Zombies! Stalkers! Scorch Trials Delivers; The Perfect Guy Not So Perfect

   

 
    This summer has seen some interesting films. As the summer winds down, we start to move away from the big blockbusters. However, "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is as big a blockbuster as any, and it delivers. I'll preface this review by first stating that I have not read the book so, as to its loyalty to the source material I'm afraid I can't tell you. As for the film itself, it was great. I think the thing that makes it good for me was that it totally took me by surprise. The first movie (which you can read my review for here) had this feel of intensity and mystery. Not knowing what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. This second one doesn't fall short in fact, dare I say, it was better than the first.

   Picking up about five minutes after the end of the first film, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and Co. have escaped the maze and have found themselves on the run out in the open world; a desolate, sand-covered wasteland aptly named the Scorch. They begin their search for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the "Gladers" take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all. Not to mention other obstacles they face. Like Olympic-sprinting zombies that make the Walkers from The Walking Dead seem like couch potatoes. Best part of the movie, hands down.

   In the way of tone in comparison to the first film, it's slightly heightened. Now that we're introduced to more of this world, we gain a sense of where the character arcs are heading. There are some twists and turns in the film, some of which will make you scratch your head in frustration, but it still remains highly entertaining. The action is fun and engaging, the effects were great, although I think it would have been awesome to make the zombie characters seem more real by using practical effects. That being said though, they're still scary and add a huge layer of entertaining moments to the film. The cast has expanded, adding a ton of great actors into the mix with Game of Thrones' Aiden Gillan, Breaking Bad's Giancarlo Esposito, and friggin' Barry Pepper. Each bring their own level of intensity, ferocity, and poise to this franchise.

   Being the middle film, Scorch Trials falls into the fated category that most middle films do in a franchise. Despite their entertainment value, they spend more time setting up the climax that will be seen in the subsequent film than really focusing on the characters. Though we see a slight arc with Thomas, this was mostly an action-packed-means-to-an-end piece. That's not to take away from its value. This movie is really fun! Like I mentioned earlier, I think I liked this one better than the first, and I really liked the first one! So, if you're a fan of the franchise, you're gonna like it. If you're fans of the book, I really couldn't tell you. All in all, it's definitely worth checking out.

--

 
    "The Perfect Guy" is a thriller that doesn't do a whole lot of thrilling. That being said though, it's not a bad movie. Sanaa Lathan plays Leah, a professional business woman, who struggles with the dynamics that come from living in a relationship where the two parties involved are on different levels of commitment. In essence, they both want different things, and though they still care about each other, they decide to part ways. Some time after, Leah rebounds with Carter (Michael Ealy), a charming, emotional, handsome guy who seems to want the things Leah wants out of a relationship. It's as if he's... the perfect guy. However, Leah finds that Carter in fact, is too good to be true.

   If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the essence of the entire plot. The movie isn't anything special in the way it tells its story. It's fairly straight-forward, almost formulaic. But what keeps you engaged with this bland plot is the characters and the actors that play them. The acting is really good. Sanaa Lathan is a stunning woman who brings much more than looks to the screen. She brings out the strong personality that Leah has in a genuine way. She's complimented wonderfully by Morris Chestnut, who plays Dave, Leah's boyfriend at the beginning of the movie. Morris Chestnut is a really great actor who seems to get pigeon-holed in roles that don't allow him to grow. This just seems like a typical role for him to play, which sometimes comes off as if he's just phoning it in. But again, he brings a level of believability to the role which makes it easy to relate to. Michael Ealy is the shining star here. He is able to capture the "creep" so well, it's disturbing. We've seen his potential as a villainous character in the season 3 arc of "The Following", where he played a mastermind-killer. This feels almost like an extension of that. He's so great in this movie as the obsessed stalker that it is truly unnerving.

   I'll be honest, there are other movies playing in cinemas that are much more worthy of your dollar than this one. It's a cookie-cutter thriller with a bland plot and great acting. It's creepy, but predictable. If you feel so inclined to check it out, catch a matinee. Had the writing been better and the story more engaging, we may have a fantastic film on our hands. The major selling point I would say about this film is that it's real. Meaning, though the story is lacking, the events that take place feel as if they could happen in real life. It's grounded firmly in reality and that's where you'll find most of the tension.