[Movie Review] The Maze Runner (2014)
Plot Summary: Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.
Director: Wes Ball
Writers: Noah Oppenheim (screenplay), Grant Pierce Myers (screenplay), T.S. Nowlin (screenplay), James Dashner (novel)
Runtime: 113 min
Main Cast:
- Dylan O'Brien as Thomas
- Aml Ameen as Alby
- Ki Hong Lee as Minho
- Kaya Scodelario as Teresa
- Blake Cooper as Chuck
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Newt
- Will Poulter as Gally
Review: by Anthony and Lee
The Maze Runner, another teenage sci-fi dystopian future novel-turned-movie, was one we have both read. Though neither of us enjoyed the novel, we were both interested in seeing how everything would translate to the big screen. Thus, we, reluctantly, made our way to the theater, hoping against hope that this time the movie would be better.
In The Maze Runner, Thomas awakes to find himself in a huge metal cage and is soon amongst the ranks of other teenage boys trapped in a huge maze. No one remembers anything about their past or how they all came to be there; however, there’s one common goal. They must solve the maze and escape to freedom.
What We Liked:
We both read the novel The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Anthony most recently, and this was a very solid adaptation all around. All of the key characters, locations, and relationships from the novel made it to the big screen.
Most important of the things that translated well from the book was the maze itself. Going into the movie having only seen the trailers, it was apparent that the sheer size and potential lethality of the maze was captured. The walls were massive, and, when it is shifting, moving, and closing, the thought of being caught or trapped within it could stir up claustrophobic fears that have gone previously unrealized.
All of the major plot points were hit as well, from establishing Thomas and his mysterious amnesia that all the Gladers went through to their realization that they’re trapped in a maze placed there by someone in a higher authority and subsequent solving of the maze and escape. The movie really benefits from the strong and interesting story that James Dashner tells in the novel. From the opening scenes we, like Thomas, had 1,000 questions and each answer and explanation only raised even more questions about this curious community of the Glade. Just when the Glade and it’s inner workings are somewhat defined, the bigger questions roll around regarding this massive concrete walled maze they’re presently in.
Because Jennifer Lawrence and Shailene Woodley can’t star in every movie, we didn’t have the highest of hopes for the acting, but it was also surprisingly good for this “genre” of movie. Many of the actors in The Maze Runner have a few movies or long running TV shows under their belt, so they were no strangers to the teenage entertainment field.
We admit that we don’t watch MTV’s Teen Wolf, but we had been exposed to Dylan O’Brien in The Internship (2013), in which he was hilarious; so, it wasn’t terribly surprising to see him hold down a lead role as Thomas. We love Thomas Brodie-Sangster in HBO’s Game of Thrones, so when we saw him as Newt, we knew he’d nail this role as the second in command as well. Lastly, Will Poulter, another rising young talent, most known for We’re the Millers, completely sold us as Gally.
What We Didn’t Like:
While a lot was adapted directly from the novel, there were a few things that were either omitted (for the sake of time) or just not explained that felt empty.
For instance, the slang that was used in the Glade by the other kids, like “shank” or “klunk,” or the character Frypan, who was the cook. In the novel, Thomas spent his 1st day getting the grand tour of the 4 sections that make up the Glade: the gardens, blood house, homestead, and deadheads. That type of world building which fleshed out the novel was missing from the movie and made the plot feel a bit rushed to the big escape.
The friendship Thomas had with Chuck was present in the movie, but it really needed more to draw us in and make us care about their relationship. In the books, even though Thomas was the latest “greenie,” and Chuck was supposed to be his mentor, showing him the ropes, those roles were reversed quickly, and Thomas took Chuck under his wing. In the movie, that dynamic of their friendship just wasn’t fleshed out enough.
Lastly, the character of Teresa was a waste in the movie. Again, in the novel, her arrival to the Glade was a momentous occasion, upsetting the delicate balance of the Glade and tilting everything on it’s side, but Teresa played a big part in assisting and bringing a new perspective to the task of solving the maze with Thomas and Minho. Most importantly, the “special” relationship that Teresa and Thomas shared in the novel was very critical, played a large part in the big plot twist, and was completely omitted from the movie. Devaluing her character and omitting that major plot point really hurt the movie.
Had we not read the novel prior to watching the movie adaptation, we’re certain we would’ve enjoyed the movie more.
Summary
The Maze Runner was a solid book adaptation that hit all the key notes, and if you’ve never read this book, you’ll enjoy this movie and its larger than life action even more. If you haven’t read the book, do not do so before watching the movie. It will poison everything and keep you, like us, from actually enjoying it.
User Review
( votes)Images Courtesy of IMDB
