Maze Runner: The Death Cure ends the YA dystopian trilogy

Movie Title:   
Maze Runner: The Death Cure

Grade:   B+

Rating: PG-13, 114 minutes

In a Nutshell:   This third film provides a fitting finale to a thrilling young adult book and movie franchise. 

Congrats to my friend, James Dashner, for all of his success!  That must be so satisfying to bring a book to the Big Screen!  (My books are all non-fiction.)  

You get to see Dashner in one of the scenes where Teresa and Ava are presenting information to the WCKD board members.  Dashner is the only one on the board who doesn’t speak.  I loved the cameo!  

My tiny claim to fame is that he and I both did a book signing together many years ago and later spoke at the same writer's conference.  I'm so happy for him!

Tips for parents: 

• Some creepy faces
• Violence, fighting
• Explosions, tons of destruction
• Scary zombies that chase you...really fast!
• Some profanity.

Uplifting theme: 

• Bravery, loyalty, friendship
• Hope

Things I liked:

• Dylan O’Brien was seriously injured during the last installment in the series, so fans have waited two years for his recovery and this release.  He's a talented young actor with great promise.
• Lots of action sequences!  Tons!
• If you like zombies and teen dystopia, you’ll enjoy the crazy chaos.

Things I didn’t like:

• Not a lot of dialogue, since everyone is running around most of the time…thus the title.
• Aren't we glad we have teenagers to save the world?
• Fans of the books will notice quite a few changes in the film.
• Those who haven't seen the first two movies or read the books won't feel as invested in the characters as the die-hard fans.   Fans will be interested in seeing the end of the trilogy, but first-timers might be confused.
• The character arc over the course of three films isn't as big as you would hope.

Check out my movie reviews of the first two movies here:

Maze Runner

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Did you miss the first two movies in the franchise? You can order them here:

            

                                       @trinaboice

                      

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is non-stop action and violence

Movie Title:    Resident Evil: The Final Chapter [Blu-ray]

  

Grade:   D

Rating:  R, 106 minutes

In a Nutshell: This is the 6^th and supposed final installment in the popular dystopian video game and movie franchise, featuring Milla Jovovich.  It has all of the necessary jumps, scares, and fang close-ups you’d expect from the same director who did Alien Vs. Predator (Paul W. S. Anderson.)

Milla Jovovich doesn’t age, but gets better with her long, athletic legs that can jump and flip over anything, as well as kick alien/zombie/bad guy butt.  Her ice cold stare is priceless.  Can you imagine her and Kate Beckinsale in a cat fight?

“Is that all you got?”

Uplifting theme: 

•  Never give up.
• Sacrifice for others gives life.

Things I liked:

• If you haven’t seen any of the previous movies in this franchise, the first 5 minutes of this one will give you a quick refresher.
• It feels like a video game at times.
• Another tough girl I’ve always liked watching in movies is Ali Larter.
• Some of the stunts are pretty impressive.

Things I didn’t like:

• Cars never start when you need them to in an emergency.  Lame.
• It’s a bit confusing.
• Mind-numbing, non-stop action the entire time.  There’s a lot of running and kicking.  I was exhausted just watching them.
• A lot of the scenes are at night or in the dark, so this movie is going to look horrible on a computer monitor or small TV.
• The title suggests that this is the last movie in the franchise, but the ending certainly leaves it open for another one…

Funny lines:

• “I made you.” – Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts)

“Yeah, big mistake.” – Alice

• “What are we gonna do?” – Doc

“We’re going to kill every last one of them.” – Alice

Interesting lines:

• “We played a long game, you and I, but now it’s over.” – Albert

“Yes.  Yes it is.” - Alice

Tips for parents:   

• This is super violent, bloody, and gory.
• Tons of explosions, crashes, and destruction.  
• Scary zombies racing after you.
• Some profanity.

The Girl With All The Gifts presents a satisfying spin on the zombie movie genre

Movie Title:  The Girl With All the Gifts

Grade:  B+

Rating: R, 1 hour 51 minutes

In a Nutshell: This dystopian horror drama is based on the best-selling book by M.R. Cary and delivers a satisfying spin.

There are some typical zombie tropes in this British film, but there is more to it than a predictable splatter-fest.

 Uplifting theme: 

• “Hope is the good thing that makes you be able to stand all of the bad things.” – Helen Justineau (Gemma Arterton)
• “They just want to live.  Everyone does.” – Melanie (Sennia Nanua)
• Humanity vs. science
• Look for the images that reveal the theme of nature claiming humanity.  Even the zombies have emerging layers of moss on their faces and bodies.  Fascinating.

