Besides the several plot holes--which I now know come standard in a Maze Runner film--the main reason why I didn't love the first Maze Runner as much as I could have was because it ends so abruptly. It leaves us hanging with little-to-no answers. But if I had the opportunity to watch the sequel directly afterwards, I wouldn't have been so disappointed. The first installment is really enjoyable. They keep you stringing along with this giant mystery, and the process of getting you there is creative.
The sequel, Maze Runner: Scorch Trials, answers a lot of questions posed in the first film, but keeps enough hidden to make us want to know more. This film takes place just after Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and the rest of the Gladers have escaped from the maze. They are taken to what they think is a safe haven. They don't know what to believe after they discover weird things happening behind closed doors. After escaping, they must figure out what the next step is while they try to survive the elements of nature, along with mutant humans who are trying to eat them.
Although enjoyable, the first film features a lot of talking and standing around, which makes its charisma all the more impressive. Maze Runner: Scorch Trials is none of that. It is constantly moving. It's a road movie, really. And the tone is different from the first, too.
The plot holes in this one, while not necessarily as detrimental to the end result, are still distracting enough to take notice of during the movie. However, there is one that may partially unravel the final 15 minutes of the film. Don't get me wrong, the filmmakers sure know how to keep the audience involved, but sometimes it borders on manipulative. Certain situations are included that unnaturally move the story in a certain direction.
If it weren't for the rampant porousness and the directorial mishaps that led to it, this would have been one of my favorite films this year so far. However, I still loved the movie. After the last Hunger Games installment, this Maze Runner series is becoming my new favorite young adult post-apocalyptic film franchise.
Twizard Rating: 87
Here it is, another dystopian teen movie. But this time it forces us to pay more attention to details and isn't as obviously formulaic. There are no unnecessary subplots--especially of the romantic variety--and the villain is a mystery up until the end. It doesn't "artistically" give itself an open-ended conclusion, instead it wisely allows us to see what happens afterwards. However, it still leaves us with questions. I know there is a sequel, but there is too many things to scratch your head about. It answers the question of "what" but it failed to really satisfy us with "why" or "how". The mystery is what keeps you going, and it will succeed at keeping your interest the whole time, but what they find out in the end isn't as pleasing as one would hope.
My only real criticism here is with the script. Within the first 20 minutes I was impressed that they had covered the audience's questions thoroughly and early on without making us sit through another mystery altogether. Sometimes in films it's the wise--but seemingly taboo--thing to do to answer the viewers' questions by means of the main character having a Q & A with a more informed character. This was one of those times. But then as the film progresses I realize that the information that I thought I knew was being contradicted and had been explained poorly.
I was loving this movie and couldn't wait for the revelation at the end, but when I got there it wasn't as clear as I had wanted it to be and it left me with even more questions. How does this test show why the kids are resistant? Why was one kid sent up only every month? Why were there just boys and not girls? How did Gally find his way through the tunnels at the end? Why did Thomas only remember certain things but not everything? Why did they bring Alby back from the maze if he was infected? Why doesn't Thomas stay hidden in the ivy during his first experience in the maze? I expected my mind to be blown, but what I got more than anything was more questions.
The Maze Runner is very intriguing and it doesn't feel as YA-fiction as it probably is. If it wasn't for the last 10 minutes this movie would be one of the best I've seen all year. The script isn't perfect and it's a little short on character depth, but you really can't complain when a movie continues to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Twizard Rating: 91
