Recently movies about heroines and futuristic societies have won the hearts of teens everywhere, and the new movie “Divergent” is no exception.

The movie is set in dystopian Chicago where people live divided into five factions, each of which represents distinct characteristics: Candor (honesty), Erudite (intelligence), Abnegation (selflessness), Amity (peacefulness), and Dauntless (bravery). When Beatrice Prior a.k,a. Tris, the heroine of the film, takes her test to see which faction she belongs in, she finds out that she possesses characteristics from multiple factions, making her Divergent.

When it comes time for Tris to choose a faction she decides to leave her plain life in Abnegation for a new and exciting life among those in Dauntless. Life among the Dauntless, however, proves harder than she anticipated, and Tris is thrust into life-threatening situations. As she undergoes rigorous physical and mental training she partakes in a range of dangerous activities such as jumping off of moving trains, climbing tall structures, and facing her worst fears.

As the movie continues she becomes more and more like one of the Dauntless, developing into a fierce warrior, while forging close bonds with other initiates and making a few enemies. Young love also sparks, which adds in a few cheesy lines and some light teen romance scenes in between all the action. Though just as Tris seems to be content in her new life, she learns more about what it means to be Divergent and finds that there are bigger problems than just trying to fit in with the Dauntless.

The movie’s strong female lead and futuristic setting is bound to attract fans of the “Hunger Games” franchise; however, after watching the film it is clear that “Divergent” is not another “Hunger Games” but a strong coming of age film that can clearly stand on its own.

Shailene Woodley’s performance in “Divergent” is what mainly sets the two films apart. Woodley’s portrayal of Tris as an ordinary, down-to-earth girl makes her more relatable to audiences than Katniss, a girl whose superhuman strength and skill make her unrealistic. Furthermore, Woodley does an impressive job at showing the changes in Tris’s character by showcasing her vulnerability as well as her strength and bravery at the right moments, more so than Jennifer Lawrence who seems to keep a tough demeanor as Katniss for most of the “Hunger Games.”

Another key difference between the two films is the plots. In the “Hunger Games” the districts fight against each other under a disjointed government, whereas in “Divergent,” society focuses around the idea of uniting the factions to create a utopia.

Overall, this first installment of the “Divergent” series is a captivating movie for teens that blends together the right amount of action, dystopian conflict, and teen romance that will leave audiences excited for the next movie in the series.