Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Thomas is disjointed and confused as he wakes up on a rising elevator not knowing who or where he is. When he finally regains his focus, he’s surrounded by a group of teenage boys and realizes he’s not in Kansas anymore. He’s in the Glade, an enclave surrounded by giant walls that hide a maze, a mostly off-limits area that’s protected by the Grievers—cybernetic organisms that come out at night and will kill anyone who has ventured into the maze and hasn’t exited when the sun goes down.

Thomas is initially accepted into the group with open arms, but his inquisitive nature about the maze and where they came from has many of the boys worried that he’ll upset the social order—and they’re right.

Teen literature and comic book adaptations are fuelling the copycat world of Hollywood these days. The Maze Runner—at least initially—is not a clone of The Hunger Games or Divergent in that the hero’s confidence and leadership ability are on display from virtually the first scene. Also, given the way the story unfolds, you’re just as confused as Thomas is about the situation since there’s no lead-up to the events of the story: You’re thrown right into the fire along with the hero.

The digitally shot production translates well to Blu-ray with a sharp, clean image. It features a ton of CG work that blends naturally with the on-location shoots. Daytime shots are full of color and depth, and the close-ups really shine in this environment. Nighttime sequences are a tad dark, resulting in some crushed shadow detail. Although I was pleased with the video encode, I was supremely impressed by the DTS-HD Master Audio track, which is one of the best 7.1-channel tracks I’ve heard to date. The surround envelopment places sounds all throughout the room—even above you—without relying on Dolby Atmos. Dialogue is always intelligible, and the bass response is top-notch.

The supplement package dives into the making of the film with a comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at casting, production, and visual effects that will likely have budding filmmakers on the edge of their seats.

The story elements are hardly original, but the casting is well done, and the direction by Wes Ball gets the most out of the young cast and keeps the pacing brisk. The cliffhanger ending may leave some feeling ripped off, but the sequel comes out this year, so you won’t have to wait long to find out what’s up next for Thomas. Recommended.

Blu-Ray
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1
Length: 113 mins.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Wes Ball
Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario