Films for Thoughts on Thursday: The Scorch Trials

This is a weekly meme that I am hosting here at Reviews from a Bookworm. To take part all you have to do is share a movie review once a week, link back to Reviews from a Bookworm and add your link to the linky tool.

This weeks movie review will be for:

The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

I went to see The Scorch Trials last week, and I am happy that I can say I really enjoyed it. I was excited, but also very nervous, about seeing it. I had really enjoyed the first film, but I was scared because I didn't want this to be a disastrous sequel like Insurgent was. But it wasn't. It was really good and I can't wait for the final movie...

Be warned that I won't be able to comment on whether this is a loyal adaptation or not. I DID NOT READ THE BOOK. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I read and reviewed the first book, and I hated it. It just did not work for me at all. But my love of Dylan O'Brien meant that I still wanted to see the film, as did the advert. I could tell the film was going to be different from the book, and I was right. They changed so much, and I am sure that was the case with this movie too. I honestly don't think they are going to be doing faithful adaptations, and I am all for that because I really think they are improving them. 

I reviewed the first movie last year and talked about how much I enjoyed it. I ended up giving that film 7/10 because I really did enjoy it, but I found the ending frustrated and wanted more answers, ones that actually made sense. I still feel like the answers we get in this movie don't make complete sense either, but I still enjoyed it and hope that everything is wrapped up nicely in the final movie. I have to say that I am so pleased they are not going to split it into two parts, that is being far too overdone right now in the YA adaptations. 

I don't want to give too much away about the film, especially since I myself went in knowing absolutely nothing. The direction this story went in was something I was completely not expecting, and also surprised I'd never heard about this series before. But I don't want to say what that is because it will ruin it for others who also know very little about the series. I loved the surprise twist to this story and something I never saw coming. 

I loved the pacing of this movie, I thought it was as great as the first one. It is action-packed, but it also allows for a few quiet moments where we can get to know characters a little better. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen, I was scared I would miss something. I felt this one had some amazing and beautiful shots in it too, especially in the scenes set out in the Scorch. 

I adored the casting of the first film, and was quite pleased with the new characters we go in this film and the choice of actors for them. The wonderful banter between the characters was one of my favourite things about the first film. I felt that was still evident in this film, but was less frequent because this film seemed a bit more urgent and dangerous than the previous film, which is saying a lot. 

I really did not like Theresa in this film. I don't know where her characters story is going in the next film but I hope she dies. I hope a giant piano falls out of the sky and lands on her head. Or she falls off a cliff. Or gets crushed by a rolling boulder, Indiana Jones style. Or drowns in an inch of water. I wish for death for that character. Does this make me a bad person?!? Maybe, but still... I am not a fan.

7/10

I really, really enjoyed this film. I loved the acting and the pacing of it. I was really surprised by where this movie went, in terms of what the Cranks were. I was surprised, but pleasantly so. I really loved that about the film and it added so much more action and drama to it. I am far too attached to these characters though and this makes me very nervous for the final movie. I don't want my favourite characters to die, and I am a little nervous they might. If you enjoyed the first film then you definitely need to go and see the sequel, it is just as good. 

I also filmed a review and discussion video, where I talk about the film in detail, including all the spoilers. So if you have already seen it and want to know my detailed thoughts, then give the video a watch.