Fans of the Divergent series have been anxiously awaiting the first movie, based on the book of the same name by Veronica Roth, ever since Summit Entertainment picked up the film rights to the franchise back in March 2011. 

The movie stars Shailene Woodley as the main character Beatrice Prior and Theo James as Four, who plays her love interest. The movie also includes actors of varying experience from Ansel Elgort, who plays Caleb Prior to actresses like Oscar winner Kate Winslet, who plays Jeanine Matthews.
 
The film takes place in a futuristic and dystopian Chicago where the government divides people into five factions based off of an individual’s personality. These factions believe in different virtues including: Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent) and Dauntless (the brave).
 
At the age of 16, every child undergoes a simulation to determine what faction they belong in. However, some people cannot be categorized into a specific faction. These people are known as the Divergent. The main character, Beatrice Prior, is one of these people. Because of her divergence, Prior is faced with a difficult choice.

While others are basically told what faction they belong in, Prior doesn’t get that luxury. She must decide whether or not she wants to stay with her family and faction of origin, Abnegation or if she wants to transfer to another faction. The faction she chooses allows Prior to discover the sinister plans of opposing factions, leading her to realize that the society she has grown up in isn’t as perfect as she wants to believe.
 
One common complaint among fans of the book is the decision to cast Shailene Woodley as Beatrice. In the book, she is described as short and skinny with blond hair and blue eyes. Woodley is 5’8” and has brown hair and eyes, but this shouldn’t discourage readers. Despite the fact that she doesn’t quite fit the description, she still manages to portray her beautifully.
 
Fans of the books will find that some details were left out of the movie like in most novel adaptions. However, the details that are left out are minor. The film also includes some scenes that weren’t in the book, but those scenes actually make the plot more exciting for the screen version. Despite the changes made, fans will still find it amazing.

After a box-office opening weekend record of $56 million, it seems more than likely that the next two books in the young-adult series will also make it to the big screen. Even though the film didn’t pull its numbers near as high as the Twilight Saga or Hunger Games series, production for the second part has been scheduled to start next March.

People who haven’t read the book will like the movie because the story line is very engaging. Anyone who chooses to see it won’t be able to take their eyes off the screen until the end. That is why anyone of any age, gender or faction should go see Divergent immediately.