Title: Ender's Game Director(s): Gavin Hood Genre(s): Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult Rating: PG-13 Release Date (USA): November 1, 2013
“Fifty years ago an alien force known as the Formics attacked Earth. Tens of millions died. It was only through the sacrifice of our greatest commander that we avoided total annihilation. We've been preparing for them to come back ever since. The International Fleet decided that the world's smartest children are the planet's best hope. Raised on war games, their decisions are intuitive, decisive, fearless. I am one of those recruits." -Ender Wiggin
1985 was a good year --- not only was I born but this was the publishing year of what many call the original YA dystopia. Ender's Game as a film had a lot of work to do from the outset. It not only had to
overcome years of developmental hell but had to contend with severe controversy surrounding the Orson Scott Card's questionable ideals as well as high expectations from the series' legion of die-hard fans. Now, I haven't ever read the books so I had no basis of comparison when going into the film but I did have high hopes. Based on the trailer, the movie looked awesome! Unfortunately, for me, Ender's Game did not defy the odds.
The story follows Ender Wiggin, a newly recruited member of a
battle school designed to train young children to fight a war against the alien forces that attacked Earth years prior. Ender finds himself alienated and must
overcome incredible pressure from everyone, and most of all, from himself, in order to lead the team to victory.
I can't really say if the plot remains faithful to Card's original novel, but I did enjoy the idea of it. For the time it was written, it was probably uniquely original, but being late to the game, I can't say I haven't already seen it all before. Despite the predictability of the storyline, my biggest gripe was that it felt like key elements were missing --- not plot holes exactly, just like critical scenes had been cut at the last minute, like there were gaps in important information. Instead, it relies heavily on these grand info dumps from Wiggin via the narration and the character development and storyline suffer because of this. Another big problem I had was with the story's overall cohesiveness, in that there is none. The whole movie feels as though it takes place in the matter of a week and because of this, there's very little depth. I lost track of time watching it, probably because I was doing other things other than watching it. In short, I just didn't care. You would think that the star-studded cast (Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Hailee Steinfeld, Viola Davis & Abigail Breslin) would be enough to save this drowning movie, but alas, such was not the case. Breslin has but a minor role and Davis, arguably the best in her role, isn't featured nearly enough to leave a lasting impression. Ford and Kingsley deliver passable performances, but they hardly shine. And newcomer Asa Butterfield is wooden and stiff in his role as Ender. I don't know if the character in the book is this way, but he's incredibly unrelatable in the film. Things come to him far too easily and I had no idea why he was appointed to be the leader of the group. Nothing he said or did really gave me a good feeling about him. Honestly, I didn't care about a single one of the characters and if you don't care then what's the point? I guess the look and feel of the film were about the only things I think the filmmakers got right. The set and cinematography were spot-on, everything I imagined from the spacey, sci-fi setting. I want to play in that Battle Room. So. Freaking. Amazing. But other than that, Ender's Game was an utter fail as a stand alone movie. If it's done anything positive, it's only made me want to read the book that much more.
Summary Prognosis
All in all, I was less than impressed with Ender's Game. Though it was a visually stunning movie, I found it to be predictable, full of wooden performances and too hard to comprehend. Since I haven't read the book version, I have no basis of comparison so I'll let the rest of you be the judge of that one. Overall, it was a majour letdown for me.
Title: Death Angel Author(s): Linda Fairstein Genre(s): Crime, Thriller Publisher/Date: Dutton Adult / July 30, 2013 Series: Alexandra Cooper (Book #15)
When the body of a young woman is discovered in Central Park, the clock begins ticking for Assistant DA Alex Cooper and Detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace to find the killer who has breached this haven in the middle of New York City. Is the body found in the lake, under the unseeing gaze of the Bethesda angel, the first victim of a deranged psychopath, or is the case connected to other missing girls and women in years past whose remains have never been found? Just as the trio gets their first lead, the investigation is almost derailed when Mike and Alex become embroiled in a scandal. As Alex attempts to fight the accusations leveled against her and Mike, she follows clues that range from the park’s most buried — literally — secrets all the way to the majestic Dakota, which has experienced its own share of tragedies. When another young woman is attacked in the park, a new question arises: is this enormous urban park a sanctuary—as it seems to the thousands of New Yorkers and tourists who fill it every day—or is it a hunting ground for a killer with a twisted mind? (synopsis from Goodreads)
Summary Prognosis
My dad and I have been listening to this audio series for years and we love it. It's like Law & Order: SVUmeets CSI. Her books combine crime, drama, mystery and intrigue and SMARTLY written characters all in one deliciously intense game of cat and mouse. Oh yeah. I'm a sucker for that stuff. Plus, I adore narrator, Barbara Rosenblat. She's consistent with her voices, each one distinctive and wholly appropriate and I love listening to her.
