The Maze Runner Review

Story: Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape. 

First time movie directer Wes Ball directs this YA adaptation of the first book in the Maze Runner trilogy. Its a mix of science fiction and horror and deals with issues of adolescence,  survival, and growing up.

 The film starts as the book does with Thomas arriving in the Glade via cargo elevator. He is greeted by Gally (played wonderfully by Will Poulter from Narnia 3). Dylan O'Brien of Teen Wolf fame plays Thomas. He's perfect in role, he captures Thomas's frustration and unequivocal curiosity. Thomas Brodie-Sangster of Game of Thrones plays Newt, second leader to Alby (the first boy to have arrived in the Glade three years prior).

As adaptations go the film does change a fair amount. Certain characters deaths are changed, and others disappear (being left for the sequel, which is a sure thing now) What I love about Maze Runner is how it keeps all the story points to Thomas's character arc intact while changing things up bait. They cut out the telepathy he had with surprise girl Teresa, who is played by the british beauty Kaya Scodelario. Everything that was done was to straight line the story and ground it more in reality. One sequence though was a little unnecessary as it seemed a little arbitrary.

In short, this is one of the better YA adaptations and does not try to imitate The Hunger Games or Twilight (unlike Mortal Instruments and Divergent). The Maze Runner is its own beast, led by a talented cast and leading man, it has the potential to become an intriguing franchise, one you sure do not want to miss.

Rating: B+

A Walk Among the Tombstones Review

Matt Scudder (Liam Neeson) has a talk with TJ (Astro)

Story:  Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife.

 Summer has ended but Liam Neeson is back, and he's back with one of his best films in a while. Liam Neeson plays a retired cop who does jobs for people and in return they give him gifts (namely money). 

 The film doesn't lead you on a guessing game on who the villains are, we learn who they are pretty quick, its more of how is the showdown going to go, will the bad guys walk away and who will wind up dead.

Tombstones is directed by Scott Frank, who directed the terrific indie thriller The Lookout with Joesph Gordon Levitt. He adapted the book by Lawrence Block to the screen, I have not read the book so I can't be sure if how true it is to it but he does a fantastic job in the direction department. The story runs at a good place, we get some excellent development on some very interesting characters, like TJ and the grave yard janitor who loves to feed his pigeons on the roof. Scott creates some amazing atmosphere and a very realistic setting, the most brilliant of all is setting the film in late 90s New York City, when the twin towers were still standing. 

As for the cast, Liam Neeson is spectacular in the role as retired detective Matt Scudder. He gives a more refrained performance here than in Non-stop which was more of a generic action thriller while this is a very real, hard hitting thriller. Dan Stevens though nearly steals the show from Liam as the drug kingpin Kenny Kristo. Dan was once on the show called Downton Abbey and since he left the show two years back he's changed. For this role he's lost weight, dyed his hair and put on a New York accent. He's terrific and beyond perfect in the role. Others who appear in the film are Astro as TJ (he stared in the hit show Person of Interest alongside Jim Caviezel in a similar role) and Sebastian Roche (Supernatural, The Originals) makes a terrific appearance as another drug smuggler who's daughter is taken by the villainous duo. The most interesting of the cast would have to be Ólafur Darri Ólafsson who plays the character of James Loogan, the grave yard janitor. We at first are led to believe that he is working with the bad guys but then realize he was pulled into it and had no means of escape, but one. His character was the perfect flawed bad guy who went down the wrong path, made some bad choices, and in the end he tried to redeem himself. 

Carlos Rafael Rivera, who's a first time composer on this film, crafts a very elegant score in the vein of Alexandre Desplat. The tune is very tense and tight and there's a good thematic rhythm to it. Its a very classic score, which I love, and at times Carlos adds a bit of a horror aspect to some of the tunes, which gives the film a more sinister feel. 

By far one of my favourite action films with Liam Neeson its not as original as The Lookout but it has some good humour to balance the realistic violence and scenarios and by far has the best setting for an action film. A Walk Among the Tombstones is a must see for any Liam Neeson fan and for those who love some gothic thrillers, this is for you. 

Rating: A