The Maze Runner Review

Rating: 7/10 (8 October 2014)

My Thoughts: I had no expectations going into this screening. I had never read the books nor had I heard really much about this latest edition of young adult novels turned into movies. So let us begin on what I thought of this movie.
We are shown the glade through Thomas's eyes (Dylan O'Brien) as the latest teenager to be transported up the elevator, to the glade and the maze. None of the kids know why they were chosen, they just know they are being tested for some purpose. Some of these teenage kids have been living in the glade for years while they send out runners every day into the maze to try to find the way out, but it isn't looking good. With the addition of Thomas, though, things seem to be changing. The Maze is doing things it didn't do before he arrived, and this scares some of the other teenagers who start thinking that maybe Thomas shouldn't be allowed to stay with them in the glade.
Thomas, on the other hand, is curious and is pushing the boundaries, trying to get the rest of the Gladers to see that what they are currently doing is not working and that they need to change it up and figure a way to get out of the Maze.
I think for a Young Adult book-turned-movie, it was put together really well. Yes, there are certain scenes that before they played out, I had already guessed what was going to happen, but that did not take away from the fact that the movie was very entertaining; and when the credits started to roll, I was thinking that I needed to get the books so I could find out what happened next.
I also have to hand it to most of these young actors; I think that they gave us a great performance in this movie. Sometimes, without veteran, older actors, movies like these can fall apart due to the inexperience of the younger actors, but they held it together and made the experience better in my opinion.
My Recommendation:
I already know that the fans of the book will be flocking to this movie, but I think those that do not know anything about the book will enjoy seeing this movie on the big screen.