It was a good movie spoiled by bad writing. How many times does one have to hear "go-go-go" , "you okay", "u gonna be ok", "sure about this?"; staring at impending disaster instead of running, taking the wrong turn and again staring at things.
Don't kill English and make another cliche bits stuck into a action movie
504 Reviews
Not so a-maze-ing
oskar-mellblom9824 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed watching the first Maze Runner but I didn't think this was quite as good.
The Scorch Trials got some great and intense, action packed scenes, good acting and cool environments but that's it. If you liked the first movie you may like this too or you may get a little disappointed. Don't have so high hopes on this movie.I still enjoyed it a bit but I think it got many bad parts.
I'm not a fan of zombies so I hated the Idea with zombies in the desert or (infected people with a virus, Cranks). Everything is about Thomas in this movie. Everyone knows him and he does not know them. He does not even want to know who they are. That's so weird. I got tired of everyone calling his name. It felt like there was never a scene without Thomas in it.
I think the most irritating part is that Thomas and the others do everything they can to escape from the "WICKED", they go out in the scorch and some of them dies. Later on one friend of his is getting caught by the WICKED again and Thomas decides that he will turn around. They barely even made it out from the scorch and now they turn back after 2hours of the film because one friend got caught? (also because he realized he wants to fight the WICKED now and not run away anymore). It felt like a meaningless adventure. I think they could just skip to the 3rd movie right away.
The Scorch Trials got some great and intense, action packed scenes, good acting and cool environments but that's it. If you liked the first movie you may like this too or you may get a little disappointed. Don't have so high hopes on this movie.I still enjoyed it a bit but I think it got many bad parts.
I'm not a fan of zombies so I hated the Idea with zombies in the desert or (infected people with a virus, Cranks). Everything is about Thomas in this movie. Everyone knows him and he does not know them. He does not even want to know who they are. That's so weird. I got tired of everyone calling his name. It felt like there was never a scene without Thomas in it.
I think the most irritating part is that Thomas and the others do everything they can to escape from the "WICKED", they go out in the scorch and some of them dies. Later on one friend of his is getting caught by the WICKED again and Thomas decides that he will turn around. They barely even made it out from the scorch and now they turn back after 2hours of the film because one friend got caught? (also because he realized he wants to fight the WICKED now and not run away anymore). It felt like a meaningless adventure. I think they could just skip to the 3rd movie right away.
Back to the same YA adaption you've seen before....
dan628820 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
While the first Mazerunner set itself away from the pack of YA Dystopian future film adaptations, Scorch Trials jumps on the bandwagon.
I even got them all confused at one point. Isn't there a 'scorch' and a 'wall' that prevents those why-are-we-so-dangerous Divergents from crossing the void? Isn't there a great dictator and our 'only hope' youngling who vows to 'kill' him/her in Hunger Games? Isn't there a group of important-but-we-don't-really-know-why kids running around in Kanye West's latest fashion line in both of those films? The first Mazerunner kept the mystery, pace, energy, and most importantly action, all at such a great length and mood of importance, that it was hard not to like. Scorch Trials tries to keep that energy, but this time around it feels forced and misdirected.
Not to mention the run-time that is completely unnecessary. Like 'Mad Max' the plot is thin. They escape, they run, they escape again, run some more, a little bit more escaping, they run again, they escape once more, and end the film with.... we have to go back and 'finish' this.
Finish what?! What is so damn important?! We don't know because the whole film works like a long filler episode of television. Just as two characters are about to reveal hidden memories to one another or answer important plot questions, they stop! I find that to be unbearable and annoying (especially since it occurs several times from beginning to end.)You never have a single conversation end in this film. It's all hints, hints... nothing.
And once the film ends, it ends with two lines that make no sense. "I'm going to kill her." Why? Does that stop WKD? Nope. Then a response. "What is your plan?" --as our hero responds with a look out in the distance-- we cut to black..... because you don't have a f*cking plan. Because none of you have a f*cking plan. There is a constant mood in this film, and the Divergent films, and the Hunger Games, that something is important, some kind of a minuscule idea is important, but we're gonna take 8 films to kinda-sorta find out what that important thing is.
Consensus? I now consider the first Mazerunner a great film that'll have to stand on its own. Skip Scorch, or wait for DVD. The good things? One or two moments of action (not scenes) that are well done. And in general the scope, set pieces, and CGI are top notch.
I even got them all confused at one point. Isn't there a 'scorch' and a 'wall' that prevents those why-are-we-so-dangerous Divergents from crossing the void? Isn't there a great dictator and our 'only hope' youngling who vows to 'kill' him/her in Hunger Games? Isn't there a group of important-but-we-don't-really-know-why kids running around in Kanye West's latest fashion line in both of those films? The first Mazerunner kept the mystery, pace, energy, and most importantly action, all at such a great length and mood of importance, that it was hard not to like. Scorch Trials tries to keep that energy, but this time around it feels forced and misdirected.
Not to mention the run-time that is completely unnecessary. Like 'Mad Max' the plot is thin. They escape, they run, they escape again, run some more, a little bit more escaping, they run again, they escape once more, and end the film with.... we have to go back and 'finish' this.
Finish what?! What is so damn important?! We don't know because the whole film works like a long filler episode of television. Just as two characters are about to reveal hidden memories to one another or answer important plot questions, they stop! I find that to be unbearable and annoying (especially since it occurs several times from beginning to end.)You never have a single conversation end in this film. It's all hints, hints... nothing.
And once the film ends, it ends with two lines that make no sense. "I'm going to kill her." Why? Does that stop WKD? Nope. Then a response. "What is your plan?" --as our hero responds with a look out in the distance-- we cut to black..... because you don't have a f*cking plan. Because none of you have a f*cking plan. There is a constant mood in this film, and the Divergent films, and the Hunger Games, that something is important, some kind of a minuscule idea is important, but we're gonna take 8 films to kinda-sorta find out what that important thing is.
Consensus? I now consider the first Mazerunner a great film that'll have to stand on its own. Skip Scorch, or wait for DVD. The good things? One or two moments of action (not scenes) that are well done. And in general the scope, set pieces, and CGI are top notch.
Full of Action Sequel
claudio_carvalho1 November 2015
After escaping from the Maze, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Minho (Ki Hong Lee), Teresa Agnes (Kaya Scodelario), Frypan (Dexter Darden) and Winston (Alexander Flores) are welcomed by Mr. Janson (Aidan Gillen) in a protected facility. They meet other survivors from other mazes and they learn that everyday, a group of teenagers is summoned to be lodged in farms and communities in safe areas. However Thomas decides to investigate what happens with the teenagers and he meets Aris Jones (Jacob Lofland). Soon they find that the place is a WCKD facility and Ava Paige (Patricia Clarkson) is alive and the leader of experiments with the teenagers that are intubated neither alive nor dead. Further, his group will be the next to be guinea pigs. Thomas and Aris succeed in escaping with the other Gladers from the facility and they decide to search the resistance group The Right Arm that is hidden at the mountains. Along their journey, they find the post-apocalyptic world completely destroyed; they meet the Cranks, zombies infected by the Flare virus; they have the loss of a friend; they face storm in the desert and a dangerous group of survivors; and they are betrayed by a friend. Now Thomas and his friends want revenge against the WCKD and Thomas promises to kill Ava Paige.
