In Hot Pursuit of Scorching Fun

The second installment of the Maze Runner franchise that not all is lost, even during the Apocalypse 

ON CONTINUITY

ARTH VADER (AV): Faster than I would have thought, we got ourselves another Scorch Trials installment. I was surprised to have enjoyed the first film so much but I quickly forgot all about the campy ‘kids save the world’ story so when this one came out in the summer of 2015, I was like “huh–already?” The film comes hot on the heels of the first Maze Runner and as the first one was surprisingly good, my concern was simply; can the second one maintain form? Not a tall order but I had my doubts. How about you, Ponty? 

THE PONTIFICATOR (TP): This film picks up where the last one left off…and like the last one, diverges greatly from the original book it was based on. This was to be expected though since the film adaption of the entire story left the books with the first installment... and will likely continue to the end of the trilogy. At least this film lines up with the first and in that, there is perfect continuity.

CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING

AV: Scorch Trials brings back an impressively talented cast of young Maze Runners, as Director Wes Ball expands his world of the and brings us new and compelling details of world that’s no longer ours but has become something else entirely. Let’s face it, Ponty, the acting is no great shakes anywhere in this flick but I don’t know if that’s the fault of the actors. The screenplay tries to involve the viewer and doesn’t fail, while not making a whole lot of linear sense. Still, the story is embraceable and we get so much more out of Scorch Trials than I would have thought, wouldn’t you say sir? 

TP: I wasn’t taken with any of the returning original cast Vader, even though they played their roles adequately (just barley so in some cases), I was more intrigued with the new additions to the cast. Jacob Lofland was particularly interesting in his role as Aris with his quiet demeanor and willingness to get involved. Although I like Aiden Gillen, he seemed to come off as just an alternate version of “Little Finger” (his Game of Thrones role)… worming his way to the WY.K.D throne. Giancarlo Esposito was a surprise and added some spice to the cast with his role as wheeler and dealer, but ultimately a concerned parent looking for a better life. Lastly was the unexpected appearance of Barry Pepper. Although he didn’t have a huge role, I haven’t seen him in awhile and it was good to see him return to the silver screen.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

AV: It was hard not to to be impressed by this film’s visual effects. Massive CGI city environments-like the rolling electrical storms and crazy weather, as well as fantastic landscapes and of course (Spoilers!), Zombies. I gotta’ admit my friend, I did NOT see that one coming! Sure I might have if I read the books, but hey, c’mon what is this a library? 

The addition of Zombies, even different types of them, was kind of low hanging fruit from a story-teller’s standpoint but I loved it all the same. Really! Seeing brainless undead hordes chase our Maze-running heroes out of a blasted out skyscraper submerged in sand is one of the most compelling single moments of 2015 effects cinema.

TP: There was no new ground broken, but the effects were still well done and moved the story along for what it was…a giant chase film. With that, there isn’t much that need be done except having stuff pop out at various times coupled with camera play to distort the senses. It works well for what it was intended to do.

A CLOSER LOOK

AV: Okay, so in the review of the first installment of the Maze Running chronicles, I was left with a number of questions like, why are they there, and who put them there and why are they being watched. Sadly, I’m not sure I have those answers. Yes, I am aware the organization that set up the whole Maze observation dynamic was revealed but, why would ANYONE dedicate such large-scale technological, human, and logistical resources to such experiments? It make no sense to me. But I guess some things just have to hold our suspended belief. It’s my least favorite storytelling component to these movies. What did you think?

TP: Where do I start Vader? Perhaps I’ll start with the lunacy that in the middle of a chase, or while still being in peril, is somehow the perfect opportunity to stop and demand a detailed explanation for why you are running for your life. No? How about splitting up in dangerous and unfamiliar territory that is no doubt riddled with danger? If that wasn’t bad enough, how about leaving a perfectly functioning gun behind so one of your party can commit suicide? Uh... throwing away an empty canteen, so in the off chance you actually do come across more water in the desert, you have no place to store it? What about setting your place to blow up because you are under attack by hostile forces, and you only take ONE of the six or seven guns you have, and leave the rest. Oh… my personal favorite is coming to a fork in the road and deciding to explore the scary creepy looking tendrils on the wall and follow them back to a place of horror… and continue to explore! These are just some of the idiocy and lunacy that simply killed this film for me.

