‘Insurgent’
Grade: A-
Tris Prior is back and more kick-ass than ever.
“Insurgent,” the second movie in the “Divergent” film series, takes the concept of dystopian revolution and successfully molds it with themes of inner strength, love and forgiveness.
Beatrice Prior, the film’s main protagonist, solidifies her spot among other strong female leads in recent films, such as Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger.
She’s not afraid to speak her mind, and she isn’t dependent on anyone to get her out of the deadly situations she faces.
Tris goes up against antagonists that should easily be able to overpower her.
The main antagonist, Janine, is a cunning and manipulative woman who has managed to suppress an entire civilization and keep cronies such as the brutish Eric under her control.
When facing these adversaries, Tris never lets her fear show or accepts defeat.
She is a positive example of a feminine powerhouse who is not afraid to get things done on ?her own.
This independence and spunk makes Tris an asset for the revolution against Janine that is brewing throughout “Insurgent.”
We are introduced to the Factionless, people who did not fit into a particular faction and are now resentful of the leaders of the faction system.
We also learn that other factions, such as Amity and Candor, are not huge fans of the way Janine runs things.
In Tris, the Factionless and faction rebels see a leader.
They see a symbol of hope. They see a call for revolution.
When the movie isn’t fueling the fire of revolution in audience members’ hearts, it further develops the main romantic relationship in the film between Tris and Four.
Tris and Four’s love story had the potential to become boring.
We already saw the young lovers fighting, facing near-death experiences and dealing with loss together in “Divergent.”
These events are all recycled in “Insurgent.”
But Tris and Four’s love stays fresh and interesting because it is a positive constant.
The tender moments they share balance well with the tension-filled scenes that make up a majority of the film.
Most of the tension doesn’t occur between two characters or groups of people, but within Tris herself.
From the beginning, Tris is struggling with the guilt of the deaths of her parents and her friend, Will.
At one point, Tris has to take a truth serum and reveal to a room full of strangers and some friends that she shot and killed Will during the battle at the end of “Divergent.”
The physical discomfort Tris feels during this scene is emotive and raw.
You are forced to watch as she claws at her arms and scrunches her face up to fight the serum’s effects.
This translation of internal to external pain gives viewers the feels and makes us want Tris to let go of her guilt.
The culmination of Tris’ internal battles is the simulation series she must pass in order to receive a message from the original faction founders.
The first time she goes through the simulation in front of Janine, Tris only makes it through four simulations before she cannot go on.
The fifth and final simulation is Amity’s simulation.
Within this sim, Tris is faced with perhaps her biggest enemy: herself.
In this scene, we are able to see the true core of Tris Prior’s strength: her ability to forgive herself and to move on stronger than before.
The ending of “Insurgent” leaves viewers hungry for more.
It reveals there is more than just wasteland outside of the city walls.
It promises more adventures for Tris, Four and her friends as they challenge the world they grew up in.
We can only hope Tris is ready to enthrall us all again.
