The Maze Runner is yet another sci-fi movie trilogy based on a popular series of novels. So it was no surprise that a year after the original Maze Runner (2014) movie we have the follow up with the Scorch Trials and (spoiler alert!) the final sequel Death Cure, due for release in 2017.

Wandsworth Times:

The Maze Runner was put into production following the success of another sci-fi trilogy based on a series of books aimed at the younger generation with The Hunger Games, Hunger Games : Catching Fire and Hunger Games: Mockingjay, which was split into Part 1 and Part 2.

The Scorch Trials picks up the story within minutes of the credits finishing after the first movie. This time we see more of a dystopian society and the organisation W.C.K.D seem to be up to their old tricks again.

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Our band of young heroes are air lifted during the cover of darkness to the safety of a large military style facility in the middle of the ‘Scorch’ desert. This is a very dramatic opening scene with searchlights dancing over the sand lighting up shadowy human figures attacking the compound.

Once in the safety of this fortress the teenagers (all in their twenties!) are introduced to the person in charge, a leader by the name of Janson played by Aidan Gillen, who plays the role with the same slime-ball smarminess of his Game of Thrones character Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish.

Janson locks on to the group’s spokesperson Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) to try to gain his confidence. But Thomas takes an instant dislike to Janson and begins to think that this Utopian place is all too good to be true.

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It’s not long before the group make a break for it and head across the unforgiving dessert. In a bid to find cover they come across an underground Shopping Mall covered by the sand, only to wake a horde of Zombies who can run like Usain Bolt, which I have to say turns into an ‘edge of the seat’ action scene.

The team had been told of a legendary resistance group The Right Arm and make their way to the mountains. On their journey they meet another faction led by Jorge played by Giancarlo Esposito (Gus from Breaking Bad) who sees the youngsters as more of a bargaining chip with W.C.K.D.

Wandsworth Times:

The film is very watchable and the set pieces and action scenes are all very well executed and are enhanced by the 3D effects. You tend to forget that it’s in 3D until they are all up and off running yet again. Yes, there is a lot of running, no mazes but plenty of running.

As you may know I’m not a huge fan of overused CGI but look out for a brilliant chase scene with some unusual tree root Zombies scrambling up the ruins of some post holocaust collapsed high rise buildings in a demolished city.

The only downside was that film did drag a bit in the third act and was overlong at 131 minutes.

If you liked the first film you will be pleased to see some old favourites with Thomas (Dylan O’Brien), Brenda (Kaya Scodelario) and Newt (English actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster).

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In my view a better film than the first outing and some of the fans of the books may be disappointed as apparently there were quite a few changes made to suit the big screen.

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In cinemas from September 10.

Trailer below: