The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner

Rating 5 out of 10

We all know these trilogies are popular right now.  Mostly for the younger crowd.  Started with Twilight.  Then Hunger Games and Divergent earlier this year.  The latest movie made from a trilogy of books is The Maze Runner.  I think I've had enough.  Agreed I'm not in the age demo they are aiming for and maybe the books are great.  I just have a problem with movies that the whole nearly two hours of film stock is dedicated to setting up movies number II and III,

The movie starts with a young man being sent up in a outdoor elevator looking thing and shoved into a big open field that turns out has huge 100+ foot concrete walls surrounding them. His memory is lost.  That happens to everyone he quickly finds out.  Soon he remembers his name is Thomas.  He quickly joins in with the eighty or so other guys that have been there up to 3-4 years.  A new guy shows every month with more supplies.  From where no one knows.

Every morning the big walls open and there is a maze out there.  A group of runners run the maze every day trying to figure out a way out.  You have to be careful not to be caught out there after dark when the walls close and these big mechanical spider looking things show up and like to pull arms off of young men.  If you thought the Hunger Games was too violent with young folks you want to stay away from this one.

Thomas right off the bat decides his mission in life is to find a way out while some in the group worry that his attempts will create harsh treatment by those who supply the goods. I can't say much more without giving spoilers although even at the end of the movie I was scratching my head trying to figure out what in the hell was going on.

I'm guessing if you have read the books you would like this movie more than I did.  I thought it was well acted and had some good action.  It was just too confusing as to what was really happening and why.  Even when they explained what was going on it didn't completely make sense.  I guess you have to watch II and III which I feel sure will be coming in the next two years.  I doubt I'll give it a run.