The Maze Runner: The Death Cure 7 out of 10 2018

The Maze Runner: The Death Cure  7 out of 10 2018

This movie covers the third  book of James Dashner's 3 book series that was adapted for the big screen.

The first movie was basically a Lord of the Flies meets The Cube. (An interesting mix).
Here were my thoughts on the first one.
http://bradgeekness.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-maze-runner-better-than-hunger.html

The second film took things in a different direction.  It was still entertaining and had some great action sequences --but drifted too far away from what made the first film special and being a middle book of a trilogy --the ending was less than epic in nature.

Here were my thoughts after seeing the second film

https://bradgeekness.blogspot.com/search?q=Maze+runner

With the third and final film in the series starts off with an exciting train heist --but then becomes a slow and boring film for about the first hour.  I was starting to worry that like Divergent and Hunger Games this series was going off the rails as well.   All three Dystopian sci fi series were their strongest in their first films in my opinion.  In this final film of the series the goals of the main character Thomas seem to be so small in nature.   Bascially they are trying to break into the Last real city on Earth (protected by large walls) to save Minho who was captured at the end of the second film after Theresa betrayed the group of former Gladers.  

The second half of the film picks up with some good fun action sequences and a character death that is a difficult one for fans of the series.  But the story becomes too typical for this genre in the third act.  I wish the films had been more like the first film and stuck with a more interesting and original story.  The concept of the original film was so fun and fresh that the direction the series went after that left me a little let down.  

This film is basically saved by the action in the second half of the film and a good reflective ending.  I'm glad they were able to bring the series to a conclusion --which can not be said for the Divergent Series and several other movie series that attempted to repeat the box office success of the Hunger Games.   That being said, this was my least favorite film in the series.   I just wish the series had taken better advantage of the possibilities the first film developed.  If you watched the other two films I would suggest watching this to for resolution to the story,  just don't expect anything amazing.

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The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials 2015 8+ out of 10

The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials 2015  8+ out of 10

This movie covers the second book of James Dashner's 3 book series that was adapted for the big screen.

The first movie was basically a Lord of the Flies meets The Cube. (An interesting mix).
Here were my thoughts on the first one.
http://bradgeekness.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-maze-runner-better-than-hunger.html

The first movie had a cool and unexpected nature to it and the ending –just left questions that you want to know more about.  
The sequel picks up where the first movie ended with the Gladers being rescued and taken to a facility to supposedly have a better life.  Of course things aren’t exactly what they seem and Thomas the man protagonist –doesn’t just accept things at face value.  With the help of a mysterious teen that has escaped from a different maze, Thomas makes a discovery that causes him and his friends to break out of the facility and make a run for it –through a wild area called the Scorch.

At this point the movie takes a dark and exciting departure from the previous film.  The area called the Scorch which includes the destroyed cities of Earth is inhabited by Zombie like creatures and what is left of society struggling to survive makes for a thrilling movie.  I was sitting in the theater watching this and thinking this is why I love movies.  I go to movies to be thrilled ……To see things I don’t see in the real world and this movie was a sequel that improved on the already good original.    

Zombies, dark tunnels, an escape through  exploding building and half fallen sky scrapers all lead to good fun.  The movie had some great scenes and went in some weird directions.    The only drawback to the movie was the ending which seemed to lack a level of epicness that it needed. It probably would have been a 9 out of 10 for me if the ending hadn't have seemed so small.   Being the middle section of a 3 part story the movie didn’t have a strong ending as the teens finally make it to their destination in the film and it is basically just a small group of rebels that look like extras from Red Dawn.  A twist occurs near the end that the movie telegraphs a little too much –so I wasn’t surprised when it happened.   The movie sets itself up for the final film (which I’m looking forward to)—but the story now stripped of some of the mystery from the first film needed a better end to its second chapter.

The cast was good.   My favorite character Minho played by actor  Ki Hong Li was great in both films.  The addition of Aidan Gillen from Game of Thrones fame was a welcome addition.  I can see him getting good roles for years to come. 

This film series was an obvious attempt to try and create a franchise along the lines of Hunger Games…..Every movie studio is trying to find the next Harry Potter, Twilight or Hunger Games.  
As a result several good films like I am Number 6 (which was meant to be a series) have been made and not succeeded in making it into a series.  I’m glad The Maze Runner ---will apparently get a chance to end its story.  I personally like it better than the Hunger Games –which I grew bored of after its second film.

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The Maze Runner ...Better than the Hunger Games? 2014 8+ out of 10

The Maze Runner  2014  8+ out of 10

The Maze Runner is basically Lord of the Flies meets the Cube which is a satsifying combination.  A teenage boy finds himself in a metal elevator being released into the middle of a field with no memory and surrounded by boys with spears.   The boys have created a mini society for themselves with rules and duties.  Their little world is a forest surrounded by a giant ever shifting and changing maze.  The workings of this mini-society are interesting to watch as the boy's arrival mixes things up a bit. 

The movie was a solid sci-fi mystery as the boy is too driven to just except his fate in this new situation and wants to figure out the Maze.  Like many sci-fi movies the plot is driven by an individual that won't except that life is just how it is and drives for answers. 

 This thriller which is based on a young adult book series is yet another attempt like  Hunger Games to cash in on similar success.   The Maze Runner is more interesting and enjoyable then The Hunger Games.   The mystery being the Maze is an interesting one that keeps the viewer engaged and drives the story along.  I gave up on the Hunger Games after the second movie Catching Fire which was just boring to watch.  


The Ending
 Without giving anything away the end of the movie has a cool reveal and gives some answers, yet opens up more questions that made me anxious to see the sequel that should be out in 2015. The movie gives you just enough to make you feeling interesting on what is really behind The Maze.  Are the creators of the Maze good or bad? I guess we will have to turn into the sequel to find out. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was too much a less interesting repeat of the first movie with the second movie being a lot slower and less interesting.  By the end of Catching Fire - I didn't care what happens to Katniss going forward.   The Maze Runner ---makes me want to see the next movie right away.

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