Director: Wes Ball

Writer: T.S. Nowlin (Screenplay) James Dashner (Book)

Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Ki Hong Lee, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Dexter Darden, Alexander Flores, Jacob Lofland, Rosa Salazar, Patricia Clarkson, Lili Taylor, Barry Pepper, Alan Tudyk, Giancarlo Esposito

Plot: After having escaped the Maze, the Gladers now face a new set of challenges on the open roads of a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Didn’t See This Coming

Story: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials starts with our survivors from the first Maze Runner Thomas (O’Brien), Minho (Lee), Teresa (Scodelario), Frypan (Darden) Newt (Brodie-Sangster) to name a few. The survivors were rescued by Janson’s (Gillen) men as they see the reality of what has happened to the world with the infected attacking the base especially as our group of survivors are the key to finding a cure from the Flare Virus.

Once inside the group learn that there were other mazes with other groups that survivor and Janson is promising to take them to a new land for freedom but when long server survivor Aris (Lofland) shows Thomas the truth they find out just how much danger they are all in again.

After escaping early on the group find themselves coming face to face with the infected enemy where they learn the truth about how dangerous the outside is or the Scorch if you like as they search for a resistance movement to go against Ava Paige (Clarkson).

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials picks up where the first one finished and we finally get to see the world that we only see small parts off. We get to see both side in a war for a cure as well as the threat against both of them with the ‘Cranks’ well zombies really. This is a great sequel to a film that left you thinking, ‘oh come on’ by the end of it. I did say after both Maze Runner and Divergent I would judge the builder film on the sequel, this went the right direction by not over complicating the battle but does show the threat we are witnessing on front of us. Sure this does end up giving us another cliff hanger but we have jumped forward and I could be honest and say you don’t really need to see the first film to enjoy this.

Actor Review

Dylan O’Brien: Thomas is the reluctant leader of the group from the Glades, he learns about the danger his people find themselves in. he leads their escape as he guides them across the Scorch as they look for the next place of safety. Dylan steps up his game in this outing showing he could become the leading man the film deserves.  

Ki Hong Lee: Minho is the trust best friend of Thomas, he is the combat expert and can match Thomas in any of the running mission. He will become your favourite character because he will be the one that stays to fight while his friends get to safety. Ki gives us a good performance making us want to see how his character does against the enemy.

Kaya Scodelario: Teresa is along for the journey and tries to talk Thomas into returning to the base, something was done to her during their time at the base. Kaya really doesn’t do anything in this film and feels slightly out of place.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster: Newt is the brains of the act but also the guy who wants to make sure everything is done through safety rather than taking any chances. Thomas doesn’t get as many scenes as we need from him but he does a solid in the scenes he has.

Support Cast: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials has a huge supporting cast that includes great performance from Patricia Clarkson, Aidan Gillian, Barry Pepper, Lili Taylor, Rosa Salazar, Giancarlo and Adam Tudyk each character is involved with continuing the story and you fast decide which ones you want to cheer for and boo.

Director Review: Wes Ball – Wes gives us a great sequel for the next instalment of a franchise I thought was going to be flat.

Action: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials has great action scenes throughout putting all our characters into peril making you wonder which one will make it out of each battle.

Sci-Fi: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials shows a future that ends up showing a world which has been devastated by a virus.

Thriller: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials keeps you guessing to watch will happen until the very end and makes you want to come back for more.

Settings: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials creates brilliant settings for the film showing the destruction that has happened because of the virus.
Special Effects: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials has great effects with the creation of the Cranks especially with the ones that reminded me of the ‘Clickers’ from The Last of Us.

Suggestion: Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is one I think could easily be one to watch and enjoy by all. (Watch)

Best Part: Clickers underground.

Worst Part: Teresa really is annoying and under used.

Action Scene Of The Film: Final Fight.

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: Yes

Post Credits Scene: No

Similar Too: Divergent, Hunger Games

Oscar Chances: No

Budget: $61 Million

Runtime: 2 Hour 12 Minutes

Tagline: The maze was just the beginning

Trivia: The plot, facts and characters from the movie are wildly different than from the book, including the story arc, the flare and character backstory and development.

