Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Have I mentioned franchises before? If you've read my reviews for a while, the answer to that question would be an avid yes. And since Hollywood has produced so many of them, it's certainly worth a mentioning from time to time. We've seen a plethora: the reboot of The Planet of the Apes series, the Twilight Saga, the Divergent series, The Hunger Games series--get the picture? So since "The Maze Runner" came out last year, it was touted as a series before it was released, so here we have the next, and certainly not the last, installment called "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials".

In this next chapter of the "Maze Runner" saga, Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) and his fellow Gladers including Minho (Ki Hong Lee), Teresa (Kaya Scodelario), Newt (Thomas Brodie- Sangster), Frypan (Dexter Darren), Winston (Alexander Flores) and newcomer Aris Jones (Jacob Lofland) face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD headed up by Dr. Ava Paige (Patricia Clarkson) and her cohort Janson (Aidan Gillen). Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, Vince (Barry Pepper), Brenda (Rosa Salazar) and Jorge (Giancarlo Esposito), the Gladers take on WCKD's vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all. What could possibly be so shocking?

Others to round out the cast are Lili Taylor as Mary, Kathryn Smith-McGlynn as Dr. Crawford, Alan Tudyk as Blondie, Matthew J. Metzler as Barkley and Jenny Gabrielle as Ponytail.

This was written by virtual newcomer Wes Ball ("The Maze Runner" '14) plus some shorts, and since he is reprising his directorial duties in the nest installment--yes the next one, "The Maze Runner: The Death Cure" is already in pre-production, he undoubtedly was hand-picked to direct this series from day one. This is certainly a fine and prudent thing to do, but I want to believe that this isn't all that Ball can do given a new project in the foreseeable future. As with the first installment, I felt that this was certainly better that I ever could have dreamed, because most films that have a 'series' format are usually questionable at best. It is written by T. S. Nowlin ("The Maze Runner" '14) based on the novel by James Dashner, and as with the director, this writer is slated to write all the installments as well. Again, this is surely smart in keeping with the same feel of the series, but can this guy be able to write anything else when this series is over? Time will certainly tell. This film wasn't incredibly written or directed with Academy Award quality, but if one thought otherwise, you would have to be living under a rock. This was adequate to the task, and although presented better than most series type films, still doesn't make this stunning. The novelist Dashner obviously sees the future as grim and destined for failure as with so many apocalyptic type films, but the way society is heading, maybe it's an understanding premise in which to write.
The visual effects predominantly created by Weta Digital were as seamless in this as with its predecessor. Kudos to these masters at their craft.

Certainly if you see this, because of the visuals, it's got to be seen in a large format, otherwise, what's the point? It leaves its audience at a crucial place, but there has to be something in which to bring its audience back for number 3. Enjoy this for the entertainment factor--I know I did.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                    Rated: PG-13                                132mins.