"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is a full of action sequel of "Maze Runner'. The story has a predictable plot point disclosing that one character is a traitor. There is no explanation why the teenagers needed to stay in the Glade and why the WCKD wanted them submitted to the situations against the Grievers of the previous movie. Maybe the explanation will be given on the next film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Maze Runner: Prova de Fogo" ("Maze Runner: Really Tough Test").
"Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials" is a full of action sequel of "Maze Runner'. The story has a predictable plot point disclosing that one character is a traitor. There is no explanation why the teenagers needed to stay in the Glade and why the WCKD wanted them submitted to the situations against the Grievers of the previous movie. Maybe the explanation will be given on the next film. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Maze Runner: Prova de Fogo" ("Maze Runner: Really Tough Test").
Less A-Maze-ing than the First Installment
prospectus_capricornium9 September 2015
Last year's 'The Maze Runner' was en route to a non-conformist course off the young adult/post-apocalyptic sub-genre, delivering less familiar but appealing deviations from the more recognizable standards of the category. This year, 'The Scorch Trials', its sequel, keeps some of the original beats of its predecessor, but it eventually falls into the scope of the overly familiar trope that the first film has defiantly avoided, which is a bit disappointing, considering the riveting buildup they've pulled off with the first film.
Much of this film is spent in running. That doesn't necessarily makes the film bereft of sense and extremely difficult to follow, but that fact itself, hinders the proceedings from delivering a comprehensible narrative. 'The Gladers', still led by Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), are now on the run from the forces of WCKD, the mysterious organization that placed them in the Glade. What even worse, are Cranks, James Dashner's version of zombies, joining the pursuit. After seemingly endless cat and mouse chases, you'd be thankful to see them stumble upon a resistance movement, giving them a few moments to rest (that gives you a moment to rest from following them). But that's just a bump, because as soon as alliances are formed and a hint of the government's agenda, is revealed, it's marathon-time again.
See, that's what sends this sequel spiraling down from the heights the first film has soared past in 2014. It lacks genuine emotions, and there are barely plot developments well- knitted enough to spark interest. The marathon extravaganza hampers the characters to fully connect with each other, and engage in a conversation, lengthy enough to help us understand. That's maybe the problem for someone who hasn't read the book like me, ever loaded with 'how's and 'why's, which this sequel seems uninterested in answering, until the final chapter.
That being said, there are still some few things to commend, like the fact it has retained, if not improved, its scares and thrills. The Grievers are now replaced by hungrier and grotesquely more vicious Cranks, and the obstacles are updated, to provide more hair raising creeps. The first movie's $340million worldwide cume against its $34million budget has given this sequel a bigger financial resource for production, and you would thank that for 'The Scorch Trials' stunningly choreographed setpieces, looming up in and between adrenaline- propelled pursuits.
Some new characters, like Aiden Gillen's Rat-Man, are introduced, but the rest or more than half of movie's payroll's new names, are barely, if not efficiently, utilized. That's an inevitable additional layer to the heap of flaws that piled up for this outing, but it's extremely hard to completely shrug off the film, especially with an interesting, and riproaring climax, that pretty sets the stage for the trilogy's final phase. While that last chapter is yet to happen, let's pray for the last film to never get split into two. 6/10
Much of this film is spent in running. That doesn't necessarily makes the film bereft of sense and extremely difficult to follow, but that fact itself, hinders the proceedings from delivering a comprehensible narrative. 'The Gladers', still led by Thomas (Dylan O'Brien), are now on the run from the forces of WCKD, the mysterious organization that placed them in the Glade. What even worse, are Cranks, James Dashner's version of zombies, joining the pursuit. After seemingly endless cat and mouse chases, you'd be thankful to see them stumble upon a resistance movement, giving them a few moments to rest (that gives you a moment to rest from following them). But that's just a bump, because as soon as alliances are formed and a hint of the government's agenda, is revealed, it's marathon-time again.
See, that's what sends this sequel spiraling down from the heights the first film has soared past in 2014. It lacks genuine emotions, and there are barely plot developments well- knitted enough to spark interest. The marathon extravaganza hampers the characters to fully connect with each other, and engage in a conversation, lengthy enough to help us understand. That's maybe the problem for someone who hasn't read the book like me, ever loaded with 'how's and 'why's, which this sequel seems uninterested in answering, until the final chapter.
That being said, there are still some few things to commend, like the fact it has retained, if not improved, its scares and thrills. The Grievers are now replaced by hungrier and grotesquely more vicious Cranks, and the obstacles are updated, to provide more hair raising creeps. The first movie's $340million worldwide cume against its $34million budget has given this sequel a bigger financial resource for production, and you would thank that for 'The Scorch Trials' stunningly choreographed setpieces, looming up in and between adrenaline- propelled pursuits.
Some new characters, like Aiden Gillen's Rat-Man, are introduced, but the rest or more than half of movie's payroll's new names, are barely, if not efficiently, utilized. That's an inevitable additional layer to the heap of flaws that piled up for this outing, but it's extremely hard to completely shrug off the film, especially with an interesting, and riproaring climax, that pretty sets the stage for the trilogy's final phase. While that last chapter is yet to happen, let's pray for the last film to never get split into two. 6/10
Fun to watch
Aleksandar35727 October 2015
Lets face it. The Maze Runner films are not great. They are good, but not that good. While the film was fun to watch it was full of already seen scenes. Not really original. Director did a good job, not that bad. Screenplay could have been better. You expect to see some of the cool post-apocalyptic cities and landscapes, but you do not get enough of that. A lot of cliché moments in the film. Should have been a little shorter. Also there are some illogical decision that characters made in the film, cannot really get into it without spoiling something. They tried to give it a little twist but it was not that surprising. Irritated me a little bit. Acting was good. I actually liked how they edited it out, not bad. Cinematography is good. All in all a good, fun film to watch. Everyone knew it was not going to be a masterpiece.
Arguably maybe it even deserves 6/10. I was wondering what to give it, but because I like these kind of films it made my decision easier and I gave it 7/10.
Arguably maybe it even deserves 6/10. I was wondering what to give it, but because I like these kind of films it made my decision easier and I gave it 7/10.
How to make an entire book fandom hate you
maddisonfield11 September 2015
I am so unbelievably unhappy with this movie! The writer of the script has completely dissed the original most exciting plot from the books to some stupid ridiculous mainstream apocalyptic story.
None of this happens in the book. None of it makes sense. It's called "The Scorch Trials" as in trials from wickd. Not some stupid escape adventure! I was so excited for this movie and I'm going to be honest, I left the cinema fuming with anger. If you're going to create a movie based on a book, actually go by the book plot. Don't make you're own and expect everyone to be happy with it. I'm sure the writer of the movies just ticked off an entire fandom.
