Trailerblazing -- Divergent

Divergent -- March 21, 2014 -- directed by Neil Burger -- starring Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn

Let me say right off the bat how unfair I think all of the "Hunger Games" comparisons are. Sure, we have a heroine fighting the odds and a hunky love interest, but is this kind of tale not an ancient, oft-repeated narrative? That said, I like Veronica Roth's unique idea of a society based on a strict categorization of its citizens, a world that neglects the wonderful gray areas that make us human. Talk about boxing in! I have not read the novels yet, so I am not able to partake in the faithful-to-the-source-or-not discussion, but I can say that I am impressed by the amount of detail. The jumps! The test devices! Those tattoos! The relationship between protagonist Tris and her mentor Four is intriguing to say the least, and I do hope that this trilogy turns out to be a good choice for Woodley and James. I quite like the ambiance as well, with Chicago seeming familiar yet sterile enough for us to know that something nefarious is afoot. And then there is Kate Winslet who, judging by this trailer, is not playing nearly as many villains as she should be. I mean... how cold is her character? Director Burger has proved himself adept at fantasy and suspense with 2011's Limitless, so I have no doubt that he will do Roth's story justice. I am looking forward to immersing myself in the trilogy and seeing the first film.