Maze Runner, The (12/16/2014)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, including some disturbing images.

Starring Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Will Poulter, Patricia Clarkson, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Aml Ameen and Ki Hong Lee

Directed by Wes Ball

The Maze Runner is surprisingly good.

Thomas wakes up in an elevator, remembering nothing but his own name. He emerges into a world of about 60 teen boys who have learned to survive in a completely enclosed environment, subsisting on their own agriculture and supplies. A new boy arrives every 30 days. The original group has been in “The Glade” for two years, trying to find a way to escape through the Maze that surrounds their living space. They have begun to give up hope. Then a comatose girl arrives with a strange note, and their world begins to change. There are some great, fast-paced action scenes, particularly those involving the nightmarish Grievers who plague the boys.

Before you assume this is just another one of those Hunger Games rip offs that Hollywood has been pumping out, The Maze Runner is relatively original and pretty entertaining. Taken from a novel of the same name by James Dashner, it is set in a dystopian future where a group of boys find themselves in an impossible situation. Waking up in a strange world with no memory of who they are or where they came from and facing almost certain death this film is very intense.

My son Caleb has read all three books and couldn’t wait to go see this one. We walked into the theater and I had little to no idea about what to expect.

At first The Maze Runner felt a lot like The Lord Of The Flies as we are introduced to a group of boys forced to survive in the wild. But it quickly morphed into a mix between the classic The Great Escape and a small independent film called Cube. I was actually surprised how intense this PG-13 film was.

Although it is set in the future, there are not a lot of cool futuristic looking sets; instead most of the film takes place in the glade. But once we get into the maze, the action picks up and actually feels fairly realistic.

The cast includes many new faces, but each one is impressive in their own right. The director, Wes Ball, has a background in visual effects and graphics, and does a decent job of telling this disturbing story…and setting up the sequel, which is already in production.

This movie was surprisingly intense and cleverly crafted, for me and my son it was “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity and even the language is on the mild side. In fact the biggest reason for the PG-13 rating is the violence and disturbing images. There are a lot of scenes intended to make you jump and most of them are pretty suspenseful.
The “grievers” are monsters that are creepy and scary, especially when they are attacking the characters.

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. Why does Thomas initially run into the maze?


2. How would you define the word courageous?


3. When was the last time you did something courageous?

Read Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”


4. According to this passage why can we be courageous and strong?


5. Believing that Jesus is with you, what can you do this week that will require you to be courageous?