None of this happens in the book. None of it makes sense. It's called "The Scorch Trials" as in trials from wickd. Not some stupid escape adventure! I was so excited for this movie and I'm going to be honest, I left the cinema fuming with anger. If you're going to create a movie based on a book, actually go by the book plot. Don't make you're own and expect everyone to be happy with it. I'm sure the writer of the movies just ticked off an entire fandom.
Watch all 3 at the same time
jelstudio23 July 2019
I did not read the book.
I watched the trilogy in 1 go, treating it like a 6-hour long single movie.
Watch it that way and it works :)
Watch any of the 3 episodes alone and it will not work (hence the many bad reviews here)
I watched the trilogy in 1 go, treating it like a 6-hour long single movie.
Watch it that way and it works :)
Watch any of the 3 episodes alone and it will not work (hence the many bad reviews here)
So bad I couldn't even finish the movie!
bethaniebaker21 January 2018
I had a feeling after watching the first movie and noticing the parts that were incorrect or never happened in the book, but I still had some hope that maybe, just maybe this movie would be watchable. I was wrong. First of all, Mr. Wes Ball, do me a favor and never produce another movie again, and if you so feel inclined to embaress yourself again, maybe actually read the book before making a movie about it. The movie was so far from what actually happened its disgraceful. One of the biggest concepts of the plot of the book was the actual "Scorch Trials," which was never even explained or touched in the movie, it was just teenagers and a middle aged man running in a post apoctlyptic town with zombies looking for "The Right Hand" which doesn't even exist in the book. There was no plot and a bunch of characters and scenarios were added for no reason. The book has 360 pages of pure gold and the director just went completely rogue and made up his own concept. quite honestly, the director could have did that exact same movie and just gave it a differt title and changed the characters names and no one would even make the connection that it was even The Maze Runner series, thats how completely far off it was. and yes, I could not even finish the movie. I was that furious ans disgusted with whatever it was Wes Ball did. Do not bother watching if you enjoyed the book.
I liked it more than Part 1, but not everybody will...
landingwiz9 September 2015
OK, so I found Scorch Trials exciting and more complete as a movie.
It also had a better cliffhanger in my opinion, because I felt like I needed to watch the next part NOW. Whereas for the ending of Maze Runner, I was like... "Here we go again???"
For sure... part 2 did not have the novelty of part 1, and for that reason alone some people might give a lower score. In fact, this movie felt more like a zombie survival movie with long screen time in darkness, jumpscares and all, so this is another reason some fans of the first part might not like Scorch Trials. It has a darker atmosphere.
It also has many cliché moments, and scenes taken right out from other movies like Jurassic park. Unoriginal ideas, but well, they worked OK in this movie.
As for the acting, I liked it. I thought everyone did a pretty compelling job. I liked the twist at the end, which unlike in many movies, doesn't feel forced.
All in all, Scorch Trials is a very different movie from the first. Different settings, different environment, different atmosphere. Once again, it did not have the novelty and originality the first part had.
But with that said, I can't say it wasn't exciting and entertaining, and made me look forward to the next part.
It also had a better cliffhanger in my opinion, because I felt like I needed to watch the next part NOW. Whereas for the ending of Maze Runner, I was like... "Here we go again???"
For sure... part 2 did not have the novelty of part 1, and for that reason alone some people might give a lower score. In fact, this movie felt more like a zombie survival movie with long screen time in darkness, jumpscares and all, so this is another reason some fans of the first part might not like Scorch Trials. It has a darker atmosphere.
It also has many cliché moments, and scenes taken right out from other movies like Jurassic park. Unoriginal ideas, but well, they worked OK in this movie.
As for the acting, I liked it. I thought everyone did a pretty compelling job. I liked the twist at the end, which unlike in many movies, doesn't feel forced.
All in all, Scorch Trials is a very different movie from the first. Different settings, different environment, different atmosphere. Once again, it did not have the novelty and originality the first part had.
But with that said, I can't say it wasn't exciting and entertaining, and made me look forward to the next part.
Original Story Line Butchered so Badly the Film Lost it's Cohesion
femmegirl-9766626 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
It is as if the concern of the producers and story writers were so focused on the movie's DBOX worthiness that they forgot to include the story line.
I went to this movie with two friends that have not read the books, as I have. Both walked out of the movie confused..."Where did the virus come from?" was the first question that they asked.
The beginning of the movie should have included the reason why W.I.C.K.E.D. created the Maze, explained what the Flare is, and introduced both groups of Maze runners. Instead, the audience is lost in visual effects without knowing why the action is happening. To add insult to injury, the writers turn the virus infected people into inhuman, biologically altered zombies. The immune are now a commodity for a short term fix to the virus problem. So much has been lost by these adaptations that the result is a vague and confusing zombie flick. I almost walked out.
This was a wonderful book that should have been an incredible movie.
I went to this movie with two friends that have not read the books, as I have. Both walked out of the movie confused..."Where did the virus come from?" was the first question that they asked.
The beginning of the movie should have included the reason why W.I.C.K.E.D. created the Maze, explained what the Flare is, and introduced both groups of Maze runners. Instead, the audience is lost in visual effects without knowing why the action is happening. To add insult to injury, the writers turn the virus infected people into inhuman, biologically altered zombies. The immune are now a commodity for a short term fix to the virus problem. So much has been lost by these adaptations that the result is a vague and confusing zombie flick. I almost walked out.
This was a wonderful book that should have been an incredible movie.
Nice movie on so many levels!
palavitsinis22 October 2015
To begin with, I have to let you know that I was not aware of the existence of any book before I saw the first and second movie. So, comments like "you ruined the book", etc. don't make sense to me.
I saw the first movie on a DVD and this one in the movie theater. For me it was pure entertainment for the entire duration of the movie! I liked the thrilling scenes and the chase from the zombie like people. At some points I could not help but thinking that it a PS4 game and at some point they would turn over the control of the actors to me and I would be left alone clicking on X or L1/R1 to run as fast as I can! I liked that but many may not like it. For me this was awesome!
The acting was OK, as expected and really similar to the first one. It's not like you wait to see an Oscar-winning performance there, right? I really enjoyed all the special effects and the amazing scenes from the cities that are crumbling and falling apart. The movie seemed a lot longer than it is. The action-packed and full story behind it, gave too much information and left me feeling really "full" after watching it and this was not because of the XXL pop corn that I ate!
I will go to the movies to see the third one, with excitement! And yes, it definitely is an "8" in its genre. "7" felt like a minimum, so I would easily give a "7.5" with pleasure! If you don't like this kind of post-apocaliptic stories, wait till it's out in DVD, don't spend money in the movies. If you do like them, go and see it, like yesterday!
I saw the first movie on a DVD and this one in the movie theater. For me it was pure entertainment for the entire duration of the movie! I liked the thrilling scenes and the chase from the zombie like people. At some points I could not help but thinking that it a PS4 game and at some point they would turn over the control of the actors to me and I would be left alone clicking on X or L1/R1 to run as fast as I can! I liked that but many may not like it. For me this was awesome!
