The Maze Runner (2014)
Writers: Noah Oppenheim (screenplay), Grant Pierce Myers (screenplay), T.S. Nowlin (screenplay), and James Dashner (novel).
Starring: Dylan O'Brien (Thomas), Ami Ameen (Alby), Ki Hong Lee (Minho), Blake Cooper (Chuck), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt), Will Poulter (Gally), Dexter Darden (Frypan), Kaya Scodelario (Teresa), Chris Sheffield (Ben), Joe Adler (Zart), Alexander Flores (Winston), Jacop Latimore (Jeff), Randall D. Cunningham (Clint), and Patricia Clarkson (Ava Paige).
Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) wakes up in an elevator, it feels like it was going in an upwards motion. Thomas (O'Brien) notices there is supply containers marked WCKD, the elevator stops, dazed, confused Thomas (O'Brien) looks up and a group of young boys gaze upon him, they all heckle, some calling him "Greenie," until everyone chants "Greeni." Thomas in desperation runs full speed from the containing unit that he was lifted in. He runs until Gally (Will Poulter) stops him from entering the very large maze before him. The small glade is the homestead for the boys, from hammocks to huts, and a garden. Survival instincts has given them a place, shelter from the dangers that lurk inside the maze.
The leader of the group, Alby (Ami Ameen) afterwards tells Thomas (O'Brien) that his memories will return, it might take a bit, but they will return. He explains that everyone in this group has a task, job, rules to follow, it keeps them alive from the dangers from inside the maze. Alby (Ameen) goes on to say that every month, a new person would arrive, adding to the large group.
Thomas (O'Brien) after getting some of his memories back, Thomas is curious about the maze, his curiosity overwhelms him, even after he was told not to enter the dangerous place, he has an urge to go at any cost, even if that has to be on his own. The Runners are a unique group of young men, made up of three, they are the one's that enter the maze by day, and return before night, when the maze changes, every path will be different each time it is entered, or at least the next day. The runners are Minho (Ki Hong Lee), he is the keeper of all runners and is in charge of navigation and mapping out the maze. Ben (Chris Sheffield) is the other runner, that keeps things mentally in line like Minho. Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) use to be a runner, until his legs became a real issue for him, now his interest lies in Thomas (O'Brien) his curiosity is dangerous, but something tells him that he would not only be a good runner, but the one that changes it all for the Gladers.
Chuck (Blake Cooper) the young 12 year old boy who befriends Thomas (O'Brien) he is the newest of the Gladers, just arrived last month before Thomas's arrival. This young man immediately becomes curious of everything that Thomas's takes heart in.
Gally (Will Poulter) lives by the rules that Alby put in place, Keeper of builders, he does not trust the curiosity of the new "Greeni," Thomas. Gally will stop at nothing to make sure that everyone follows the rules, his dislike for Thomas continues as he gathers some Gladers to back him, as he knows not everyone follows the rules like he does, but those must be punished, a lesson in order to keep things safe in the Glades.
Newrt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), a smart boy and a British accent, a second in command when Alby is not around, but no longer able to run, he used to be a runner, now he oversees things and follows Alby like everyone else.
Frypan (Dexter Darden) the cook, pretty much is the best at what does, and very particular in everything that he produces as a cook.
Clint (Randall D. Cunningham), Jeff (Jacop Latimore) the Glader Med-Jacks, they're the healers, problems arise, everyone goes to Med-Jacks. Any, problem even the very case of the Grievers, a biotech spider- like machine that kills it's prey by some syringe, needle, if stung it will cause dementia, extreme strength and despair. These creatures, bio-engineered Grievers are a thorn on the side to the Gladers, the only thing that is feared the most by the Gladers.
Winston (Alexander Flores) in charge of slaughtering livestock, if you have to eat this guy this gets the job done. The Keeper of the slicers.
Zart (Joe Adler) Keeper of the Track-hoes, basically is charge of farming, very smart takes a liking to Thomas, but keeps to himself most of the time.
Alby (Ami Ameen) the first and the wisest of all the boys in the Glades, he developed rules to live by, so that everyone could survive and one day leave the maze, Or does he? everything changed when Thomas (O'Brien) arrived to the Glades.
Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) The only girl in the Glades, she is also the last person since Thomas's arrival last month. Somehow the two know each other, something clicks with Thomas, she only has visions of a lab, people instructing them, something is different, she must find out who? Thomas is before it's to late.
The Maze Runner film is about a group of young men and one female character, that is stuck, trapped in a Glade, it looks good, but really isn't. The rules, are set in place by the first Glader, Alby who is played by Ami Ameen. Everything looks like a small community, town, but this time around a group of boys made it what they thought it could be in their own eyes. Hammocks, huts, gardens, all made up in the Glades, these guys work well with eachother. From a selected group that goes out in the treacherous maze, to our hero, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) the guy that pretty much screws everything up, but it was for a good reason. The group almost feels humdrum, no imagination except the runners, they're the only ones that risk their lives and map out the maze, forget that it changes everyday, making it almost impossible to locate an exit.
The idea behind the Maze is pretty cool, this film reminds me of another premiss like this one, remember the film "Cube," the group was trapped and they needed a way out, but ended up in tragedy. Love films like this, because it makes the characters think, got to love the mystery behind the maze. What happened? how do i get out of here? all these things are explored, especially the ending which i thought was really good.
Not going to make a comparison to the books, because i didn't read them, so i will only review the characters and story that is in the movie. The acting was good, no problem there, but and yes there is a but; i would've liked a bit more feuding between Gally and Thomas, loved it when the big guy went after Thomas in the first scene together, you could almost feel the anger between these two guys. And, last up the main issue i have with the film is that the main character supposedly was living among the Glades for a month, but yet everything happens so fast, from the meeting with the Grievers, it really doesn't feel like he has. Maybe nick picking a bit, but that's how i felt about particular parts in the film. The progression was to fast, but seeing that it was based off of a book, i then could see it.
The maze was cool, i especially liked the Grievers which by the way reminded me of that odd toy in "ToyStory" the one that had a doll head, spider like robotics for a body. Have to point out everything to make it good right. anyway, the action was good, special effects worked with the story that made the film very likeable.
This film will be the first of many, let me continue by saying, lets hope the other films are as good as this one, there is a lot to be told, so much information is given in just one film, confusion might be the other problem i did not point out, but hopefully the continued storyline will explain, and add to the fun of this story.
Maze Runner like films: Cube (1997), Cube 2: Hypercube (2002), and Cube Zero (2004). Check these films out, they're pretty good.
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