ON SEQUELS

AV: This film left the audience in a bit of a cliff-hanger so we are more than likely going to get another installment. I am quite interested in seeing how the story raps up in the next chapter. The culmination of robotic monsters (from the first film) and ravenous, black-blooded Zombies in film two makes me anxious to see if those two (adversaries) go to war or if there is a third terror unleashed on our heroes Runners as they head back for the final showdown.

TP: There is going to be a third film. In fact I have heard that the last film might even be split into two films ala “Hunger Games.” All I can say is if it is more of the same, I will probably be just as annoyed watching it as I was watching this film. 

RATE IT!

ARTH VADER Rates Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: With a great–if not predictable–final battle wrought with tears, feel-good heroics and some good, old-fashioned Hollywood explosions and gun play, you’ll enjoy Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. I dare say even better than the first, this film does a solid job of engaging the audience and I need to re-iterate, for any Zombie-lovers out there, this film has got the goods. Well-paced, loaded with good-looking CGI and a story that’s good enough to move things along, I’d line up seven (7) Busted Blocks and drop them into a monster-laden, zombie-infested wasteland and watch the good time roll.

THE PONTIFICATOR rates Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials:  Maybe it’s hubris when I say that I think I’m just too intelligent for this film, but when nearly every scene has me scratching my head wondering what the heck the characters are thinking when they do some of the dumb stuff they do…I have to wonder if people actually wrote this film or was it a room full of chimpanzees as part of some vile experiment. This film seems to have gotten lost in its own maze of idiocy and could only manage to find five (5) busted blocks

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials: 6 / 10 Busted Blocks

Catching Fire is Hot!

Politics, power and performance propels The Hunger Games: Catching Fire into a must-see end-of year epic

ON CONTINUITY

ARTH VADER (AV): Hot on the heels of the highly acclaimed—and super successful—Hunger Games, based on the incredibly popular book series of the same namesake; The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is the series follow-up to what is shaping up to becoming an epic set of films. Character progressions are portrayed powerfully and the story progresses as well onscreen as I'm sure they do in the novels (definitely on my to-read list, Ponty!). A new set of twists, takes our heroes in challenging new directions but it is the storytelling that will leave you breathless. 

THE PONTIFICATOR (TP): There were some minor changes from the page to the screen, but nothing that detracted from the film being something great to watch. Gale’s whipping, for example, didn’t go exactly the same way in the film like it did in the book, but the change in circumstances that caused the incident actually worked better for purposes of having a more profound impact on the theater audience.

CASTING, DIRECTING AND ACTING

AV: With a healthy array of recurring actors, THG:CF is a captivating directorial experience. With the momentum-paced camera work and just downright impressive cinematography, Jennifer "Catniss" Lawrence and Josh "Why was I in the Red Dawn re-boot" Hutcherson have plenty of worries left in the post-victory world of Hunger-Games. The powerful vision of director Francis Lawrence keeps viewers engaged and enthralled in a well-paced and entrenched story. What's more, while I do feel the roles of the primary actors in this movie are all 'dialed-in' (except for Catniss) the personalities of the actors are so strong that nothing is lost. 

TP: All the usual suspects are back, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci…and they all deliver as well, if not better than they did in the first film. Enter new cast members making a splash onscreen and in our memories with excellent performances: Jeffrey Wright as the tech wiz Beetee, Philip Seymour Hoffman as the new game master Plutarch Heavensbee, and Jena Malone as the scene stealing (every one she was in) Johanna Mason. Excellently cast and well directed, although I did find myself restless at times Vader.