The acting was OK, as expected and really similar to the first one. It's not like you wait to see an Oscar-winning performance there, right? I really enjoyed all the special effects and the amazing scenes from the cities that are crumbling and falling apart. The movie seemed a lot longer than it is. The action-packed and full story behind it, gave too much information and left me feeling really "full" after watching it and this was not because of the XXL pop corn that I ate!
I will go to the movies to see the third one, with excitement! And yes, it definitely is an "8" in its genre. "7" felt like a minimum, so I would easily give a "7.5" with pleasure! If you don't like this kind of post-apocaliptic stories, wait till it's out in DVD, don't spend money in the movies. If you do like them, go and see it, like yesterday!
Bittersweet but overall good...
godzluvchild10 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I was looking forward to seeing the second installment of this movie trilogy. I was not disappointed in action and adventure. The movie has plenty of it! Outside of the kids cussing, the primary reasons why I have downgraded my rating is because one, the "cranks", two, the storyline itself and three, the supposed love story. I'm not big on the zombie thing anymore. This movie does well without the zombie stuff. The storyline loses me a little because the reason for testing the kids doesn't make sense in relation to finding a cure to the Flare disease. How does testing brain activity in times of stress create a cure for a disease that's obtained by getting bitten? Especially since the movie showed that the kids were clearly able to get infected just as easily as anyone else. Thirdly, the romance between Thomas and Teresa...I had no idea they even liked each other! I did not get that from the first movie at all. And honestly, the story has so much content that a romance is not needed. So, like I said, bittersweet...but overall, good.
What the Hell
?
aprilhoffmann28 September 2015
Short version: Read the book, but don't see the movie. OR, go see the movie, but don't read the book. Just DON'T do both.
Long version: There really are no words to describe how far away this movie was from the book. It was like going into a theater expecting to see The Terminator, and seeing Braveheart instead. Both great movies, but NOTHING similar about them. Besides the character names, lightening, and some sand, NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING about this movie resembled ANY part of the book. Nothing. I read the book in one day, two days before I saw this movie. I was so excited to see this fantastic book come to life, and I left sorely disappointed.
I'm not sure if the author of the book was involved at all in the decisions that went into the writing of this movie, but they completely bastardized, completely changed EVERYTHING about his story. Even the core motivation behind the 'who and the why' was different.
It simply was not the same story at all. I've seen many books made into movies and I'm familiar with the huge and often disappointing changes they inevitably make, but this was off the charts. I've never seen anything like it.
If you haven't read the books, then go see it. It was fun enough. But please don't bother if you enjoyed the original story; because it's a completely different one.
Long version: There really are no words to describe how far away this movie was from the book. It was like going into a theater expecting to see The Terminator, and seeing Braveheart instead. Both great movies, but NOTHING similar about them. Besides the character names, lightening, and some sand, NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING about this movie resembled ANY part of the book. Nothing. I read the book in one day, two days before I saw this movie. I was so excited to see this fantastic book come to life, and I left sorely disappointed.
I'm not sure if the author of the book was involved at all in the decisions that went into the writing of this movie, but they completely bastardized, completely changed EVERYTHING about his story. Even the core motivation behind the 'who and the why' was different.
It simply was not the same story at all. I've seen many books made into movies and I'm familiar with the huge and often disappointing changes they inevitably make, but this was off the charts. I've never seen anything like it.
If you haven't read the books, then go see it. It was fun enough. But please don't bother if you enjoyed the original story; because it's a completely different one.
Moving and attractive Sci-Fi set in a dystopian society in which a brave teenager takes on lots of dangers and a terrible truth .
ma-cortes28 March 2023
Nail-biting second installment of a successful trilogy, dealing with a stirring dystopian Sci-Fi in which an adolescent becomes involved into lots of dangers, risks, emotion and violence . As starring Thomas leads a group of escaped Gladers on their dangerous mission yet . The first movie relied heavily on the long battles with excessive use of giant spider machines, and abstract images on the dreams performed by Thomas , as well as the meaning of the strange and perilous maze with the creepy monsters and the dark future on his sad world . Here Thomas unlocks secrets , uncovering horrible deeds and along with his partners and with the help from others on his side carry out a strong fight and fleeing from a new prison . The second chapter of the epic "Maze Runner" saga . Thomas -Dylan O'Brien- and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all. The Maze was just the beginning !. The Scorch... will change everything Get ready to run !. Remember. Survive. Run. Every Maze Has An End .The Time for Lies is Over
Breathtaking and thrilling sequel in which young hero Thomas embarks on a new dangerous mission . This second part contains thrills , chills , noisy action, high body-count , breathtaking state-of-art-special effects, characterization enough, and violent happenings .As our starring will be forced to make complex choices about sacrifice , loyaly , courage , love , redemption and allegiance. This is a Science Fiction and drama film based upon the novel James Dashner in which a teenager wakes up in a difficult society divided into factions and he searches thorny answers . Thomas takes desperate, disturbing choices, and makes difficult decisions to protect his companions and, finally, discovering the shocking truth and suffering unexpected betrayal . Here our starring Thomas faces one impossible challenge after another, as he unreveals the truth about his past . Stars Dylan O'Brien who gives nice acting as the valiant teen who is really haunted by her past, as well as he must confront nasty enemies . He is well accompanied by a largely British/American cast to be with him in the three entries, and most of the secondary cast spent the week before production taking part in this survival fight, such as : Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Will Poulter , Thomas Brodie-Sangster , Dexter Darden , Alexander Flores, Jacob Lofland , Rosa Salazar , Giancarlo Esposito , Aidan Gillen , Terry Dale , Kathryn Smith-McGlynn , Lili Taylor ,Barry Pepper, Nathalie Emmanuel , Alan Tudyck and special mention mention for the veteran Patricia Clarkson in a fundamental role as Ava Paige.
The picture has a colorful and brilliant cinematography by Gyula Pados . And a hair-rising and rousing musical score by John Paesano. The flick was well directed by Wes Ball , who also made the original and sequels : Maze Runner (2014) , Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) . Wes Ball originally met with 20th Century Fox Studios to shoot a feature length version of his short film 'Ruin' , but then they offered him the chance to direct 'The Maze Runner' and he accepted with a budget 4 million and shot in just 44 days . Wes Ball is a good professional director who has got a big success with this fantastic trilogy . Rating : 6.5/10. Well worth watching. A decent follow-up , being essential and fundamental watching for Maze Runner fans.
Breathtaking and thrilling sequel in which young hero Thomas embarks on a new dangerous mission . This second part contains thrills , chills , noisy action, high body-count , breathtaking state-of-art-special effects, characterization enough, and violent happenings .As our starring will be forced to make complex choices about sacrifice , loyaly , courage , love , redemption and allegiance. This is a Science Fiction and drama film based upon the novel James Dashner in which a teenager wakes up in a difficult society divided into factions and he searches thorny answers . Thomas takes desperate, disturbing choices, and makes difficult decisions to protect his companions and, finally, discovering the shocking truth and suffering unexpected betrayal . Here our starring Thomas faces one impossible challenge after another, as he unreveals the truth about his past . Stars Dylan O'Brien who gives nice acting as the valiant teen who is really haunted by her past, as well as he must confront nasty enemies . He is well accompanied by a largely British/American cast to be with him in the three entries, and most of the secondary cast spent the week before production taking part in this survival fight, such as : Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Will Poulter , Thomas Brodie-Sangster , Dexter Darden , Alexander Flores, Jacob Lofland , Rosa Salazar , Giancarlo Esposito , Aidan Gillen , Terry Dale , Kathryn Smith-McGlynn , Lili Taylor ,Barry Pepper, Nathalie Emmanuel , Alan Tudyck and special mention mention for the veteran Patricia Clarkson in a fundamental role as Ava Paige.
