At the start, we are immediately bolstered into a world we know nothing about. Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) presumed to be our hero is taken to a mysterious utopia called the Glade where teamwork and unity are encouraged. Giving off Lord of the Flies vibes in the beginning, we have a group of guys of varying ages trying to coexist and persevere in what is nothing else but a cage. The Glade is surrounded by skyscraper-like cement walls which therein lies the wonder and the terror that is the Maze. Every morning the doors open up and the Runners scope out the ever-changing twists and turns of the labyrinth and report back, hoping to find a way out. You don’t want to get caught after dark though, because that’s when The Grievers come out. Imagine your worst nightmare. Times a hundred. With a scorpion-like mechanical body and a gruesome green-fleshed face and maw this creature is certainly not one you would want to run into. Especially since they “sting”, inflicting madness and aggression on any who get too close.

Soon after Thomas arrives another is brought into the Glade. A girl, the first and only, along with a message announcing she will be the last to be sent. In addition, the last shipment of supplies they received will be just that. The last. The group must now decide. Stay in the Glade as the walls stay open throughout the night or venture into the Maze in search of an escape with Grievers on their heels.

Never reading the books, I was a bit on the skeptic side of things. Partially, because I’m not really all into the whole “young adult” craze going on in the theaters at the moment. I enjoy “The Hunger Games”…and, while it wasn’t exactly original, I found little solace in “Divergent” and “The Giver.” However, if there ever was a series I would pick up and read after seeing the film, “The Maze Runner” would be the obvious choice. A stellar cast and terrific screenplay are combined in an energetic thruster of a ride that could not deteriorate my attention ever if it tried. All the characters are profoundly interesting and offer something new to a widespread audience. The acting side of things was just as flawless. Instead of featuring blandness most YA adaptations succumb too, “The Maze Runner” was a genuine surprise. Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf) leads the pack as the welcome hero, whose toughness and brawn make him awesome to root for. While his co-stars Will Poulter (We’re The Millers) Kaya Scodelario, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Game of Thrones_ balance out the cast of no names. The idea and concept behind the Maze is compelling to the point of me never wanting the movie to reach its satisfying (yet troubling) conclusion. Some lingering questions are left a in the narrative, and the broader terminology of events is open for interpretation. Nevertheless, “The Maze Runner” never lost my attention.

“The Maze Runner” can keep you on edge for most of the breezy two hour run-time (it feels quicker) and the pace is relentless as the tone is set by director Wes Ball. Ball knows how to shoot a pretty good action sequence, and make me clutch the handles of my seat when I need too. Whether futuristic sci-fi and/or dystopian societies are in your poison, “The Maze Runner” has all the cards dealt well within its favor. Sign me up for round two!

Thanks in part to a solid premise that is remarkably strong it can hold the entire movie. A story that features teens fighting back searching for the truth is always a winner to me. A story told through one character’s perspective is simplistically dynamic. The pacing is periodic and keeps the tensions building. The ending itself is very intriguing and goes along a path I didn’t see coming. I sure hope fans of the book got the adaptation they wanted.

The climax is well worth all the mindless wrangling we all must endure. By this I mean there is a lot of beating around the bush. Within the first ten minutes there were already fifteen questions I was asking. Reluctantly, if you have the patience necessary YOU can survive this movie. The only problem with the film lies in the rewatchability. Chances are you’re not going to swarm out and see the movie for another screening after you leave. Because, as with most films, the thrill of seeing a movie for the first time only lasts once. So do your best to get as much out of the first viewing as much as possible.

A-

Directed By: Wes Ball

Rated: PG13

Runtime: 120 mins

Release Date: September 19th 2014

Studio: Fox

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwwbhhjQ9Xk