Movie review | ‘Scorch Trials’ continue teen angst series
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials ***
“Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” is the sequel to the box-office hit “The Maze,” released in 2014 and based on the James Dashner Young adult sci-fi book of the same name. The series is set in a post-apocalyptic Earth where an organization called WICKD calls most of the shots, and seems bent on ruing the lives of some perfectly nice teenagers.
Fans of the first film will remember the many Abercrombie boys, who are back with their longsuffering, doe-eyed, hopeful girlfriends to make sense of the chaos.
Like the “Twilight” and “Percy Jackson” series, among countless others, the films are surefire, cross-generational money-makers, but stay true to their teen target. Plenty of adolescent angst, life-and-death decisions and hints of raging hormones are bubbling just below the surface and match the inner turmoil felt by many young people. It so resonates with that audience, that “Scorch Trials” has already doubled its $61 million budget at the box office.
Fans of “Breaking Bad” may notice ultimate bad guy “Gus” Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) in a substantial role as Jorge, a gang leader with conflicted emotions and motives.
A CGI wonder, “Scorch Trials” offers some spectacular dystopian landscapes and thrilling and suspenseful chases by the zombie-like infected inhabitants of the outer world. An original dust-storm and lighting sequence may leave your nerves scorched, but, like our heroes, you’ll be ready for more, which will come in the form of another sequel in 2017.
What do those stars mean?
* Really, really, really bad. Don’t bother.
** Pretty bad, with one or more redeeming scenes.
*** Pretty good, but maybe not great, worth seeing for most
****Really great, a winning combination of story, casting, and directing
***** The rarest gem, an all-around perfect motion picture
This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 11:10 AM with the headline "Movie review | ‘Scorch Trials’ continue teen angst series."