Overall verdict: 6.5/10
That YA Remake of Resident Evil The Final Chapter
The Good: Clearer directing in action scenes, good cast chemistry, presents themes that explore grey morality, fitting music score, magnificent special effects, many emotional moments.
The Bad: Derivative and cliched plot, mediocre scripting, some wooden acting.
***********Review***********
Thomas and friends have survived the treacherous Maze, one of many experiments by the WCKD organisation to find a cure to a virus which turns humans into rage filled savages. They have survived the Scorch, the desolate wastelands which were once mankind’s greatest cities. Now they have to take on WCKD itself and the vengeful overseer Janson () who has captured Thomas’ buddy Minho hoping to extract a cure from his immune cells. They also have to deal with Theresa, Thomas’ former Girlfriend, who turns out to have been working for WCKD all along and betrayed the group in the last movie.
THE DEATH CURE is the final part of the MAZE RUNNER trilogy and at first glance it seems to carry on the derivative nature of the preceding entry THE SCORCH TRIALS. WCKD conducting questionable experiments for a virus cure? Rage filled human husks who would cannibalise survivors? A rag tag band of freedom fighters going up against a corrupt corporation? A hostile takeover from within that same corporation? Yup it definitely sounds like a rehash of Paul WS Anderson’s RESIDENT EVIL movie franchise. Even some of the designs used in this movie like WCKD’s flying vehicles The Bergs, look almost like Umbrella corporation VTOLs.
Looks can be deceiving however as once you get deeper into our story we see these familiar tropes given a fresh portrayal. All opposing forces in the ongoing conflict are just as morally questionable as the next. WCKD’s experiments may be brutal but it is revealed that their intentions are noble and altruistic, hoping to save the remnants of humanity without a single thought about profiteering from the cure.
The rebel group comes complete with some familiar faces. Are they really opposing an oppressive government or are they just anarchists motivated by jealousy and adopting a “taking you with me” attitude towards what they see as the privileged class of people protected behind the walls? All of this is kept grey and it is nice to see such lines of good and evil blurred to this extent. Gives one quite a bit to think about.
Thomas,Theresa, Newt and Minho all receive a surprising amount of character development along with some startling revelations. The actors have become so comfortable portraying their characters and this shows through the chemistry especially in the emotionally tense moments. The action seems to be shot a lot clearer now with less of the jitter cam and quick cuts that made THE SCORCH TRIALS a chore to watch. The special effects are magnificent considering the movie’s Budget and the music by composer John Paesano (Superman/Batman: Apocalypse) complements the action perfectly.
When seen through the context of its young adult target audience, one could derive a “brothers before romantic partners” theme underlying the whole narrative of the trilogy. Whenever Thomas develops feelings for any female character or vice versa, trouble is soon to follow. Whereas the single minded determination to rescue a fellow “glader” (term used to denote the original band of allies who escaped the maze), this “leave no man behind” mindset is shown to be the purest of motives and the highest of moral obligations. So remember kids, Bros before babes ok?
That being said, THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy is a fun though slightly derivative series. Some liberties are taken from the original source material, like the removal of psychic powers, but these aid the transition to film. If you can overlook a weaker second instalment , then this third one THE DEATH CURE will make it all worthwhile.
***********Review***********
Entertainment: B+
Story: C+
Acting: B-
Characters: A-
Music: B-
Replay value: B+
"Brains": B
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