The Maze Runner

Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Aml Ameen, Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Blake Cooper, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Will Poulter, Dexter Darden, Chris Sheffield, Joe Adler, Patricia Clarkson
Directed by: Wes Ball
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Mystery, Science Fiction
2014

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up in an elevator that drops him in a small community of boys, all whom have no memory of who they are or how they got there. Thomas soon learns that surrounding their camp is a deadly maze, designed to keep them from finding the exit.

Review:

Tim: Part of me remains skeptical about this new Hollywood movement towards these young adult, post-apocalyptic movies. We've already had The Hunger Games movies, the Divergent films, and lots of wannabes like The Host. There's a part of me that thinks this is a bad trend. However, I have to admit that the quality of the aforementioned films are better than expected. Still, with a glut of these kind of films, did we need another potential franchise? I'm kind of surprised to say that not only did I really enjoy The Maze Runner, I'm really looking forward to future films in this franchise. I did not expect that going in.

I've never read the books, so I was as much in the dark about the whole thing as Thomas when he emerged from the elevator. I liked thrusting our main character (and us) right into the middle of the mystery. This story is very cinematic- a group of lost boys live in a peaceful glen, but that sanctuary is surrounded by a changing, deadly maze. It makes for some great visuals. I don't think movies utilize mazes enough. There's something that's just inherently confusing and claustrophobic about being trapped in a maze. As Thomas as his new comrades explore the maze, we slowly learn more and more details about the larger mythology. I actually liked having the film end without all our questions answered. That makes the sequel feel not like a cash grab, but a necessary continuation of the story.

The cast really made a big difference for me in this one. I feel like too often, these kinds of films fail because they cast good looking people who can't act worth a damn. That wasn't the case here. I'm not sold on Dylan O'Brien as a leading man, but he wasn't as bad as I feared. He has some potential and there were a few moments where the possibility of real talent slipped through. He visually reminds me of my cousin, so that was a little weird. I wouldn't say he is the most charismatic protagonist, but he didn't ruin the movie. The supporting players is what really won me over. I was very excited to see Thomas Brodie-Sangster in the film. I'm a fan of his work on "Game of Thrones" and he delivered another strong performance here. I was also impressed with Will Poulter- he actually may have some range as an actor, as the last time I saw him, he was the geeky kid in We're the Millers. It was great fun seeing him play the opposite here- a strong-headed bully and a jerk. Kaya Scodelario isn't an actress I've ever noticed before, but she brought a much needed bit of estrogen to the cast. I thought her performance was solid. She certainly has potential as well. Patricia Clarkson was an okay addition, although I've never really liked her and she doesn't have much to do here. I also though Aml Ameen was a strong addition as Alby. This film really made me realize how badly similarly themed young adult movies have botched casting up in the past. You really need to find truly talented actors to populate your cast. That must be harder than it sounds. The Maze Runner followed this philosophy and let their cast lead them past all those immediately forgettable teen films.

The story itself was fairly strong. The central mystery of what exactly was happening kept me interested and intrigued throughout the film. Director Wes Ball delivered a surprisingly strong film for his feature film directorial debut. The pacing was quite strong- it felt like there was a lot of forward momentum and only a few places where the story lagged. There were some good surprises thrown in, which keeps the audience guessing. The climax featured some fairly intense moments and while it answered a lot of our questions, it immediately created several more. That leaves the audience excited and anticipating the sequel.

I went into The Maze Runner knowing very little but hoping it would elevate itself beyond the majority of films in this young adult adventure craze. I'm very, very excited to report that it exceeded expectations. This is a very, very good movie and I can't wait to watch the sequel.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Host, The Giver