The Sci-Fi Movie, The Maze Runner, directed by Wes Ball, was released in 2014. It is rated PG-13 and is about 2 hours long. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie was rated 65% on the Tomatometer and 68% on the Popcornmeter. The Maze Runner starring Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Ami Ameen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Will Poulter and Aidan Gillen makes the movie stand out from the crowded field of Sci-Fi movies. The main character, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), who is a teenager, arrives in a place called the Glade which is at the center of a giant labyrinth, with no memory of his previous life. The Glade is a self-contained community run by other boys and later one female, Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), who also lost their memories. Surrounding the Glade is a shifting maze, patrolled by robotic creatures called Grievers, that the group has been trying to solve and escape for many years. Thomas adjusts to his new life in the Glade and becomes determined to find out the truth behind the maze. His determination and interests promotes him to the Runners status- those who explore the maze, map the maze, look for clues, and return before night. Thomas tries to convince the rest of the crew that he knows a way out of the maze.
One of the main strengths in this film is how it blends the genres Sci-fi mystery, survival, and action keeps the audiences engaged and on their toes. The Fast-Paced chase moments, high pressure escapes and physical challenges keep the story moving while the mystery unfolds. Another big strength in this movie is the strong performances. Dylan O’Brien (Thomas), Ki Hong Lee (Minho) and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt) bring strong energy and emotion to their characters. The cast has such strong chemistry which helps make the Glade feel like a real community.
While the film has its strengths, it also has weaknesses. One of the main weaknesses of the film is that the story leaves a lot of questions but on purpose. Because the movie is based off of a book series, the movie saves many of its answers for later in the movie and/or even in the next two films. Some viewers might find the ending confusing or vague, like they need the sequels for closure. The plot elements aren’t fully explained like the world or rules itself.
Despite some of the weaknesses in The Maze Runner, I highly recommend watching this movie. As a high schooler, I feel like us high school students want and tend to connect with the stories that reflect parts of our own lives like identity, relationships, expectations and the future. High school is the time when teenagers are figuring out and discovering who they are- socially, emotionally, and academically. The Maze Runner characters are very relatable to us high schoolers. They are around our age and they go through what a lot of teenagers go through like forming friendships, finding independence, questioning authority etc. The characters also go through identity loss while trying to figure out who they really are, which is something we can connect with. Besides this film being relatable for some of us, overall it is a good movie with lots of mystery and if you love mystery and Sci-Fi movies then this is a must watch. Right after I watched the first one, I immediately watched the second movie, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. I rate this movie a 10/10 and it is one of my favorite movies.
