The Divergent Series: Allegiant

Beautiful people and beautiful production design mark "Allegiant," the third installment in "The Divergent Series," a post-apocalyptic rebellion and teenage angst fantasy based on the books by Veronica Roth.

Only the first in a pair of movies (the next one, "Ascendant," will be released next year), this adaptation has more science fiction than the novel it bifurcates. It also has a couple of talented actors Naomi Watts and Jeff Daniels, who should be able to add some psychological complexity to the respective villains that they play, but "Allegiant" is so dull that it leaves no desire to watch any more of the series.

A couple of rebels, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James), and some fellow conspirators, escape the warlords who keep the city of Chicago trapped in a protective wall. Beyond this they find a radioactive wasteland and, eventually, an encampment run on super-powered technology within the O'Hare Airport, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare.

In this world, also contained within a wall, a leader named David (Jeff Daniels) and an apparent council float above the bureau and have the power to watch everything that happens in Chicago. Not only have they been watching Tris her whole life, they also have all the stored memories of her mother that she can watch by attaching mind-headphones to her temples.

In order to bring peace back to Chicago and mend the conflicts between the battling leaders Evelyn (Naomi Watts) and Johanna (Octavia Spencer), Tris agrees to help David restore genetic purity to her people. It seems that Tris is genetically pure and her friends, including her special friend Four, are genetically damaged.

"The Divergent Series" was developed for geeks and collectors, those who relish in trivia and detail, so this Blu-ray is filled with behind-the-scenes features. There's an audio commentary with the producers and interviews with actors, producers and designers. These are distilled into six featurettes with subjects like the adaptation from the book to the film, the way creators built the science fiction world, stunts and choreography, effects and technology, a look at the motivations of the antagonists and a look at the next film in the series.


"The Divergent Series: Allegiant"
Blu-ray Combo Pack $39.99
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