To date, Death Angelis my favourite book in this series. The grizzly murders and cold-case kidnappings, all set in the backdrop of New York City's Central Park, was the perfect combination. And while it might seem like there's a lot going on---rape, the murders and a kidnapping---it's never too much. Fairstein knows exactly when to bring on the intensity, making the cases bizarre but still believable. She's got a killer eye for detail and protocol, which is simply fascinating.
As a dedicated fan, I love watching the relationships between the characters grow, but as a new reader, I have no doubt they'll reel you in. Plus, I've been waiting a long time for this Mike and Alex thing to come to fruition (which it finally does!), so there's definitely a swoon factor too. Death Angel is fast-paced, action driven and full of twists and turns. Every time I thought I knew who the killer was, she'd throw me off kilter, so predictability was never a problem. And here's the bonus: while there are a few references to events in prior books, you don't need to read them in order to follow.
Title: The Looking Glass Wars Author(s): Frank Beddor Genre(s): Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher/Date: Dial Books / September 26, 2006 Series: The Looking Glass Wars (Book #1)
Alyss of Wonderland?
When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly! Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. (synopsis from Goodreads)
Summary Prognosis
I'm always down for updated takes on classic fairy tales, especially when they involve serious action and violence. The Looking Glass Wars is chalk full of potential, fusing the Alice in Wonderland we know with the historical Alice Liddell. Beddar takes the Wonderlandian characters with which we're familiar and tells their real story, because, apparently, Carroll got it all wrong. But so did Beddar. While I think the bare bones of the story were really clever, overall, the story was a bit childish for my liking. I sort of expected the silliness, because c'mon, it's Wonderland, but not to that degree. The book is highly imaginative so Beddar could've afforded to go a bit more futuristic with his tale. A steam-punk take on Alice would've been really appropriate here. The Looking Glass Wars is a tad too long, cheesy and somewhat predictable but it's undoubtedly fun. The violence and lessons learned here is reminiscent of Harry Potter, only lacking that special something. Beddar does a lot of telling and not enough showing. It's not that this was a bad book, per say, it just wasn't my cup of tea and I'd recommend it to a much younger crowd.
Title: Gangster Squad Director(s): Ruben Fleischer Genre(s): Action, Crime, Drama Rating: R Release Date (USA): January 11, 2013
"Every man carries a badge. Some symbol of his allegiance. His were the scars of a boxer who'd used his fists to climb the social ladder of the mob. A Jew who'd gained the respect of wops through a homicidal lust. He'd sworn an oath of violence. And his master? His own insatiable will to power. He wanted to own this town. His name was Mickey Cohen."-Sgt. John O'Mara
It's Los Angeles in the 40's. There's booze a plenty and cash to be had, so long as you don't double-cross the wrong man --- and Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) is that man. He happens to be the most powerful mobster in LA and his uncontrollable thirst for power and total disregard for the law threatens the sanctity of the entire West Coast. In an effort to take back the city, Police Chief Parker (Nick Nolte), tasks Sergeant John O'Mara (Josh
Brolin), with cleaning up LA. Thus is born "The Gangster Squad," a covert group of undercover
officers who will stop at nothing to bring Cohen down. This roving band of misfits slowly facilitate their take down of Cohen's empire in the most unorthodox of ways, one
operation at a time. But when Wooters (Ryan Gosling) falls for Cohen's girl (Emma Stone), the whole operation is suddenly at stake. The group must
now prepare for a war that has the potential to destroy the entire city and them.
