Movie Review: The Maze Runner #MazeRunner

This guest post is brought you by Rick Fauquet from RickOntheRocks.com (AKA my husband!). He traveled to Los Angeles, courtesy of 20th Century Fox, to screen & interview the cast of The Maze Runner, now open in theaters nationwide.

As you've read in my earlier post, I had the pleasure of attending a screening of the film - The Maze Runner. The young adult novel, written by James Dashner, has been brought to the big screen by first time feature film director Wes Ball. Joined by an amazing cast of young actors, Ball does a fantastic job translating the first book in the beloved trilogy.

The film opens in the same visceral way that sets the book apart from many of its YA counterparts. Metal grinding in the darkness and then all of a sudden,Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) sees a light and finds himself in a place called "The Glade". All of his memories, for the exception of his name, have been wiped clean. The Glade is a community inhabited and run by a group of boys. Much like Thomas, not one of the boys seem to remember who they were before showing up in the Glade. There is the leader Alby (Aml Ameen), the second in command Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) and the bully Gally (Will Poulter).

After being brought into the group, Thomas realizes that the Glade is surrounded by a giant cement maze. It locks them in at night and then re-emerges in the morning only to be a totally different maze. Every day a group of "Maze Runners" are sent to map the ever changing maze and find a way out. They're also keeping an eye out for the bio-mechanical nightmares known as the "Grievers".

Thomas ends up having a gift for maze running and head runner, Minho (Ki Hong Lee), recognizes it immediately. After having the first girl, Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), show up in the Glade, all of their supplies are cut off and then the boys begin to argue. They begin to disagree about whether they should try to escape through the maze or stay and accept their fate. The audience is then treated to a series of twists and turns that just begins to touch the tip of the iceberg in this well written film.

I'm a big fan of book series and held some of the same concerns as most fans. One thing you don't have to worry about is the acting/casting. Director Ball has assembled a very talented group of young actors. As Thomas, Dylan O'Brien has a real ease on screen and makes some great choices with his character. I think most fans of the book will be pleasantly surprised! One character that is changed a bit in the transition from book to screenplay is Gally. Not so thuggish as in the book, but a truly tortured character that is really fantastic to watch. Will Poulter, best known as Kenny in We're The Millers, is really great. His Gally really helps send this film into overdrive in the final act.

The Maze Runner is a great movie that is fast paced and does a good job upholding and representing its original source. Fans of the book will love it, and new fans will be drawn to the exciting story that unfolds almost effortlessly on the screen.

The Maze Runner is now playing in theaters nationwide!

Official Websites

• Visit the Official Website
• Like ‘The Maze Runner’ on Facebook
• Follow @MazeRunnerMovie on Twitter
• Follow on Google+, Instagram, YouTube