The Maze Runner

This was one of my perceived "Hunger Games Rip-Offs" that I actually wanted to go and see. It was also, incidentally, probably the only film that I've been to see where I haven't read the book of it first. I don't think it mattered.

All in all, The Maze Runner was a complete success. It had a very original and intriguing idea. Yes, it followed a very popular teen dystopian formula, but what it put into that formula was new and exciting. The way the film was put together from the very first scene was captivating, and I really wanted to know what was going on. I also thought that the pacing was good, as there was never a moment when I felt frustrated at the characters' actions.

Of course, the denouement was completely guessable, but that wasn't where the thrill of this film was. It was in the surprisingly gritty, intense fight for survival that the Gladers were facing. It also presented an even more intriguing concept for the rest of the trilogy.

This film, however, did contain many annoying traits of teen films (not least the wannabe cool kids sitting in the cinema screen with us, putting us off the film at every available opportunity). These were things such as:

- People who have been living in an enclosed space for ages not ever having to cut their hair or shave, but the film making a point of how dirty they got because they couldn't wash.
- Certain characters' hair remaining gelled in the above circumstances, as well as while they are fighting weird creatures and running, falling, and being squashed by things.
- One specific character who is the "baddie" without much detailed characterisation or reasoning for their generally unpleasant nature.
- The main character being someone special, especially to the ONE AND ONLY female character who turns up later, "changing everything".

Plus, I am sure, many more...

However, that doesn't make it a bad film, it just makes something which could have been absolutely amazing into a solid, enjoyable film. Overall, it plays out like a cross between Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games and a little dash of something else (Greek mythology?). One other positive that needs mentioning is that "English Litting" it (something Heather always tells me off for doing) was actually very interesting, presenting interesting questions and symbolisms. I am very much looking forward to this film's sequel, "The Scorch Trials", in 2016.

8/10