"The Maze Runner" Is Intense, Harrowing, and Seriously Entertaining

       

     Movies nowadays that fall into the category of "Young Adult" films tend to have a few items of unwanted baggage attached to them. The first being a mixture of either poor source material or, more often than not, a poor interpretation of good source material. The second being the over-exuberant fan base who spend more time screaming and clapping when their adorable movie crush is on screen than actually watching and paying attention to the film. Good Young Adult movies tend to get a bad wrap sometimes simply because of their intended audiences. The acting is sometimes over the top, the writing and story-telling is flat or lacking, and no matter their faults, you still get the screaming and applauding, leaving you to question "Why did I think coming to see this movie was a good idea?" The recent adaptation of "Divergent" was like that, as was both "The Hunger Games" movies thus far. The big difference between the two though is that "Hunger Games" has a much richer story experience that translates well on screen. That and it was much more entertaining. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all about fan love for movies. Lord knows I have my favorite movies that bring out the giddy, little fan boy in me. But there's this thing called "etiquette"when attending the cinema. However, in the spirit of youthful conversation and to avoid a more geriatric point of view here, let's bypass the "etiquette" conversation for now and get to the real issue at hand. Young Adult films are, more often than not, poor interpretations of their source material. However, there comes a time when this disdain towards the Young Adult genre can be diminished and an overall pleasant experience can be had by all. These diamonds in the rough are few and far between. The latest film to emerge from the dark shadow of adolescence and into quality cinema is this month's action/adventure "The Maze Runner". 

     Having not read the book previous to screening the film, I can't justly defend its loyalty to the source material. However, that won't diminish this look into one of the more surprising movies I've seen all year. Based on the book by the same title, "The Maze Runner" follows a strapping young lad named Thomas as he is deposited into a community of boys. Finding that he has no memory of who he is or how he got to be in his present situation, Thomas soon realizes that this community is trapped in the center of a monstrous maze. Determined to get to the bottom of the situation, Thomas joins forces with some of the boys in trying to find a possible way out.

     This movie is intense. From start to finish, it's an insane ride with various twists and turns. The filmmakers took a fantastical story and molded it into a serious film. The tone is set within the first few seconds as we watch in shock as our protagonist is brought to the Glen, the center of the maze, in a freight elevator and continues on through out. The level of intensity created within the first few minutes continues to rise like an unsettling tide as the film progresses. The Glen is a pretty unique view into what a Utopian/Dystopian society would seem like. Though their present circumstance isn't the most pleasant, the boys seem to manage in systematic fluidity. Each boy, all sharing the same amnesiac state, all have specific jobs and all live within a set of guidelines. They live in harmony, given the circumstance. Of all the various jobs, the "runners" are the intriguing bunch. Each morning the gigantic maze opens and the runners set out in search for a way to escape. As an audience, you're as drawn in to the epicness of the maze as well as the confusion and awe that Thomas finds himself in. As the story moves along, it gets significantly darker and you become more aware of the level of seriousness that this movie takes on.

     There were a few patrons who sat near me who after the film ended complained about there being too many boring parts and that it was too slow. In order to feel that way when watching this movie you'd either have to be completely ignorant to what a good story entails, or you must have fallen asleep. "The Maze Runner" starts at 100 MPH and only slows down just enough for you to barely catch a breath and regain your bearing. Then it revs up for more. It's got some pretty scary and harrowing moments. The "grievers", nocturnal inhabitants of the maze, are something straight out of a nightmare. The actual maze itself is a character all its own. If I had only one complaint or one request, it would be to spend more time exploring the maze. The sequences within the maze are crucial to the story and are some of the most high-octane moments of the whole film.  It's a huge stinkin' maze, I mean it's absolutely gigantic and it would have been nice to explore it. But alas, I'm not a resident of the Glen blessed with the honor of being a runner, so therefore I must be content with what was presented. 

     The cast is really talented. Dylan O'Brien, who plays Thomas, attacks the role with ferocious realism. Most leading men in these Young Adult films often come off forced, fake or sometimes just over the top. Dylan does a great job and in doing so I'm sure he will gain a larger appreciation from his female fan-base. I can't really take anything away from his performance. The supporting cast was equally believable. The intense tone of the film has a similar feel to that of "Lord of the Flies", "Hunger Games", and "Lost". The characters, cast and story are a seamless blend of awesome entertainment. Hats off to director Wes Ball on his first feature length film.

     I may just have to go read the book now that I've seen the film. I'm sure it'll be number one during its opening weekend. It's rated PG-13 for "thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images", and it definitely earns it. I highly recommend this film for everyone. Whether you've read the book or not, it's a heck of a movie; surly not to disappoint. Go see it. I mean it. No, really. Go check it out. 

   "The Maze Runner" opens in theaters September 19, 2014.