MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE

Malaysia Release Date: 25 Jan 2018

Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure 

Running Length: 2:22

Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Rosa Salazar, Will Poulter, Aidan Gillen, Giancarlo Esposito, Barry Pepper, Patricia Clarkson, Walton Goggins

Director: Wes Ball

Screenplay: T.S. Nowlin, based on the novel by James Dashner 

MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE is a good send-off to conclude the Maze Runner trilogy. To be fair, the bar wasn't set very high with the first and second one, so I was pleasantly surprise at the grand-ness of this third and final installment. 

What I liked about this film is its action set pieces. At get-go, it opens with a spectacular train rescue mission (felt like it was taken out from a scene in the later Fast and Furious movies) and the action doesn't stop there. It keeps piling up right to its fiery ending. In terms of performances, only one stood out - Dylan O'Brien. Together with the recent American Assassin, O'Brien is shaping up to be a potential action star. There's still room for improvement but I must say, he gives his all into every scene.  

What I didn't like? Way too much action scenes and unnecessary plots. This film is bloated. Clocking in at 2:22, it felt like a 4 hour movie. Some action scenes are so out there you just can't help but to chuckle a little. Although the filmmakers tried to balance it out with some Korean-drama-type emotional scenes, it just didn't really work for me. And what irritated me were the tropes (it came in spades) especially towards the end of the movie. There were so many moments I went, "Wait for it...this and that will happen" and BAM, it did! 

All in all, I must say the Maze Runner series is a much more consistent outing compared to the Hunger Games franchise. While the latter started off with a bang but spluttered to a halt by the time it came to its conclusion, the former kept chugging along.

RATING: 7/10

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR'S REVENGE (2017)

Genre: Action / Adventure
Running Length: 2:09
Cast: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Geoffrey Rush, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Orlando Bloom

Director: Joachim Ronning, Espen Sandberg

Screenplay: Jeff Nathanson, based on a story by Jeff Nathanson and Terry Rossio

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: SALAZAR'S REVENGE has the shortest running length in the series but yet it felt long. That is usually an indication I was not fully engaged. I think the problem with this outing is that it recycled what was familiar from its predecessors and regurgitated it. As a result, it felt uninspired. As the famous saying goes, don't rock the boat. I believe audiences who have yet to be exposed to any of the Pirates movie would enjoy this 5th installment.

When the first movie came out way back in 2003, I thought Cap'n Jack Sparrow (Depp) would be the answer to Indiana Jones in-the-sea but alas, it wasn't the case. What is missing from the subsequent Pirates movies (including this one) is a sense of danger and adventure.

For example, in the beginning of this movie, there is this runway bank/house chase scene which just kinda goes through the motion. Now compared that sequence with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade tank chase scene, I was at the edge of my seat! Come to think of it, the runaway bank chase scene was so cartoon-y, it looked like something out of a Looney Tunes episode.

Thankfully, Depp's Sparrow was not left, right and centre in this installment but he is well balanced out with "mini Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann"; Henry (Thwaites) and his gutsy love interest Carina (Scodelario). As for Depp's portrayal of Cap'n Jack Sparrow, it feels like Jack Sparrow is doing a parody of Jack Sparrow :(

In conclusion, Salazar's Revenge (I still don't get it why they use that subtitle in this part of the world vs Dead Men Tell No Tales. Mungkin more edgy-kut...) has some really impressive CGI work but its plot is unnecessary convoluted. Hence, it ends up as another one of those loud and busy but ultimately forgettable summer movie.

RATING: 6/10

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS (2015)

Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure
Running Length: 2:08
Cast:  Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Jacob Lofland, Rosa Salazar, Aidan Gillen, Giancarlo Esposito, Barry Pepper, Lili Taylor, Patricia Clarkson
Director: Wes Ball
Screenplay: T.S. Nowlin, based on the novel by James Dashner 

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS touches on the age-old question of whether is it right to sacrifice a small group of people to save the larger population? Just like the rest of the post-apocalyptic YA novels adapted to the big screen, this sequel expands its universe beyond the "maze" in the first movie.

This movie starts where The Maze Runner ended with our protagonist (O'Brien) and his fellow survivors are being taken to a secured location with the promise of a ticket to the promised land. Of course, not all is what it seems. And our survivors are on the run again. Although not quite like the maze we saw in the first film, but the "playground" now has expanded to include crawling through air vents, running away from zombie-like creatures through tunnels and fallen buildings and surviving severe weather conditions. The filmmakers have definitely amped-up the action sequences and some scenes are near terrifying (think Resident Evil). 

Although there are some interesting characters added to the group in this second installment, it still doesn't fare very well in the acting department. Compared to The Hunger Games franchise, the performance here rivals the bad acting we see in soap operas.

To be fair, I like what they did thematically with where all these are going, and I was genuinely entertained. However just like snacking on junk food, I was tricked to feeling full - it was just not as satisfying as a healthy gourmet dinner.

Rating: 6.5/10