The picture has a colorful and brilliant cinematography by Gyula Pados . And a hair-rising and rousing musical score by John Paesano. The flick was well directed by Wes Ball , who also made the original and sequels : Maze Runner (2014) , Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015) and Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) . Wes Ball originally met with 20th Century Fox Studios to shoot a feature length version of his short film 'Ruin' , but then they offered him the chance to direct 'The Maze Runner' and he accepted with a budget 4 million and shot in just 44 days . Wes Ball is a good professional director who has got a big success with this fantastic trilogy . Rating : 6.5/10. Well worth watching. A decent follow-up , being essential and fundamental watching for Maze Runner fans.
Maze Runner - New Fomula (Now with zombies)
ShazaliSharaini11 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Just minor spoilers here, folks.
I won't say it's great. But it's not awful either.
The title says 'Runner'. Of course there are going to be a lot of runnings. What do you expect? Someone out there said running aimlessly. People chase them. Zombies chase them. Do you think they know where exactly in the desert they are running to? I love this one better than the first one. I dunno. The first one was a bit dull. This one is more exciting. I guess maybe I love zombies.
Nothing original. You'll see bits here and there you've seen somewhere before. But fun, nonetheless.
Go see it.
I won't say it's great. But it's not awful either.
The title says 'Runner'. Of course there are going to be a lot of runnings. What do you expect? Someone out there said running aimlessly. People chase them. Zombies chase them. Do you think they know where exactly in the desert they are running to? I love this one better than the first one. I dunno. The first one was a bit dull. This one is more exciting. I guess maybe I love zombies.
Nothing original. You'll see bits here and there you've seen somewhere before. But fun, nonetheless.
Go see it.
Rogues, Rebels and Zombies!
3xHCCH10 September 2015
Almost exactly one year ago, the first "Maze Runner" film was released in local theaters. I thought that the action sequences within the maze scenes were all quite exciting and very entertaining to watch. However, after all the excellent suspense and tension built up in the first two- thirds of the film, at the end nothing really gets explained clearly. It felt like an incomplete film on its own. For those it gets interested though, this sequel is expected to give answers to questions raised in the first film.
While under the care of a high-security facility, Thomas becomes increasingly suspicious of Janson, the man in charge. When he overhears a sinister plot hatching, he gets his fellow Gladers out to brave the arid desert called the Scorch outside. However, it was not only the elements they have to worry about, there were still a horde of killer zombies called the Cranks out there to contend with. Thomas and his gang survive the Scorch and unite with the rebel group in the mountains in order to fight the danger foisted on humanity by the increasingly mysterious Dr. Ava Paige and her WCKD organization.
Dylan O'Brien continues his good portrayal of the ever-doubting Thomas. In this film, his character would need to make a lot of difficult decisions and O'Brien convinces us that he can make those hard choices. The other young actors in his gang do not really do too much to stand out. Aidan Gillen, the ever-slimy Littlefinger on "Game of Thrones" brings his smarmy charms in this film as the Rat-Man, Janson. One look at him and I cannot really separate him from his TV character.
Rosa Salazar gives a strong performance as Brenda, a survivor within the city ruins whom Thomas encounters. She registers better on screen than the main female lead Kaya Scodelario, who plays Teresa. It was good to see another "Game of Thrones" actress in there, the attractive Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Harriet, one of the rebels. Veteran actresses Lili Taylor and Patricia Clarkson lend class to their rival scientist characters, Mary Cooper and Ava Paige, respectively.
The excitement build up strongly in the first act. However the second act in the Scorch felt a bit slow as the Cranks overstay their parts too long. Their horror scenes were effectively creepy at first but they get a bit too repetitive. A protracted hallucinatory party scene can also be quite head-scratching. The third act though hikes up the explosive climactic action and revives anticipatory audience excitement for the next installment. The production design of elaborate setup of the WCKD laboratory and the ruins of the huge city looked very good. At the end of the 130 minute running time, there are still a lot of questions about the true intentions of WCKD, or is that name alone already a giveaway clue?
There was no more maze in this movie anymore for the characters to run through. However, the maze is for the viewer who has to try to absorb this whole labyrinthine dystopian world that James Dashner hatched in his novels. Director Wes Ball does his best to make the complex plot engaging, exciting and entertaining with some pretty well-executed action scenes. Overall, when compared to the first "Maze Runner", this sequel was the more satisfying film for me. 7/10.
While under the care of a high-security facility, Thomas becomes increasingly suspicious of Janson, the man in charge. When he overhears a sinister plot hatching, he gets his fellow Gladers out to brave the arid desert called the Scorch outside. However, it was not only the elements they have to worry about, there were still a horde of killer zombies called the Cranks out there to contend with. Thomas and his gang survive the Scorch and unite with the rebel group in the mountains in order to fight the danger foisted on humanity by the increasingly mysterious Dr. Ava Paige and her WCKD organization.
Dylan O'Brien continues his good portrayal of the ever-doubting Thomas. In this film, his character would need to make a lot of difficult decisions and O'Brien convinces us that he can make those hard choices. The other young actors in his gang do not really do too much to stand out. Aidan Gillen, the ever-slimy Littlefinger on "Game of Thrones" brings his smarmy charms in this film as the Rat-Man, Janson. One look at him and I cannot really separate him from his TV character.
Rosa Salazar gives a strong performance as Brenda, a survivor within the city ruins whom Thomas encounters. She registers better on screen than the main female lead Kaya Scodelario, who plays Teresa. It was good to see another "Game of Thrones" actress in there, the attractive Nathalie Emmanuel, who plays Harriet, one of the rebels. Veteran actresses Lili Taylor and Patricia Clarkson lend class to their rival scientist characters, Mary Cooper and Ava Paige, respectively.
The excitement build up strongly in the first act. However the second act in the Scorch felt a bit slow as the Cranks overstay their parts too long. Their horror scenes were effectively creepy at first but they get a bit too repetitive. A protracted hallucinatory party scene can also be quite head-scratching. The third act though hikes up the explosive climactic action and revives anticipatory audience excitement for the next installment. The production design of elaborate setup of the WCKD laboratory and the ruins of the huge city looked very good. At the end of the 130 minute running time, there are still a lot of questions about the true intentions of WCKD, or is that name alone already a giveaway clue?
There was no more maze in this movie anymore for the characters to run through. However, the maze is for the viewer who has to try to absorb this whole labyrinthine dystopian world that James Dashner hatched in his novels. Director Wes Ball does his best to make the complex plot engaging, exciting and entertaining with some pretty well-executed action scenes. Overall, when compared to the first "Maze Runner", this sequel was the more satisfying film for me. 7/10.
