transfer displays outstanding definition and clarity of background information, showing every pebble on the road, every leaf and blade of grass, and the smallest hint of rust, flaw and imperfection on buildings. Individual hairs are distinct while the stitching, threading and fabric in the costumes are razor sharp, and healthy facial complexions reveal every pore, wrinkle and negligible blemish with lifelike textures.

Audio Review

Ranking:

Unlike its 3D counterpart, where audio issues and player compatibility nearly make the movie unwatchable, the 2D version of the popular sci-fi series offers a far superior listening experience. This is primarily because fans can fully enjoy and appreciate the filmmakers' sound design in lossless audio via either Dolby Atmos or TrueHD 7.1.

Imaging feels wide and expansive with lots of clear, flawless movement across the front soundstage, displaying terrifically well-balanced channel separation and very good off-screen effects. Dialogue is distinct and precise in the center with exceptional intonation in the voices during the most dramatic moments, allowing actors to really demonstrate their talents. There's plenty of excellent detailing and fidelity in the mid-range, exhibiting room-penetrating highs during loud action sequences and lots of warmth in the mids during the many melodramatic, often heated exchanges. The low-end also feels fuller and a tad more powerful in this lossless mix, digging just a bit deeper to make walls rattle and providing the action with some serious weight.

Rear activity is fantastic with several discrete effects when the action goes into high gear and many subtle atmospherics during quieter, more intimate moments. From beginning to end, the soundfield maintains an open and expansive sense of space where small details can be heard along the sides and in the back. In Atmos, utilizing the overhead speakers, the design fails to create the immersive 3D dome-like effect one would expect from the format, often times being noticeably silent in a coupe spots. That's not to say, the codec doesn't come with its moments, such as the film's opening segment when the voice of a Kate Winslet hologram convincingly travels from the front and over to the back, then moves back to sides and front again. The best segment for appreciating the Atmos track is the Dauntless and Amity Sim during the second half of the movie where debris and noise smoothly pan overhead and all around, creating a very satisfying and enveloping soundscape.

Finally, a back and forth comparison between both lossless mixes reveals the TrueHD track to be the stronger of the two with a more activity that's consistent and immersive while the Atmos option comes with too many noticeable pockets of silence in the overhead speakers. 

Dolby Atmos: 4/5

Dolby TrueHD 7.1: 5/5

Special Features

Ranking:
  • Audio Commentary — Producers Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher offer a rather dry and often silent commentary track. Occasionally, the two throw a few quips about the production, comment to the action on screen or share some behind-the-scenes anecdotes, but overall, this is a pretty boring conversation and frankly, should be skipped.
  • From Divergent to Insurgent (HD, 5 min) — A small assortment of cast & crew interviews chatting about the plot.
  • Anatomy of a Scene (HD, 4 min) — A sneak peek at the stunt choreography and arrangement for the train fight sequence.
  • Divergent: Adapting Insurgent to the Screen (HD, 4 min) — Interviews with the filmmakers and the author discussing the adaptation and the changes made, mixed with lots of BTS footage.
  • The Others (HD, 4 min) — The cast is given a few minutes to share their individual thoughts on various characters and motivations.
  • The Peter Hayes Story (HD, 3 min) — A featurette entirely focused on the Miles Teller character with comments from cast & crew.
  • Marketing Gallery (HD, 1080i/60) — A collection of promotional material, from four sneak peek pieces and five theatrical previews to a still gallery and poster artwork of characters.

Final Thoughts

'Insurgent,' the second installment in 'The Divergent Series,' is guilty of the same crime most sequels commit: going bigger and louder with less substance. However, the movie amazingly manages to go a step further with a narrative that's more nonsensical than the first cleverly disguising a disdain for intelligence and filled with grossly melodramatic characters. The two-disc combo Blu-ray arrives with an excellent picture quality and a satisfying Dolby Atmos audio presentation. With an average assortment of supplements, devoted fans will be more than happy with their purchase but the overall package still falls on the bad movie, good disc category.