Things I liked:

• Sennia Nanua is delightful...in a creepy way.
• The ending is really fun and different.
• I'm told that the film is backed by real science in parts.
• There is a good atmospheric score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer that sets the mood and seamlessly blends into sound effects.
• I thought the two mother figures offered interesting metaphors. 

Things I didn’t like:

• It’s hard to stand a chance against zombies who RUN!
• Most of the characters make some really dumb choices.
• The CGI of London didn’t look very real at times.
• I kind of go into a food coma after I eat too.  Ha ha
• I haven't read the book, but I hear that the 3rd act of the movie adaptation was negatively changed from the book's more satisfying final unfolding.  Isn't that kind of a cliche though...the book is always better than the movie...except maybe Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy - Extended Edition (The Fellows....

Interesting lines:

• “She’d feel nothing.” – Dr. Caroline Caldwell (Glenn Close)

“That’s more your thing than hers.” - Helen

Funny lines:

• “Was that cathartic?” – Dr. Caroline Caldwell  
• “Now our mission is to keep ourselves off the F-ing menu.” – Sgt. Eddie Parks (Paddy Considine)
• “Do you want a cat?” Helen

“I already had one.” – Melanie 

• “Pretend you’re really scared of me.” – Melanie

“Pretend?” – Sgt. Eddie Parks

Tips for parents: 

• A LOT of F-bombs. Some other profanity.
• Blood, gore, zombie attacks, violence, fighting

@trinaboice 

Maze Runner sequel surprises with zombies

Movie  Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Grade: B

Rating:  PG-13, 2 hours 9 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Zombies?  I didn’t know this movie had zombies!  The trailers did a great job of not revealing the story line and fun surprises in this sequel to the Maze Runner series.  It’s action-packed and leaves you wondering who is really on the right side. 

Although my friend, James Dashner, wrote the book that these films are based on, I embarrassingly admit that I’ve never read them.   Apparently, the sequel veers from the original source material quite a bit.  He and I did a book signing together many years ago when we were both nobodies.  While he has made it big time, I’m still a nobody.  (weak grin)  Here is a picture of us when we both were speakers at the LDStorymakers Conference several years ago.  I’m so happy for him and his success!

To see my movie review of the first Maze Runner movie, click here.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Run!

·         Friendship, loyalty, trust.

Things I liked:

·         The special effects were very good.  I’d like to see a director make a riveting movie out of one of my non-fiction books.  Ha ha

·         The cast does a great job.

·         The scale and scope are much larger than the first Maze Runner.
-     The sets, green screens, and backdrops are impressive.

Things I didn’t like:

·         There was way too much running around in the dark.  I had a hard time seeing what was going on, even on the big screen! 

·         The cliff-hanger at the end was pretty predictable.  Even some of the lines were predictable.  It was still entertaining though.

·         This is not a stand-alone film.  If you haven’t seen the first movie, you’ll be lost.
-     This film feels like it’s the bridge between two better films.

·         There weren’t any memorable funny lines.

·         My teenage son described the movie as “A bunch of Abercrombie & Fitch models running around in the desert.”  Kinda true.

·         You don’t learn much more about these teenagers, nor what’s really going on.  The plot wasn’t as deep as I had hoped.  One of the best questions dystopian movies should ask is what happens when civilization crumbles.  What morality is left?  We're still waiting for those answers after the final credits roll.

·         The film isn’t available on IMAX and PLF screens this time around, like the first one was.  The really big screens are being reserved in theaters for the opening weekend of the remake of Everest .

Things to look for:

·         You’ll miss it if you blink, but Teresa (played by Kaya Scodelario) puts a blanket over the broken glass when Thomas throws a chair through a window.   That’s a good emergency preparedness tip to remember in a survival situation!  It’s also what you should do if you’re trying to get over a jagged fence or barbed wire fence.
-      See if you can count how many times the teens pose.  It's almost as if every screen shot could be turned into a movie poster for tween fans.

Tips for Parents:

·         Thomas (played by Dylan O’Brien) flips the bird.

·         The zombies that chase the kids are pretty scary because they run FAST and climb anything, unlike the ones in the hit TV show The Walking Dead: Season 1 .

·         Some profanity, an icky vomit moment,  and a high body count, sometimes bloody.

·         Kids will love it because it features kids outsmarting adults. 
·         Thomas and Brenda spend some time in a dystopian kind of den of iniquity with a bunch of druggies and boozers.

To get prepared for the sequel, start with these:

 

 If you can't get enough, check out the prequel and more!