Just one word
Toogle3 January 2016
Warning: Spoilers
First movie was interesting but this one is;
Cliché..!!
Same apocalyptic disease scenario, same walking dead scenes, classic action scenes and all clichés are in this movie. I mean desert scene and collapsed bridge what a creative idea..! and "-no this is wrong girl" Teresa, "oh my god no water again cause is desert ", "is this guys are good?" , "oh no, they wanna use us for themselves like a life insurance" There is no creative anything I mean "broken glass scene" come on guys. finally Teresa's mother story and helicopters are really good night kiss for all watchers. Total Disappointment.
Cliché..!!
Same apocalyptic disease scenario, same walking dead scenes, classic action scenes and all clichés are in this movie. I mean desert scene and collapsed bridge what a creative idea..! and "-no this is wrong girl" Teresa, "oh my god no water again cause is desert ", "is this guys are good?" , "oh no, they wanna use us for themselves like a life insurance" There is no creative anything I mean "broken glass scene" come on guys. finally Teresa's mother story and helicopters are really good night kiss for all watchers. Total Disappointment.
Great amazing movie!
camoudemers12 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
So, lets just talk about how amazing the movie is? Idk why people are hating on this movie! James did an amazing job writing and the producer of the movie did too because he included terrific scenes in the book into a mild-terrific scene. Also, I think that it was like a little bit simple (zombie apocalypse). The scorch Trials was better than the first movie. If you watch this movie, you will be amazed! The actors played they role perfectly. I rate this movie 9/10 just because they made Teresa evil and she betrayed her friends :(
AN AWESOME & EXCITING APOCALYPTIC SCI-FI THRILLER
lukem-527607 April 2020
The Maze Runner films are an Awesome Trilogy & i think i like this part "The Scorch Trials" best.
Here Thomas & his crew are on the run into the dangerous desert wastelands called The Scorched Earth, a place full of Danger & most dangerous of all are the Infected humans who have turned into Zombie creatures called Cranks. These "Cranks" look Awesome & make for terrifying creatures that are out there ready to rip-apart any human. This film has a more Horror feel to it & that's why i loved it best. There's an incredible, intense & exciting sequence where Thomas & his gang are in a buried building in the sand & it's dark & scary & full of ferocious killer Cranks that chase them through the big old building/Mall type place & it's so intense & scary & a proper Horror movie scene.
The characters are all great again here, especially Thomas as the troubled leader of the group & we get, much later in the movie, a great Little role from Barry Pepper, one of the most underrated actors out there & one of my personal favourite actors ever!!! Here the always intense & rugged Barry Pepper plays a tough wasteland warrior named Vince & although it's a small part for Pepper it's a great role & he steals the show as soon as he's on screen.
Here Thomas must survive the scorched earth & evade the evil WKD empire. A thrilling adventure.
The Scorch Trials is a blast of Action & Apocalyptic sci-fi Horror with a great ensemble cast & great effects.
The Scorch Trials is a blast of Action & Apocalyptic sci-fi Horror with a great ensemble cast & great effects.
So much wrong with this film.
crash76er119 September 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked Maze runner, but still don't understand why they didn't just build a ladder to the top of the wall and walk out. This movie was full of WTF stupid moments that really bugs me.
Like why didn't they just turn off the generator when they noticed that that's what brought the zombies to life?! Instead they just leave it on and like Monty Pithon they run away, run away!
When Brenda and Thomas see that creepy growing red stuff on the walls of the sewer, anyone else, after all they have been through would have taken one look and said nope, I'm outta here, but instead they have to go fully investigate this dangerous looking creepy stuff. They could have found a better way to have Brenda get infected.
When Thomas makes an impossible heroic save of Brenda from falling to the ground through the glass, are we really supposed to assume they had no trouble at all getting back to the doorway above and clear from danger?!
When that guy is shooting the big gun off the back of the truck, first of all he is a horrible shot not able to hit a huge helicopter and second, why didn't he shoot the transport before the kids got on it. All the bad people were on it and ripe for the killing and yet he does nothing.
I also thought Mary's character was way too short lived. Brenda and Thomas relationship was not played out well enough and I really don't like Teresa. Traitor bitch ;) Also couldn't they find a better song than After Midnight? AC/DC or Disturbed or something that sounded like destruction would have made for a better scene.
I have not read the books, but maybe the film would be better if they hadn't heavily diverted away. Either way I think it was lazily written and I want my $6 back! Lol
Like why didn't they just turn off the generator when they noticed that that's what brought the zombies to life?! Instead they just leave it on and like Monty Pithon they run away, run away!
When Brenda and Thomas see that creepy growing red stuff on the walls of the sewer, anyone else, after all they have been through would have taken one look and said nope, I'm outta here, but instead they have to go fully investigate this dangerous looking creepy stuff. They could have found a better way to have Brenda get infected.
When Thomas makes an impossible heroic save of Brenda from falling to the ground through the glass, are we really supposed to assume they had no trouble at all getting back to the doorway above and clear from danger?!
When that guy is shooting the big gun off the back of the truck, first of all he is a horrible shot not able to hit a huge helicopter and second, why didn't he shoot the transport before the kids got on it. All the bad people were on it and ripe for the killing and yet he does nothing.
I also thought Mary's character was way too short lived. Brenda and Thomas relationship was not played out well enough and I really don't like Teresa. Traitor bitch ;) Also couldn't they find a better song than After Midnight? AC/DC or Disturbed or something that sounded like destruction would have made for a better scene.
I have not read the books, but maybe the film would be better if they hadn't heavily diverted away. Either way I think it was lazily written and I want my $6 back! Lol
More entertaining than the first installment
do-arellano-mayra10 September 2015
Let's get this straight out of the way. If you are tired of movies based on books that present a young cast, you won't find something here to convert you. However if you found the first movie to be a surprisingly entertaining, solid action flick;or if you don't mind the age of the main characters as long as the story deliveries, there's plenty to like here. Specially because there are some improvements over the flaws of the first film.
The action sequences are gripping, well directed and have a feel of raw realism. It's evident that the ensemble of actors- young or mature- gave it all physically. It seems as though the stunts doubles had little to do in comparison to the average action flick.
If in the first movie you got 2 or 3 action scenes to keep you in the edge of your seat,in The scorch trials you'll find action almost from the beginning.I'm not a fan of non-stop action, but I was particularly impressed with Barry Pepper who I heard filmed his action scenes with a broken ankle.
The acting is extremely good. Not only the young lead Dylan O'Brien and his young co-stars, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Rosa Salazar and Thomas Brodie Sangter, deliver strong performances, but also the supporting cast of mature actors. By the way if you have read or heard that the very talented supporting cast of mature actors is there only for their paychecks or that "they have better things to do" you are hearing a biased opinion by unprofessional reviewers who are tired of "YA adaptations". But just because some reviewers are tired of this "subgenre" doesn't mean that plenty of talented cast and crews aren't fully involved with these kind of stories in spite of the studios greedy intentions.
