'The Maze Runner' turns the post-apocalyptic genre down a new route

By LEAH VAHJEN

In the race to see which imaginary post-apocalyptic world falls apart best, “The Maze Runner” is a sure contender.  This movie is set apart from the other book trilogy-turned-films of its kind by its male-led cast and consequent lack of a love story or love triangle.

Mirroring other works of the genre, the author of the series, James Dashner, created a setting in which the government is suspiciously manipulating the new world, and a group of teenagers provide the vessel in which the audience will travel as they decipher who is good from who is evil.

The movie most closely follows the life of a boy named Thomas, who is brought into the ‘Glade’ and initiated in a style reminiscent of a fraternity, complete with a light touch of hazing.  Thomas and the residents of the Glade share the confusion of having had their memories selectively erased and are consequently unsure of how or why they ended up inside of these four staggeringly tall stone walls, yet they ceaselessly look for a way out each day when the walls open up to an incredibly large and ever-changing maze.

Though some may argue that the casting could have been better, the acting overall was decent.  There were only a few small moments during the film that felt over-acted or unreal, none of which affect the plot.  The special effects were something the makers of this film deserve to brag about. I never felt compelled to point out an obvious moment of computer generated imagery or green screen because there really weren’t any glaring issues with the craftsmanship of the movie from that standpoint.

I recommend this movie for its entertainment value. It provides an absolutely familiar plot line but is sure to keep your adrenaline up and your attention on for the duration of the film.  If you are not a fan of cliffhangers, I definitely suggest reading the trilogy first or waiting for this to return to Redbox before the second film of the series releases.

Performances: 5/10 stars

Special effects: 8/10 stars

Overall: 6.5/10

(Note: The author has not yet read this trilogy, and therefore cannot commentate to whether the novel was accurately depicted)