 

Maggie isn't your typical zombie movie

Movie:   Maggie

PG-13, 1 hour 35 minutes

Grade:  C

In a Nutshell:   Arnold Schwarzenegger kicking zombie butt….what’s not to like?  Well, it’s not as exciting as that sounds.  In fact, there aren’t very many actual zombies in this post-apocalyptic movie. Instead, the film focuses on what it would be like to watch a loved one slowly “turn”…..slowly being the key word here.  In this version of the popular zombie genre, it takes 4-6 weeks to turn after a bite. The movie is so slow-moving that it might feel like 4-6 weeks.

That being said, there are some poignant moments that make you wonder how you might act in similar situations.
  

Uplifting Theme:

·         Blood is thick, but zombie juices are thicker.  Ha ha

·        Life is made up of moments and memories.

Things I liked:

·        Good on first-time director Henry Hobson for snagging some Hollywood names like Schwarzenegger, Abigail Breslin, and Joely Richardson.

·         Is it terrible to admit I kind of enjoyed watching Maggie’s slow decay into a zombiehood?  The special effects were pretty good.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Not nearly enough zombies.  Have I been watching too much The Walking Dead: Season 1 ?
      There are some really stupid, selfish decisions made that put others at risk.  For example, Maggie’s finger starts to fall off and she drips blood all over the family’s food on the kitchen counter.  Nice, Maggie.

·         A lot of the scenes are really dark, so it’s often hard to see what’s going on.

·         I’ve always really liked Joely Richardson, but her fake Southern accent was unnecessary.

·         The pacing is so slow that there is plenty of time to run to the bathroom without missing anything.  Wait, maybe I should put this point under the "Things I Liked" section...

I was hoping for a bigger payoff...a bigger ending.  Then again, it perfectly matched the tone of the movie.

Tips for Parents:

·         Some profanity.  
*    Some deaths, but not much considering there are zombies around.

Here's another zombie movie that is different from the cliched monster thrillers:

World War Z will quicken your pulse

                                                  by Trina Boice

                                          www.TrinaBoice.com

 

Brad Pitt.  Need I say more?  Well ok, if you're a guy, you're going to want more out of this June thrill ride than just staring at the aging, yet still handsome half of Brangelina.

 

World War Z is a fun summer blockbuster about a zombie apocalypse, loosely based on the popular book that my sons devoured back in 2006 entitled "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War" by Max Brooks. I wonder if Brad Pitt's kids also read the book when it came out and clamored for pop to film it. His production company, Plan B Entertainment, quickly secured the screen rights for it in 2007.

                                    

Rumor has it that the budget for this flick chewed up over $400 million with some post-production re-writes that caused its later release. In fact, the last 40 minutes of the movie were completely remade. Some critics claim the post-production troubles make the movie a bit choppy, but as long as you have popcorn in your mouth, you're going to be entertained. The zombie craze still seems to be alive and well, so ticket sales look promising.

 

Brad Pitt is confident it's going to do well and told US Today, "Listen, I'm pretty proud of this film.  It's just big and fun and this is the most intense thing you're going to see all year." He said it was the most intense thing he's done, and he certainly has skin in the game on this one...so to speak.

 

Brad Pitt plays Gerry Lane, a retired UN employee who gets called in to help find the origins of the undeadly strain that is turning humans into rabid zombies.  Gerry Lane is properly motivated to search the globe for a cure in return for his family's safety and protection on one of the few floating ships turned safe zones in the ocean.

 

Combine Gerry Lane's effective survival skills with Brad Pitt's golden locks and you get some action scenes that even hard-core preppers will admire. It's challenging enough to survive the slow-moving zombies in "The Walking Dead", but these creepy corpses "turn" in only 12 seconds, race after you at very quick speeds, jump onto the high walls surrounding Jerusalem, and even pull down a helicopter. Your heart will pound in suspense and you'll try to quiet your breath when you learn that loud sounds attract the rabid humans.

 

Gerry Lane counsels a family locked up in a New Jersey apartment after the chaotic outbreak that "movement is life." His former experience getting in and out of hot zones helps him come up with resourceful survival ideas, saving himself and others along the way, including a female soldier in the Israeli army.

 

If you loved the popular TV show "Lost", you'll get a kick out of seeing Matthew Fox as one of the parajumpers that fights to protect those seeking a cure.  Audiences will be introduced to Mireille Enos, who plays Brad Pitt's frightened and dutiful wife. 

 

The special effects are amazing and pretty believable.  As my kids say, "It could happen."

 

The movie is being released in 2D, RealID 3D, and IMAX 3D. While I love a good 3D experience, this particular film doesn't work well in 3D because of the camera's shakiness, so see it in 2D and you won't get dizzy.
 

Grade = A-