So Many Dystopian Futures To Choose From... "The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials"

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Dylan O'Brian, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brode-Sangster, Dexter Darden, Alexander Flores, Patricia Clarkson, Barry Pepper,

Directed by Wes Ball

The Story:

Thomas (O'Brien) and his friends have escaped the Maze. Now they are in what they believe to be a safe haven, but it turns out that is simply a place where they can harvest the kids and try and find a cure for the ravages of the earth. So they escape and head towards freedom, staying one step ahead of WCKD while trying to find the whispered resistance fighters in the mountains. They have to survive the trials of life outside, which includes the Cranks...otherwise known as zombies.

That's right, things get cranked up a bit in the Dystopian Future world of the Maze Runner with the introduction to the fact that there are zombies out there.

Sadly, that introduction is short-lived and while a burst of energy, it fades quickly as the movie returns to the kids running for their lives and being chased by the government.

For over 2 hours.

I haven't figured out who decided, and when, that movies should start having 2+ hour run times.

On occasion, when you have a great film, go ahead and do it.

When your film is "meh" and runs closer to average than masterpiece, and you're stretching your epic-ness over a multi-film saga...

Sometimes judicious editing could benefit you.

Again, the arrival of zombies is rather exciting and unexpected, but it's short-lived and takes place in the middle of the film to give you a shot in the arm before devolving back to a cat and mouse game where you're actually hoping another dog shows up and shakes things up.

I'll be back to see the next installment, but as it is, I'm already forgetting a lot of what just happened in this one.

Final Grade: C

"The Maze Runner" Offers A Bleak Outlook On Life

The Maze Runner (2014)

PG-13

Starring Dylan O'Brien, Ami Ameen, Ki Hong Lee, Blake Cooper, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelari

Directed by Wes Ball

The Story:

Thomas (O'Brien) awakens in The Glade, with no memories and attempts to fit in with the other boys that live there. There's leader Alby (Ameen), resident a-hole, Gally (Poulter) and the leader of the runners, Minho (Lee). Once Thomas arrives, he questions everything and begins to unsettle the environment. These young men survive in the wild, and attempt to navigate a giant maze on the outskirts of their settlement daily. So far, no exit has been found, but there is something sinister within the walls. When the first female arrives (Scodelari), the rules all change forever, and the colony must do what it can to survive.

Based on a true story.

Gosh, I hope not!

Welcome to another dystopian future young adult novel turned into cinematic franchise.

It's not horrible,

It's not wonderful.

There will be a sequel.

However, the ending has the most pointless death I've seen in a movie in a very long time.

That it took up almost 2 hours of my life and that was the most emotion that the film elicited from me tells you that for the most part, this movie is simply average.

Final Grade: C