Overall: One of the best young adult films of the recent Ocean of them

Rating

Director: Jody Wheeler

Writer: Jody Wheeler (Screenplay)

Starring: Blaise Embry, Timo Descamps, Sean Paul Lockhart, Eduardo Rioseco, Shannon Day, Andy Copeland, Genevieve Buechner, Allison Lane

Plot: Keegan Dark returns to the heart of California’s wine valley to make peace with his long-estranged family. Instead, he finds a harrowing mystery that endangers his life and those he loves.

There may be spoilers the rest of the review

Verdict: Good Thriller

Story: The Dark Place starts when Keegan Dark (Embry) & his partner Wil (Descamps) return to Keegan’s home a vineyard to see his mother Celeste (Day) only to find she has remarried Adrian (Copeland) and that he has a new step-brother Jake (Lockhart).

Believing there is something wrong about Jake Keegan acts out leading him to be pushed away by his mother, after his mother ends up in a coma Keegan finds himself alone in his investigation to the Bishops who are planning to use the family name to make a fortune.

The Dark Place is a story that for the most part could be a good made for television movie but with the final act it gets the full film feeling. I do think the investigation side of things feel very soft without the intense factor it should have been. Saying all this we do see the overall story of guilt being felt throughout from Keegan and adding in his ability to remember everything gives this an important side. Overall this is everything you would like to see in this style of film ticking all the boxes.

Actor Review

Blaise Embry: Keegan Dark is returning home with his partner to try to rebuild the relationship with his mother. When he discovers his mother has remarried he starts to question his new step-father and step-brother motives, he ends up investigating and discovering the true nature of their relationship. Blaise does a good job in this performance.

Timo Descamps: Wil Roelen is the partner of Keegan who doesn’t believe his suspicions about his new relatives. He tries to support but leaves him only to find himself a pawn in the bigger game. Timo does a good job in this supporting role.

Sean Paul Lockhart: Jake Bishop is the new step-brother who instantly gets hate from Keegan because of incident that happened before he knew who is was. He is a hot head that is the first one to make Keegan think something is going on. Sean gives us a good performance in this role having a constant look of planning.

Eduardo Rioseco: Ernesto Reyes is the old friend who has been helping Keegan’s mother with the legal side of the company, he turns up when anything strange is going on. Eduardo does a good job when he appears in the film.

Support Cast: The Dark Place has a good performing supporting cast that all help the story unfold.

Director Review: Jody Wheeler – Jody gives us a good story that unfolds nicely with twists waiting to happen.

Mystery: The Dark Place gives us a mystery about what is happening with the Bishop family.

Thriller: The Dark Place keeps us guessing to what is happening with the investigation angle.

Settings: The Dark Place uses the settings well without making them all the most important part of the film.
Special Effects: The Dark Place uses the memories for the special effects which all look good.

Suggestion: The Dark Place is one to give a go to, if you like a good crime investigation story you will enjoy this. (Give it a Go)

Best Part: Final act.

Worst Part: The cops come off very stupid.

Believability: No

Chances of Tears: No

Chances of Sequel: No

Post Credits Scene: No

Oscar Chances: No

Runtime: 1 Hour 27 Minutes

Overall: nice thriller that is filled with suspense until the end

Rating

Over the past year I have seen an incredible amount of films and I have decided to share with you all which ones I have seen in what order. I am going to be doing these in groups of ten, where I will pick my favourite of the bunch and the worst of the bunch.

So without further ramblings here we go with 361 – 370:

1. My Holland Opus – This brilliant drama about a reluctant teacher who becomes the schools favourite.
2. Mission Impossible Rogue Nation The latest from Ethan Hunt as he faces his most impossible mission to date.
3. Dreamcatcher Back to King films and this one that gets slammed a lot I find myself enjoying most time I watch it.
4. Firestarter When a young girl has the ability to start fires she goes on the run with her father from the government who want to take her to be used as a weapon.
5. The Night Flier King takes yet another idea for a vampire story which works nicely too.
6. Graveyard Shift Creature Feature King Style.
7. Fast & Furious 7 – Brain off, enjoy what more can I say?
8. Running ManSci-fi film about a reality show where Arnie has to face the killers while trying to uncover the truth.
9. Clinger  This could be my favourite comedy this year and everything comes together perfectly as we get a romantic story with a horror twist when one half of a couple is killed and haunts his lost.
10. Lost Time This sci-fi was just terrible, I am sorry for anyone who watched it.

The Best – Clinger

The Worst – Lost Time