This movie might not be perfect, might not be for everyone but one thing that you can tell for sure is that Barry Pepper, Alan Tudik, Aidan Gillen, Lily Taylor, Patricia Clarkson and particularly Giancarlo Esposito gave it all. They have amazing chemistry with the very talented young cast and they seem to be screaming "100% commitment to my role". It became clear to me through their committed performances that they believed in the project and that they trust the director Wes Ball. There's plenty of character development opportunities and these mature actors take advantage of them all even if their screen time is limited. Ava Paige as played by Patricia Clarkson started the movie as the archetypal "evil scientist" and by the end of the movie I was somehow rooting for her. She really needs to find a cure to this mysterious disease called "the flare". Giancarlo Esposito started limited by a role that seemed at first written to fulfill a quota of the typical "evil adult vs. innocent kid" trope. However, as the movie moves on we discover that he is far from being a cartnoonish "evil adult" and that his character is full of humanity. A scene in which he is concerned over his protegé was one of my favorites of a film from which I was only expecting mindless entertainment and non-stopping action.
The problem is that this brilliant cast was limited by a script that seemed to go nowhere. I'd say the script is not as strong as the one of the first movie and that script wasn't particularly good to begin with. There are some improvements. This time some clichéd lines have gone away, there's more backbone to the characters and a little more of "showing-not-telling". But if you are thinking that everything that didn't make sense in the first one will make sense in this movie you might end up disappointed.
One more time the movie ends in a cliffhanger although this time there's not a last minute info-dump. If you don't mind these minor flaws on the script you might end up enjoying the ride.
In my opinion, the strongest part of the movie, besides the thrilling action and good acting are the visuals. I enjoyed the shots of the scorch because the cinematographer took plenty of risks. I want to see the movie again just to appreciate these shots better. There were also interesting shots in terms of composition.
The VFX is extremely well executed. I thought the director was going to get overboard with the CGI usage but he wisely balanced the visual effects with the emotional arc to take the audience to a journey through this devastated lands in which under each nook, each skeleton building lies a new danger, a new story, a new world which I'd love to explore.
As if this wasn't enough to make me want to see the movie again, Joe Paesano's score (Daredevil TV series, The maze runner) was masterfully used and added a special feeling to the already beautiful visuals. Mark my words, Paesano's scores will get him an Oscar somewhere in the near future.
The scorch trials has everything to become a huge international box office success because is a solid, yet imperfect second chapter, that will keep audiences entertained and screaming for chapter 3.
The action sequences are gripping, well directed and have a feel of raw realism. It's evident that the ensemble of actors- young or mature- gave it all physically. It seems as though the stunts doubles had little to do in comparison to the average action flick.
If in the first movie you got 2 or 3 action scenes to keep you in the edge of your seat,in The scorch trials you'll find action almost from the beginning.I'm not a fan of non-stop action, but I was particularly impressed with Barry Pepper who I heard filmed his action scenes with a broken ankle.
The acting is extremely good. Not only the young lead Dylan O'Brien and his young co-stars, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Rosa Salazar and Thomas Brodie Sangter, deliver strong performances, but also the supporting cast of mature actors. By the way if you have read or heard that the very talented supporting cast of mature actors is there only for their paychecks or that "they have better things to do" you are hearing a biased opinion by unprofessional reviewers who are tired of "YA adaptations". But just because some reviewers are tired of this "subgenre" doesn't mean that plenty of talented cast and crews aren't fully involved with these kind of stories in spite of the studios greedy intentions.
This movie might not be perfect, might not be for everyone but one thing that you can tell for sure is that Barry Pepper, Alan Tudik, Aidan Gillen, Lily Taylor, Patricia Clarkson and particularly Giancarlo Esposito gave it all. They have amazing chemistry with the very talented young cast and they seem to be screaming "100% commitment to my role". It became clear to me through their committed performances that they believed in the project and that they trust the director Wes Ball. There's plenty of character development opportunities and these mature actors take advantage of them all even if their screen time is limited. Ava Paige as played by Patricia Clarkson started the movie as the archetypal "evil scientist" and by the end of the movie I was somehow rooting for her. She really needs to find a cure to this mysterious disease called "the flare". Giancarlo Esposito started limited by a role that seemed at first written to fulfill a quota of the typical "evil adult vs. innocent kid" trope. However, as the movie moves on we discover that he is far from being a cartnoonish "evil adult" and that his character is full of humanity. A scene in which he is concerned over his protegé was one of my favorites of a film from which I was only expecting mindless entertainment and non-stopping action.
The problem is that this brilliant cast was limited by a script that seemed to go nowhere. I'd say the script is not as strong as the one of the first movie and that script wasn't particularly good to begin with. There are some improvements. This time some clichéd lines have gone away, there's more backbone to the characters and a little more of "showing-not-telling". But if you are thinking that everything that didn't make sense in the first one will make sense in this movie you might end up disappointed.
One more time the movie ends in a cliffhanger although this time there's not a last minute info-dump. If you don't mind these minor flaws on the script you might end up enjoying the ride.
In my opinion, the strongest part of the movie, besides the thrilling action and good acting are the visuals. I enjoyed the shots of the scorch because the cinematographer took plenty of risks. I want to see the movie again just to appreciate these shots better. There were also interesting shots in terms of composition.
The VFX is extremely well executed. I thought the director was going to get overboard with the CGI usage but he wisely balanced the visual effects with the emotional arc to take the audience to a journey through this devastated lands in which under each nook, each skeleton building lies a new danger, a new story, a new world which I'd love to explore.
As if this wasn't enough to make me want to see the movie again, Joe Paesano's score (Daredevil TV series, The maze runner) was masterfully used and added a special feeling to the already beautiful visuals. Mark my words, Paesano's scores will get him an Oscar somewhere in the near future.
The scorch trials has everything to become a huge international box office success because is a solid, yet imperfect second chapter, that will keep audiences entertained and screaming for chapter 3.
Maze movie turned into Zombie movie
Misss2524 April 2021
What's really going one? The first movie of the series was awesome but this one is awful. If I just watched it as zombie movie then it's okay but it isn't a zombie movie. Where is maze? If the director hadn't any story, he should have finished it. Why so dragging?
Here he drags zombie, next time is he gonna drag Corona?
Here he drags zombie, next time is he gonna drag Corona?
Vapid sequel that raises serious questions about the point of the first film
grandmastersik18 November 2015
Warning: Spoilers
If you're a teenager looking for some adventure that isn't all "dark" and "gritty" - the buzz words of films nowadays - then you may enjoy this. If, however, you can't stop asking WHY? constantly, then you'll most likely end up hating it.
The Maze Runner wasn't a very good film; in fact, I only watched this because I was in the room with somebody who wanted to see it, so I gave it a chance just to see if an explanation for the first film came about.
The surviving teens from the Maze Runner link up with kids from other Mazes, and the first one of them to arrive at the prison-like complex shows Thomas, the film's hero, enough to make him question a conspiracy against the teens... that soon leads to them making an escape.
With zombie-like creatures beyond the complex, the teens go from out of the frying pan into the fire, as they discover that they are immune to the virus, which is why the were sent to the mazes in the first place.