SPECIAL EFFECTS

AV: The visual effects of today's big budget films is expected to leave the audience bewildered, dazzled and speechless. Does this happen in this movie? Does the film warrant it? The answer is; kind of. While the story–and world–of THG:CF is enormous, the SP/X are appropriately compelling. Make no mistake, the sweeping CGI cityscape, the backgrounds and environments are eye-grabbing. But what this film does well is give us visual effects that are polished but don't overwhelm the scenes. This is a very hard balance to strike and this movie does a remarkable job giving the visual effects the right balance of immersion. 

TP: Agreed Vader, as with the first film, this movie did not really go giant larger-than-life effects to advance itself. That said, it had wonderful special effects that moved the story along and were, at times, so very subtle as to not be noticed at all. The best effects to me where the ones that gave you a sense of what the conditions were like in other districts… especially District 11. The CGI effects as the train entered were awesome and really gave gravity to what it was like to live in a district under siege.

TAKING A DEEPER LOOK

AV: I must confess, I wasn't looking forward to this film, Ponitifcator. I'm not a fan of the story content and do not condone the premise of children killing children–the inescapable reality of the many district "Pledges" in the world of the Hunger Games. I have no problem bearing witness to the blight of human conflict but watching 12 and 13 year-olds getting butchered by 17-and-18 year-olds is beyond gut-wrenching and a hard pill for me to swallow. Once you're past that though, there is real substance here. 

While this is far from a perfect film (there are some sequencing and story-transition issues as well as holes in the dialogue which actually deflate the impact of the President's –Donald Sutherland's–villainy). However, this is such an good-looking movie with an enduring message, it is easy to skip over those minor pitfalls, wouldn't you say old friend? 

TP: Well Vader, I was expecting the same shock value the first film delivered with regards to the issue of children killing children. Shame on me for not taking an empty cup with me as this film was very different in this area. Obviously with the advent of former tributes being thrown back into the ring, the whole child violence dynamic changed, but I was surprised at what degree the whole level of personal violence was toned down. I must admit it was somewhat pleasant to concentrate on the intricacies of the hidden agendas and forming relationships of the characters rather than the usual gratuitous violence. Of course, the statement the first film made with regards to our current society’s issue with classism continued in force, literally and underscored the reality of a world we all could soon be living in if we are not vigilant.

ON SEQUELS

AV: This series will keep on trucking from here, Ponty. Deep down in it's genetic code, The Hunger Games was engineered to be a multi-movie exposé that gets us (ahem!) fired up—a good thing, too. 

Since today's "I can't remember what I did five minutes ago" culture needs to be cattle-prodded into returning to see something we think we remember we liked. This movie could have easily been a three and a half hour epic and while I certainly left the theater wanting to see more, that's exactly how a good movie-going experience should leave you. The third book, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (THG:MJ) is going to be given to us in two more films. Unlike how I was going in to this one, I'm super excited for those next films, P-man. You? 

TP: Without question, there will be more films before this ride is done, and like you Vader, I look forward to Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015). Now, if only I could remember what I did five minutes ago… LOL!

RATE IT!

ARTH VADER rates The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: To put it in easy terms, I really liked this movie. In fact, much better than I had originally thought I would. Thoroughly captivating story, great screenplay and a powerfully familiar cast help make Catching Fire a great holiday blockbuster and a great way to spend some of your end-of-year film-going dollars. With that, I draw back my compound bow and let a flaming arrow fly to ignite eight (8) busted–but very flammable–blocks. 

THE PONTIFICATOR rates Hunger Games: Catching Fire: A great film with excellent casting and acting that blend together to present a very interesting and suspenseful story, adapted from the best selling trilogy for which it’s named. I was thoroughly entertained, and that’s what this is all about. Let the revolution begin, here, with eight (8) hunted and shattered blocks. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire  8  / 10 Busted Blocks