Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

As more an more of them have been released into theatres, Young Adult book adaptations have all started to fold into the same gray area, where they have so many similar elements that it has become hard to tell them apart. However, there have been a few of these adaptations that have stood out, not just being good movies for teenage fans, but movies that establish likable characters and/or are purely entertaining; Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and The Maze Runner. 20th Century Fox has so far done a very nice job with this series, building entertaining films with layers of mystery to them. Last year's The Maze Runner was a film that I enjoyed very much, from it's noteworthy acting, tense direction, atmosphere, and well-made action sequences. While the end of that film was disappointing by many people's standards, and didn't bode well for future installments, The Scorch Trials picks this franchise back up with a second pulse pounding, entertaining blockbuster. The action is superior, the storytelling moves from a contained area into a compelling open world, and the film brilliantly teases a final installment. Especially for a movie with such a "small" ($61M) budget, the special effects in this film are incredible, and on par with your modern comic book blockbuster. As it is at its core a "zombie survival" movie, The Scorch Trials surpasses movies like World War Z and even 28 Days Later with its zombie action and chase sequences. A pulse pounding musical score adds to the excitement throughout the film. The performances continue to impress this time around, with the standouts being Dylan O'Brien, Aidan Gillen, as well as Barry Pepper in a smaller role. While the film does take periodic breaks from the intensity, and some side characters aren't given as much screen time required to fully develop, The Scorch Trials is a wholly satisfying, remarkably entertaining action film that is a standout among the not-so-crowded September movie season. I highly recommend it.