"The Maze Runner" (12A)Directed by: Wes Ball.
Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Patricia Clarkson.
Rated: ‘12A’ for containing intense scenes, threat and violence.
Running time: 113 minutes.
Released in UK cinemas from the 10th of October, 2014.
In recent years we've had countless adaptations of various teenage novels (the "Twilight" saga, "The Hunger Games" series and the beginnings of the "Divergent" chronicles are to name but a few) but it seems to me that they are always clichéd, erroneously written and occasionally prove to be tedious affairs. "The Maze Runner" was different, if only slightly.
Our unusual film begins within the confines of a small depressing lift, currently inhabited by our protagonist, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien). Sent hurtling up the lift shaft, he is anxious of what awaits him when he reaches the top. Suddenly the lift reaches its pinnacle, and two large doors are flung open, revealing bright sunlight. Thomas is surrounded by a faction of young and intimidating men, and quickly decides that he must escape his fate; good or bad. But when escaping on two legs doesn’t exactly work out and his mind fails (due to the complete wipe of his memory), Thomas learns that he may have to adhere to the group’s one rule: he must always stay within the confines of the glade, their home. Upon discovering that the group are stuck within the Glade, Thomas learns however, that beyond the Glade there is a maze; an ever-changing labyrinth of such large proportions that it’s impossible to escape its towering facade. Yet, during the day, the maze is mapped by a group of people named runners, fast and agile boys who constantly search the maze for a way out. They've been searching for three years, but when the new arrival begins to shine, the group decide that he may be their one chance of liberation. Nonetheless, the group are threatened, due to the fact that at night, the maze is patrolled by vicious beasts named Grievers, malignant beasts which possess a deadly sting.
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| A new arrival... Dylan O'Brien and Will Poulter feature in a still from "The Maze Runner". |
Yep, it's a "Lord of the Flies"-esque survival story and to be perfectly honest, it feels like we've seen many of its elements before. Testosterone fuelled arguments and violence amongst the survivors are the key ingredients here, but it doesn’t stop “The Maze Runner” from being an enjoyable piece of science-fiction. Personally, I was formerly unaware of “The Maze Runner” book series, and this proved to be an interesting concept, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that it was somehow similar to “The Hunger Games” in its idea of children being tested beyond their expectations and abilities. But, I’m willing to let that slide.
In fact, this is most probably one of the most satisfying young adult adaptations in recent years, superior to “Divergent” and its various rivals, but it falters in its inability to be gritty. At the rating of ‘12A’, the distributors are obviously attempting to encourage a wider audience into cinema screens and obtain a larger amount of money, but to impress the fans you need to keep the realistic aspects of the effects of violence firmly placed within the film. If not, it just feels as though the entire film is a large cash-grab for distributors, if it wasn’t already. Saying that, there are moments of violence and bloody detail which is quite bold, but due to the lack of the film’s dark nature there isn’t any satirical bite to the film, or the ability to feel for each character. Even with its interesting concept, the film’s script is undeniably weak. The dialogue unfortunately feels as though it should belong to a TV film, but the relationships between each character are strong and allows the film to bypass its feeble dialogue.
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| The Maze awaits... The cast feature in a still from "The Maze Runner". |
In spite of the film’s lack of gritty elements or rich conversation, it is kept afloat by its young, yet talented cast. He may be relatively unknown, but O’Brien produces a strong performance amongst the high-calibre cast, leading the film throughout its highs and lows. The film also contains three of Britain’s most engaging actors currently working in film/television today. Aml Ameen, Brodie-Sangster and Poulter (a delightfully silly antagonist) are all perfect additions to the cast, once again providing skilful performances amongst the large array of cast members.
Alongside the film’s broadly unknown cast, composer John Paesano is an unexplored certainty in relation to the film’s wonderful score. Often tense and at other times notably melancholy, Paesano’s first score is an intriguing foray into blockbuster entertainment, which is strikingly promising.
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| The maze is open, freedom awaits? Dylan O'Brien features in a still from "The Maze Runner". |
One of the film’s most appealing elements however, is the direction of Ball’s debut. Without having worked on previous films before, Ball is an unforeseen pleasure in the art of direction, as he seems to receive honest performances, but still manages to connect with the film’s Sci-Fi aspects, by providing expert camerawork alongside cinematographer Enrique Chediak.
Verdict
“Lord of the Flies” this isn’t, and neither is it as gritty as it aspires to be, but this is a confident, exciting and sleek debut from director Wes Ball. “The Hunger Games” has finally received some worthy competition…
6 stars out of 10
Written by Scott Gentry
Film/TV Rating Key
1-2 stars out of ten = Awful.
3-4 stars out of ten = Average.
5-6 stars out of ten = Good.
7-8 stars out of ten = Excellent.
9-10 stars out of ten = Amazing.
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