The sub-genre of Science Fiction this film fits into Dystopia, Thriller and Action/Adventure Drama.The conventions in the movie typically specifies why this is a common sci-fi movie. The basic happening of a sci-fi action movie appears a lot in this movie. The loss of something... Getting it back.... A sudden twist....and a climax. However, some might say that it isn't a typical sci-fi movie as it has elements of conventions that happen in the movie that doesn't normally happen. For example, Thomas (the main character) lost his memory like all the other people who are trapped in an area where no one has thought of and is planning a way out. But the Creatures named Griever start hunting down the troopers, providing the action. This movie provides the edge of seat, popcorn throwing type of movie.
What happens in the film?
Thomas wakes up in an elevator with no memory of his past, other than that his name is Thomas which he recovered a few days later. When the elevator doors open, he is pulled into a glade by a group of teenage boys who also have no memories besides what they should be called just like Thomas. Thomas is introduced towards the surroundings by the leader of the group called Albi. He is introduced to everybody when he is encouraged to have a fight with Calli. Outside the Glade is the Maze, a labyrinth of high walls covered in ivy that holds strange, lethal creatures known as Grievers. The boys are trying to stay alive as well as "solve" the Maze by running through it as fast as they can while tracking movements of the walls and trying to find an exit to escape. However, Thomas is more curious about what happens inside the maze than protecting himself. After Thomas's arrival, a girl is delivered through the elevator into the Glade, and lapses into a coma. When Thomas comes to visit her Newt asks him if there is any recognition, Thomas knows that he knew her and is trying to think of her name when a voice inside him starts talking to him as if the girl was saying it, this is how Thomas learns her name. To make matters worse, her arrival triggers everything in the Glade to change: the sun disappears, the deliveries of supplies stop coming, and the doors of the Maze stay open at night, which allows the Grievers to enter the Glade and hunt the children.So they decided to fight for there live by entering the cave after an exit plan was cleverly thought out by Minho and Thomas. Only a handful survived however Thomas was left emotionless after his friend that he was close to in the camp, Chuck dies after Calli has been stung by the griever.
How is the setting linked to the science fiction genre?
The setting reminded me of an abandoned area where you use your survival skills to survive. However it is different as it felt like a doomsday event. This reminded me of how people impersonate how the future is going to be like if it goes terribly wrong. A lot of big name producers and directors do that to their films as it automatically grabs the audience attention. The labyrinth/maze is also eye appealing as people don't use these conventions in real life compared to sci-fi where it normally happen. It's sort of like summer camp in the a slightly more ideal circle of Hell.
How are the characters linked to the science fiction genre?
The main character who is the hero is of the movie a typical white man who's bravery is shone throughout the film. It is basically what happens in most movies as a white teenagers gets the plaudits over everyone else. This always happens inside a sci-fi movie. All the characters behave like the world is ending and have to survive. But only when the white man turns up, they have the belief to do something great.
What narrative themes are linked to the genre (e.g. alien invasion, dystopian future etc.)?
The dystopian future links towards the genre of Sci-fi as it is out of the ordinary and not normally occurs in the real world. The disaster and the anguish are themes that often occurs in Sci-fi films.
A video clip embedded from YouTube of the trailer or a clip from the film (or both if you can find them)
The institution behind the film – this is the production company or film studio. Find out the following:
The production company/film studio and who directed it:
The production company is 20th Century Fox and a man called Wes Ball directed this movie.
The cast – main actors / actresses
Dylan O'Brien - Thomas, the last male to enter the Glade
Kaya Scodelario - Teresa, the first and only female Glader
Thomas Brodie-Sangster - Newt, second in command of the Gladers.
Ki Hong Lee - Minho, the Keeper of the Runners
Aml Ameen - Alby, the leader of the Gladers
Will Poulter - Gally, the Glade's enforcer
Blake Cooper - Chuck, a chubby friend of Thomas and also the youngest Glader
Dexter Darden - Frypan, the Keeper of the Cooks
Jacob Latimore - Jeff, the main med-jack of the Gladers
Chris Sheffield - Ben, a runner
Joe Adler - Zart
Alexander Flores - Winston, the Keeper of the Slicers
Patricia Clarkson - Ava Paige, the enigmatic highest-ranking official of WCKD.