Okay, so if they're immune, why did one of them get infected? No, that's not a spoiler, it's actually what we all expect to happen given the amount of zombie films we've all seen, but if you can let that go, you can carry on.
The teens then reach a settlement and decide that they want to hook up with the resistance, because The Hunger Games are so popular. I mean, there may be another reason, but in an apparently hopeless world, one would imagine that their best bet would be to seek out land to cultivate and become the new leaders of society... after all, isn't that what the Glade was preparing them for?
No, it wasn't. In fact, the motives behind the first film are never explained, but instead just become more and more ridiculous as the plot plods along, cliché and cliché. Let's face it: if Wicked already has medicine but requires the immune teenagers to obtain it, why stick them all in Mazes around the world to watch them get killed off?
If you can get past that, the end is another big cliché that absolutely no-one will ever see coming (irony), and then Thomas stands up, gives a speech and we can expect the decimated "resistance" to rise up against the evil enemy who doesn't seem to use lethal force against them, despite them using real bullets on Wicked's troops, in a third installment.
I bet you can't wait for it.
The Maze Runner wasn't a very good film; in fact, I only watched this because I was in the room with somebody who wanted to see it, so I gave it a chance just to see if an explanation for the first film came about.
The surviving teens from the Maze Runner link up with kids from other Mazes, and the first one of them to arrive at the prison-like complex shows Thomas, the film's hero, enough to make him question a conspiracy against the teens... that soon leads to them making an escape.
With zombie-like creatures beyond the complex, the teens go from out of the frying pan into the fire, as they discover that they are immune to the virus, which is why the were sent to the mazes in the first place.
Okay, so if they're immune, why did one of them get infected? No, that's not a spoiler, it's actually what we all expect to happen given the amount of zombie films we've all seen, but if you can let that go, you can carry on.
The teens then reach a settlement and decide that they want to hook up with the resistance, because The Hunger Games are so popular. I mean, there may be another reason, but in an apparently hopeless world, one would imagine that their best bet would be to seek out land to cultivate and become the new leaders of society... after all, isn't that what the Glade was preparing them for?
No, it wasn't. In fact, the motives behind the first film are never explained, but instead just become more and more ridiculous as the plot plods along, cliché and cliché. Let's face it: if Wicked already has medicine but requires the immune teenagers to obtain it, why stick them all in Mazes around the world to watch them get killed off?
If you can get past that, the end is another big cliché that absolutely no-one will ever see coming (irony), and then Thomas stands up, gives a speech and we can expect the decimated "resistance" to rise up against the evil enemy who doesn't seem to use lethal force against them, despite them using real bullets on Wicked's troops, in a third installment.
I bet you can't wait for it.
An awful lot of harsh criticism for a teen-adventure flick
Robert_duder30 October 2015
Warning: Spoilers
Maze Runner is NOT Hunger Games. It could be described as a poor man's version of The Hunger Games. Originally when the first one released, I didn't really care to see it but when I finally watched the first one I was very pleased. It was actually a lot of fun. It's simple and has a slight moral message but the action and intrigue and characters were all very good. So now I was a fan enough to look forward to the second one. I will say that I think they definitely rushed Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. They were too caught up in the release one instalment every year idea. The Scorch Trials feels completely different in a lot of ways from the first film. I have not read the books so I can't speak to the similarities but it sounds like readers hate the movie. From an entertainment standpoint, The Scorch Trials is decent. Its still well acted though I think they could have developed the characters a little more because now it feels like this is all about special effects and monsters and the extended post-apocalyptic world. There are some great twists and turns and some interesting plot points so it is far from a total loss.
Dylan O'Brien returns as Thomas and he is still a good hero. He definitely shows an intensity even if its just a little overacted. Still for the demographic of pre-teen/teen girls I'm sure he fits the bill perfectly. The supporting cast (many of them returning from the first film) are all good but underdeveloped and underused. Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden and Alexander Flores return and they are good but there really is a lot they could do with these characters to make them stand out on their own. Kaya Scodelario returns as Theresa and this time she isn't the sole female presence. She gets a little more arc than some of the characters and gets one of the better scenes towards the end as well. Patricia Clarkson is the villain/overlord and she is decent but I keep waiting for her to really impress. As far as villain goes, Aiden Gillen was a much better villain for the story but that means Clarkson should be even more evil but she doesn't come across that way. Additions to the cast include Lili Taylor, Barry Pepper and Kathryn Smith-Mcglynn in adult roles that were interesting but once again underdeveloped. Maybe they're leaving some for the future films but it doesn't really feel that.
How it feels is rushed...Maybe they weren't expecting the first one to make money or maybe they didn't have a lot of hope in it but I feel like they really dropped the ball. It had some great action scenes and some good special effects but it felt disjointed and like they weren't sure what to do. I'm glad they kept the same director with Wes Ball but he didn't have virtually any experience going in. Still, the first Maze Runner was quite good and showed a lot of potential. Wes Ball had so much experience in art direction and the first film really showed some amazing cinematography and use of special effects and this one being out in "the scorch" could have really been impressive but it lacked. I hate to keep emphasizing that but when you're trying to build a franchise and fall onto the footsteps of The Hunger Games (or even Divergent) you need to really impress and you need to get better, not drop the ball. Still if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this as well and I hope that they turn this around and come back strong in the third instalment. 7/10
Dylan O'Brien returns as Thomas and he is still a good hero. He definitely shows an intensity even if its just a little overacted. Still for the demographic of pre-teen/teen girls I'm sure he fits the bill perfectly. The supporting cast (many of them returning from the first film) are all good but underdeveloped and underused. Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden and Alexander Flores return and they are good but there really is a lot they could do with these characters to make them stand out on their own. Kaya Scodelario returns as Theresa and this time she isn't the sole female presence. She gets a little more arc than some of the characters and gets one of the better scenes towards the end as well. Patricia Clarkson is the villain/overlord and she is decent but I keep waiting for her to really impress. As far as villain goes, Aiden Gillen was a much better villain for the story but that means Clarkson should be even more evil but she doesn't come across that way. Additions to the cast include Lili Taylor, Barry Pepper and Kathryn Smith-Mcglynn in adult roles that were interesting but once again underdeveloped. Maybe they're leaving some for the future films but it doesn't really feel that.
How it feels is rushed...Maybe they weren't expecting the first one to make money or maybe they didn't have a lot of hope in it but I feel like they really dropped the ball. It had some great action scenes and some good special effects but it felt disjointed and like they weren't sure what to do. I'm glad they kept the same director with Wes Ball but he didn't have virtually any experience going in. Still, the first Maze Runner was quite good and showed a lot of potential. Wes Ball had so much experience in art direction and the first film really showed some amazing cinematography and use of special effects and this one being out in "the scorch" could have really been impressive but it lacked. I hate to keep emphasizing that but when you're trying to build a franchise and fall onto the footsteps of The Hunger Games (or even Divergent) you need to really impress and you need to get better, not drop the ball. Still if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this as well and I hope that they turn this around and come back strong in the third instalment. 7/10
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