The Maze Runner Non-Spoiler Movie Review
The Maze Runner movie is based off a YA book called The Maze Runner series by James Dasher. The movie was directed by Wes Ball, who executed a very good book adaptation to the series. Normally book adaptions make me sometimes cringe, because the directors change almost sixty-five percent of the book, and you ask yourself OMG WHY!!
Wes Ball actually kept true to the book and also changed things from book to movie that transitioned well to those that have not read the book. To be honest when watching the movie, I was like why did Ball change this or why did he change that. After watching the movie, sleeping on it, I realized why Ball did it and it worked in the finale production of the movie.
A few key points that I enjoyed about the movie was of course the Maze design. You can see Wes Ball put effort into making the Maze, the center piece to the movie, that will bring non-readers to want to watch this movie. It was exactly how I pictured it in my head while reading it, and even more. The changing of the Maze, the Runners trying to survive it and figure out a way to escape it, it was beautiful. Ball gets major props for bringing that center piece from the book into the movie perfectly.
The Grievers were pretty scary looking just like they should be. I actually pictured them a little bit different, like rolling metal balls down the Maze, and then they would morph out into a scorpion looking deformed creature for some odd reason. However, the design in the movie worked. The Grievers still had the main characteristics in the book, that would scare anybody to stay out of the Maze at night.
Dylan O'Brien did a fantastic job portraying Thomas, just like I knew he would from playing Stiles on MTV hit show Teen Wolf. Actually season 3 of Teen Wolf when O'Brien played a darker role as the evil Nogitsune, made me feel more confident that he could pull off a confused but head strong Thomas. The only big change with Thomas from book to movie was his telepathy with Teresa. The director explained why he had to change it. After thinking about it and watching the movie, it wouldn't have transferred very well to the non-readers.
The interaction with Chuck and Thomas was lacking. I wanted the movie to show more of why Thomas felt he desperately wanted to get Chuck and him out of the Maze, and back to there families. The movie did not explore more of Thomas taking on a big brother role to Chuck. However, at the end of the movie, the brother type of relationship could be still seen of Chuck and Thomas fate.
Teresa's character development was a big let down in the movie. In the book, she was more then just "A Girl". In the book, she could telepathically communicate with Thomas. She was smart and wanted answers, just like Thomas as well. Furthermore, Thomas and Teresa knew each other even though she didn't have much of her memories either.
However, in the movie her book characteristics wasn't explored as much, which made her not as special. Since the director took out Teresa's telepathic abilities, Teresa was just an average girl. The one part that I thought the director was going to keep from book to movie, was Teresa high level IQ by helping in solving the Maze. That practically did not happen in the movie at all. In the end, Teresa was not special like she was in the book. She was just there in the movie.
Another big issue I had with the movie was the shaky camera shots during some parts of the action sequences. It became more shaky when the Grievers was killing off the Gladers. I noticed this technique was done in The Hunger Games first movie, because these directors think the audience can not handle children's death every well. I grantee if this movie was rated R, the shaky camera probably would have been extremely less.
Other then the few downsides of the movie, Wes Ball did a great job in directing The Maze Runner. I think the general audience will enjoy it, as it will leave questions upon questions at the end of the movie, to set up the second installment of the series The Scorch Trails. I would recommend others to watch this movie because it is a different type of YA movie that is not a love story. The book focus mainly on survival and learning to use what you have to escape the Maze.
I give The Maze Runner movie 8/10.
Make sure you follow Fort Fandom on twitter, facebook, and youtube.
~Artemis
Wes Ball actually kept true to the book and also changed things from book to movie that transitioned well to those that have not read the book. To be honest when watching the movie, I was like why did Ball change this or why did he change that. After watching the movie, sleeping on it, I realized why Ball did it and it worked in the finale production of the movie.
The Grievers were pretty scary looking just like they should be. I actually pictured them a little bit different, like rolling metal balls down the Maze, and then they would morph out into a scorpion looking deformed creature for some odd reason. However, the design in the movie worked. The Grievers still had the main characteristics in the book, that would scare anybody to stay out of the Maze at night.
The interaction with Chuck and Thomas was lacking. I wanted the movie to show more of why Thomas felt he desperately wanted to get Chuck and him out of the Maze, and back to there families. The movie did not explore more of Thomas taking on a big brother role to Chuck. However, at the end of the movie, the brother type of relationship could be still seen of Chuck and Thomas fate.
However, in the movie her book characteristics wasn't explored as much, which made her not as special. Since the director took out Teresa's telepathic abilities, Teresa was just an average girl. The one part that I thought the director was going to keep from book to movie, was Teresa high level IQ by helping in solving the Maze. That practically did not happen in the movie at all. In the end, Teresa was not special like she was in the book. She was just there in the movie.
Another big issue I had with the movie was the shaky camera shots during some parts of the action sequences. It became more shaky when the Grievers was killing off the Gladers. I noticed this technique was done in The Hunger Games first movie, because these directors think the audience can not handle children's death every well. I grantee if this movie was rated R, the shaky camera probably would have been extremely less.
Other then the few downsides of the movie, Wes Ball did a great job in directing The Maze Runner. I think the general audience will enjoy it, as it will leave questions upon questions at the end of the movie, to set up the second installment of the series The Scorch Trails. I would recommend others to watch this movie because it is a different type of YA movie that is not a love story. The book focus mainly on survival and learning to use what you have to escape the Maze.
I give The Maze Runner movie 8/10.
Make sure you follow Fort Fandom on twitter, facebook, and youtube.
~Artemis
