By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong female character leads in violent dystopia.
Parents need to know that Divergent is the first adaptation of author Veronica Roth's best-selling dystopian trilogy. Set in a future Chicago, the movie is slightly less violent than the book but still depicts the brutal world of a post-apocalyptic society divided into factions or groups. People are…
There is a less violence in the movie than in the book, but it's still a vio
Sex, Romance & NudityIn addition to a few longing looks, just one long passionate kiss (with the guy
A couple of uses of "bitch," "s--t," and "a--hole.&quo
Products & Purchases Not present Drinking, Drugs & Smoking Not presentIn one scene it looks like some of the Dauntless are drinking, but it's not
The lead character deals with important issues about identity and finding her pl
Positive Role ModelsTris sometimes doubts herself but taps into her courage and ingrained selflessne
There is a less violence in the movie than in the book, but it's still a violent story. Several characters are shot at, injured, or killed including beloved parents. Teen siblings are orphaned by the end of the movie. The Dauntless faction of brave risk takers requires a brutal initiation that includes several scenes of bloody hand-to-hand combat (until someone can't get up any more), knife-throwing, marksmanship, and more. Characters are routinely sparring and injuring one another -- or entering fear simulations to deal with their greatest fears, whether it's wild animals, confined spaces, drowning, etc. A character commits suicide and his dead body is briefly shown. Three masked guys grab Tris, beat her up and nearly throw her to her death. Christina is forced to hang off of a ledge for a certain amount of time to atone for her cowardice. During a climactic sequence, drugged soldiers shoot and kill unarmed citizens.
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In addition to a few longing looks, just one long passionate kiss (with the guy shirtless), and some heartfelt embraces. During a fear simulation, Tris imagines Four kissing her on a bed and trying to convince her to have sex before she's ready, but she defends herself.
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A couple of uses of "bitch," "s--t," and "a--hole." Other insults include "Stiff," "coward," "stupid," "loudmouth."
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The lead character deals with important issues about identity and finding her place in a controlling society. Tris and Four struggle with what it really means to be selfless, brave, smart, and kind, as they explore trusting their own beliefs rather than those imposed by the separatist government.
Tris sometimes doubts herself but taps into her courage and ingrained selflessness to protect others even when she doesn't realize it, like when she stands up for Al and takes a punishment for him. Four encourages Tris to use her upbringing's focus on selflessness to be even more courageous. Tris and Four offer a positive example of a teen relationship; they treat each other as equals, defend and protect each other, and go slow with their romance.
Parents need to know that Divergent is the first adaptation of author Veronica Roth's best-selling dystopian trilogy. Set in a future Chicago, the movie is slightly less violent than the book but still depicts the brutal world of a post-apocalyptic society divided into factions or groups. People are killed, orphaned, injured, and thoroughly beat up in bloody hand-to-hand combat (including guy-on-girl fist fights), violent bullying, an armed occupation, and mass killings of unarmed people. There's a central romance, but it remains fairly chaste -- only some longing looks, embraces and one extended, passionate kiss. The movie features a brave, vulnerable, and fierce female main character. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Divergent
Movie Review
Divergent
Official trailer
Based on 38 parent reviews
January 17, 2017The book is an enjoyable read. I was so disappointed by the sexaul element. The two main characters are 16 and 18. There are detailed descriptions of their attraction to each other and multiple kissing scence. It is mentioned that they will have sex when they are ready. This was assigned in my daughter's 6th grade class. It is definitely inappropriate for that age group.
