The Maze Runner (2014) | Movie Review
The Maze Runner is a film that adapts to James Dashner’s popular young adult novel. It takes us into a thrilling and mysterious world. One of the major pillars of the film is its impressive premise and the mystery behind it. At the beginning of the film, just as much as Dylan O'Brien who played Thomas was lost and confused, so was I because I was trying to comprehend what could have happened that led to that point. This got me hooked up as I Thomas and his fellow Gladers desperately tried to unravel the secrets of their confinement and the Grievers that hovered around the maze.
Most of the scenes whereby there were runs into the maze by Thomas and his colleagues and the encounters they had with the Grievers left my heart pounding.
Director Wes Ball did an incredible job with his background in visual effects. He made the sequences both exciting and genuinely frightening. The film sure knows how to build suspense and deliver action.
The movie director's vision for the Glade and, more importantly, the maze itself, is striking. Dylan O'Brien delivers a commendable performance as Thomas. We see the vulnerable, curious and also leadership aspect of the character Thomas. Will Poulter did outstanding as the Antagonist of the film while Thomas Brodie-Sangster's Newt wisdom in the movie is really worth commending.
The Maze Runner prioritizes survival and sci-fi elements over the romantic aspect. While there is a hint of romance, it is however overshadowed by the themes of escape, discovery, and the struggle for freedom. While watching the film, I couldn't help but draw a couple of similarities with the likes of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and even the movie Lost. But it did try to craft its own identity.
The end of the film left a lot of unanswered questions. I guess for the first part of the film, it was their intention to to leave many mysteries unresolved, in preparation for the sequels on the way. We often see this in most storytelling movies. Among the Gladers, we see a character, Teresa, who happens to be the only female Glader. Based on this I was expecting more on her path but then, I didn't really see something special from her end.
The first part of the movie successfully paved the way preceding sequels. It delivers an exciting and mysterious adventure that left me captivated. It's the kind of film that is worth rewatching. I'm giving it a 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend you check out the movie if you haven't.
I haven't seen The Maze Runner yet, but this review really makes me curious. The mix of suspense, mystery and action sounds like it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I like how it's compared to The Hunger Games and Lord of The Flies -that gives me a good idea of the vibe. It's now officially on my watchlist