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“Get ready to run” – Thomas wakes up in a cuboid cage, which suddenly grinds to a screeching halt. He is an amnesiac, completely inable to remember his identity, where he is, or what he is doing. From above, a group of teenagers suddenly crowd over his cage, young faces carved with the stress of survival, yet weirdly liberated and free. Thomas is introduced to the Glade, an open plain with a small forest, surrounded by the towering presence of the ‘Maze’. The leaders of the Glade, Alby, Newt, Gally and Minho, welcome Thomas, giving him the nickname ‘Greenie’. As Thomas learns of the situation that they have been put in, he feels an overwhelming obligation and determination to escape the Glade. After the tragedy of a ‘runner’, Thomas fills the spot, potentially leading the Gladers to the outside world in 2 hours of literal blood, sweat, and tears.

‘Maze Runner’ is a dystopian fiction movie, based off the Dystopian novel by James Dashner. The main characters – Thomas, Newt and Minho – portray and personify three ideas that make us feel empathetic with their characters and help us to understand the motives behind their actions. Thomas, though he is still a ‘greenie’, exemplifies leadership and determination to help the Gladers escape. This explains his willingness to go into the maze to save Alby, as well as how he feels obligated to help everyone. Newt displays and personifies loyalty, but displays it in an unorthodox way. Although Newt will remain loyal to Thomas, he still express his personal opinions and judgement, especially when he disagrees with Thomas, which makes him a valuable asset. Ultimately he will listen to and abide by Thomas’s judgement with absolute loyalty, but he makes sure that Thomas thinks things through properly, and provides support and conversation when Thomas needs it. Minho, amongst other things, displays the inherent nature and desire for an organism to live. This explains his judgement and actions, such as trying to convince Thomas to leave Alby and run (in the maze), and his instinct to preserve the lives of his friends, which shaped his decision to help Thomas.

One of the things that ‘Maze Runner’ lacks is a clear and distinct motive. The motive of ‘escaping’ the glade in itself feels lackluster, as they have a perfectly well-run society. The idea that they can’t bear knowing that they are being controlled doesn’t equate to the amount of risk and danger that they are willing to put themselves into.

The ‘Maze’ concept is well-thought, but the execution and portrayal of the Maze is rather vague and unsatisfactory. For example, Minho knows that the Maze has ‘sections’ that open up, and that the sections are involved in a unique order. However, we don’t know how Minho found the ‘start’ of the perpetually cycling sequence, especially since Alby was the first Glader. This breaks down the idea of the ‘code’, where they should have to try out all the different variations, instead of getting it on the first try.

Overall, ‘Maze Runner’ offers a good intro into the trilogy, but lacks content. It feels like a movie created to develop the characters and add meaning to them, but (other than Chuck’s death) it doesn’t evoke much emotion or empathy.