Movie Review: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner starts off strong. Thomas, the movie’s protagonist is brought up into an elevator and thrust into an enclosed area surrounded by tall walls. The only possible way out is a maze that goes beyond the enclosed walls. The maze opens up for only a brief duration during the day, where the community’s runners explore it. Once the wall closes at night, vicious mechanical spider/scorpion creatures lurk inside of the maze.
The movie gets off to a good start. The concept is interesting where this group of boys (and eventually one girl) have to create a self-sufficient community where they grow their own food and make their own rules and try to survive with the dangers beyond the maze. The concept of the maze and the exploration of it is really neat. The differentiation of the characters was also well done. The movie promises a big payoff if they can get past the maze.
Where the movie unravels is with its overall concept. Everything about why the boys are inside of this walled area on their own, away from society makes absolutely no sense. There is a complete and utter lack of logic behind it. The explanation of the why the walls and maze exist is so poorly conceived that I would rather there be no explanation at all. In the end, this isn’t a bad movie, but also not one that I would highly recommend.