December 6, 2016I say 12 and up for this because I think once you've made it to middle school, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to see Divergent. I will confess to something that may make me seem horrible, but I do not have any 12 year old kids - I allowed my two 9 year olds to watch this with me and their father. I would have allowed my 7 year old to join, but he didn't want to watch an adult movie lol I'm not the kind of mom that just shows any adult movie to her children. My husband has been trying to talk me into letting them watch the Hunger Games, as a lot of our neighbors kids who are the same age and younger have seen it and liked it, but I just can't. The thought of them seeing the Rue scene - I am sure they would get nightmares. However, I do not think that Divergent has anything quite like that. Divergent is so obviously in a fictional, scifi realm, so it all feels very fake. Hunger Games feels much more real, like it could happen in our world to me. Divergent is a bit frightening, as in the Dauntless initiation, Tris is forced to fight and gets beaten up by a boy who is a horrible bully, people try to kill her, etc. But to me, it's more suspenseful then it is heartwrenching, which is why I felt my kids might be able to handle it. When I was a kid, I saw the terminator movies and I didn't know what the heck was going on, so I figured they could handle Divergent. I wasn't wrong. They absolutely loved it and want to see the sequel. My 9 year old son has watched it multiple times on his own now. The villains lose in the end, the heroes prevail, but of course, they both live to fight another day. I personally think it is good to show kids at their age "adult" movies and ease them into more serious and suspenseful topics. Some warnings: There is cursing, and I do not allow my children to curse (which seems obvious as they are so young, but even when they are older, I won't allow it in the house) However, I had the same rule growing up, yet saw plenty of movies where people curse. I think my children are aware that people in the world will curse, but that doesn't mean that they can. -The cursing in the movie is actually rather minimal, though. After a kiss scene, the girl character says "I don't want to go too fast." Now, in middle school, your kids will likely know what that means. I think it's fine because there isn't a sex scene, which is a pleasant and welcome surprise. For my 9 year olds, I was prepared to dodge any questions they had, but it seemed to go right over their heads. They've never asked me what she means by that. There is some heavy violence toward the end. People are under simulation that forces them to behave and kill like robots, and there are some sad deaths, mainly the death of Tris' mother. Anyone at middle school age I think should be able to handle it. For my 9 year olds, they shed some tears, but the same kind of tears that I shed. I've seen a lot of parents say that younger kids tend to get paranoia and fear death from these scenes, but I haven't had that happen with my kids. I think not sheltering them so much has enabled them to realize the difference in the same way that we do. After all, we do not live in this Divergent world, where people are under simulation and whatnot, so they don't slip into that fear. It all depends on how you want to raise your child of course, but I personally think that any 12 year old should be able to handle this movie. They are about to become teens, and this is ultimately a teen movie. Lots of room for positive discussion on being an individual. Again, there are brutal situations and bad characters in the movie, but they should know that they can't model that behavior/the good characters in the movie display no behavior that I find worrisome. The heroine manages to survive initiation and triumphs over adversity. I also like that there is a strong male alongside her. Heroines seem stronger when they're strong alongside a strong male. I don't like when hollywood dumbs down the male characters in favor of the strong female. This movie provides a hero for both girls and boys.
In the distant future, Chicago is cut off from the rest of America in a society strictly divided into five factions based on character traits -- Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the kind), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice "Tris" Prior (Shailene Woodley) is a 16-year-old Abnegation-born teen whose government-sponsored personality test reveals she is DIVERGENT-- meaning she doesn't fit into just one faction. After choosing to join Dauntless, Tris must survive a brutal (and bloody) initiation process under the tutelage of her handsome, mysterious instructor Four (Theo James). Together they discover that the Erudite, led by Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), plan to kill all Divergents and take control of the government -- unless Tris and Four can stop them.
The movie adaptation of the popular YA series benefits from a talented cast, a spot-on visual depiction of the factions, the Dauntless Pit, and the story's urban Chicago setting. The acting ensemble is as good as the cast of The Hunger Games and vastly superior to that of Twilight and the forgettable Vampire Academy and Mortal Instruments adaptations. While Woodley doesn't fit the canon description of Tris, she captures the character's mix of vulnerability and courage, her desire to be independent in a world that demands conformity. And although heartthrob Theo James is almost too manly looking for Woodley's doe-eyed ingenue, he definitely gets the job done as the intensely serious Four.
But the movie doesn't live up to the hype or the potential of the written series. The Dauntless initiation process isn't as violent or emotional on the screen as it is on the page, and neither is the buildup of the Tris and Four romance or Tris' friendship with her fellow transfer initiates. Considering the two-and-a-half-hour runtime, there are parts that drag on and yet aspects of the book that seem surprisingly cut. The performances (Winslet is fabulous as the icy Erudite leader, and Zoe Kravitz, Maggie Q, and Jai Courtney are all true to the spirit of their characters) make up for some of the pacing and screenwriting issues, but overall this adaptation falls short of fan expectations. Still, tweens and teens who've read the books should absolutely see the movies and hope the second and third installments fare better.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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