What year the production was released
The year that this production is released is 2014
Who owns or runs the production company
Founder of the company are Joseph M. Schenck and Darryl F. Zanuck.
Key people in the company are:
Jim Gianopulos (Chairman and CEO) and Stacey Snider(Co-Chairman).
What the production company is famous for or associated with – perhaps other films the studio has produced.
The production company is most famous for providing the big money movies production and also having a big success in television. For example, The Simpsons is a major success in that most people who watch TV would know what The Simpsons is. Also the new TV series Empire is also on the 20th Century Fox books as it is a new productions that is popular for the young adults and teenagers section.
Budget and box office information – how much did the film cost to make? How much did the film gross domestically and internationally – this means how much money the film made.
The film became a commercial success grossing $102,427,862 in North America and more than $240 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $344.3 million. Astonishingly, the budget was approximately $34 million dollars. That is a lot of profit!
Critical reception: how was the film received by critics? You need to read reviews of the film to find this out (or look on IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes) Did the film get nominated for or win any awards?
Imdb rated the movie a 6.8/10.
Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie 63%
Metacritic gave the movie 56%
I gave this 7.5/10
International Film Music Critics Award (IFMCA) 2014
Nominated
IFMCA Award Best Original Score for an Action/Adventure/Thriller Film
John Paesano
Kids' Choice Awards, USA 2015
Nominated
Blimp Award Favorite Book
James Dashner
London Critics Circle Film Awards 2015
Nominated
ALFS Award Young British Performer of the Year
Will Poulter
For Plastic
MTV Movie Awards 2015
Won
MTV Movie Award Breakthrough Performance
Dylan O'Brien
Best Fight
Dylan O'Brien
Will Poulter
Best Hero
Dylan O'Brien
As Thomas
Nominated
MTV Movie Award Best Scared-As-S**t Performance
Dylan O'Brien
Society of Camera Operators 2015
Nominated
Camera Operator of the Year Award Feature Film
Stephen S. Campanelli
Teen Choice Awards 2015
Nominated
Choice Movie: Action
Choice Movie Actor: Action - Dylan O'Brien
Choice Movie Actress: Action - Kaya Scodelario
Choice Movie: Chemistry - Dylan O'Brien - Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Choice Movie: Breakout Star - Thomas Brodie-Sangster
The target audience – if you can’t find the official target audience for the film, make an educated guess based on the rest of your research. Remember: % gender, age range, social class, level of education, job/earnings etc.
It is mainly directed towards the teenagers and the young adults because it can relate to them. Frankly, that also may appeal to the movie's target audience. "The Maze Runner" is the first dystopian teen movie in a while that offers boys a room of their own.
WWW- Wow, Hussein - this is a superb summer project and shows a real commitment to the course. We need to aim for a high grade this summer! You have clearly understood the conventions of science fiction genre and you have written particularly well about the plot in your own words.
ReplyDeleteEBI and Learner Response- Write a comment where you consider 'dystopia' as an alternative sub-genre and how this film fits into the conventions of that sub genre. How does the labyrinth / maze setting link to the sub genre of action adventure?
Embed video to your blog and justify your review score. What quotes can you find from other reviews? The 'boy's room' comment at end is a bit strange - is that cut and pasted? Could you say more about what you mean here?
Thanks for your comment, Miss!
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment I wrote this passage:
Dystopia can be classed as a sub-genre because this movie has all the conventions to be a 'dystopian movie'. In the maze, the people who were trapped inside the maze they were going berserk by the fact that they were desperate to escape. They want to go back to reality but they don't know how until the end of the movie.
The maze is a action/adventure also because when they stay in that maze they want to escape and go back to humanity. This is some sort of adventure!