Gangster Squad was one of those movies that didn't generate a lot of buzz on the movie circuit but had me all hyped up anyway. With a cool premise and all-star studded cast, coupled with the fact that it's supposed to be inspired by true events (a story I'm vaguely familiar with), I figured I was in it for the win. God, I hate it when I'm wrong! Movies that are "inspired by true events" should always be followed by a disclaimer that it will play fast and loose with both the historical accuracy and details of the actual story. In all fairness, I really should've should known better.
Basically, Gangster Squad is one of those movies that talks the talk but it doesn't walk the walkIt's superficial in that it looks the part but in no way can it run with the big boys. It's all bark and no bite, see. I think you get the point. It actually reminded me a lot of my recent Great Gatsby experience in that the focus seems to be more on the outer surface than the inner core. There's no arguing that it's a beauty to look at --- it's slick and stylised with a neo-noir sort of feel---but the violence is cartoonish, the dialogue hollow and the characters are all parodies of what mobsters and cops should be.
And I think that's the thing that surprised me most. We have this amazingly talented cast, yet no one really manages to break out of their stock gangster stereotype. It felt like they were all fighting eachother for the spotlight and the result was that not one of them managed to shine. I guess you really can't do much with a bland character thanks, in part, to poor development and writing. I'd also like to note that the Sean Penn - Emma Stone coupling really creeped me out here. Just... gross. And while we're on the subject of Sean Penn (and his character)--- he's too much. There's too much drama, too much make-up, too much tie. I mean, seriously. Those giant lapels look gluttonous like they are practically vomiting up that awful tie.
Sorry, I was distracted by the tie and the 4 lbs of make-up he's wearing. I digress. Sean Penn was way over-the-top with his characterisation of Cohen and hecame off comical, not dangerous. Essentially, he was the embodiment of every stereotypical villainous trait you could think of. Controlling over his woman. Oh yeah. Former boxing champ. Yep. Maniacal laughter. Yep. Cheesy bad-guy quips. Yep. Inefficient henchmen. You betcha. It was near impossible to take him seriously! Even Gosling, who is apparently super choosy about his roles, was less than impressive. Well, as less than impressive as a specimen such as himself can possibly be.
Really, you should just watch this GIF followed by the Gangster Squad trailer followed by some more of this GIF and it'll be better than the movie as a whole. This is one of those films you've seen before, only everyone else did it better. Don't let your expectations get the best of you like they did with me. While it's all wrapped up in shiny and pretty packaging, it's totally lacking where it counts the most. Very few movies can pull off being so high on action and artfully shot (i.e. - Drive). Gangster Squad is shooting blanks.
Summary Prognosis
Gangster Squad is a movie loaded with promise and potential but, unfortunately, it fails in the execution. While it's an aesthetically pleasing film to watch, it's predictible. The dialogue borders on cheesy, the characters read as inauthentic and hollow and the villainy is too over-the-top. It's a real shame, given the talent, that no one manages to break the mold. This movie, overall, is unsubstantial and wholly unsatisfying and that makes me sad.
Title: Midnight Author(s): Dean Koontz Genre(s): Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller Publisher/Date: Berkley Publishing / January 1, 1989 Series: Stand Alone
The citizens of Moonlight Cove are changing. Some are losing touch with their deepest emotions. Others are surrendering to their wildest urges. And the few who remain unchanged are absolutely terrified—if not brutally murdered in the dead of night. Enter the shocking world of Moonlight Cove, where four unlikely survivors confront the darkest realms of human nature... (synopsis from Goodreads)
Summary Prognosis
I've never read anything by Dean Koontz before so I wasn't really sure what to expect when I purchased this audiobook. Murder, monsters, mayhem---well, that's right up my alley, I'd thought. Unfortunately for Koontz, my first impression left me with the shivers (and not the good kind). My qualms lie more with Koontz's writing style than with the plot which is a shame because this is a story with some serious potential.
As far as the concept goes, I thought it was pretty fantastic. I thought the creatures' lack of empathy to be quite chilling. But I had a hard time connecting with most of the characters save for Harry (the disabled war veteran) and Moose (his dog). Generally, I thought the writing was repetitive and the story, dated. There's an abundance of archaic technological and historical references which really showed the book's age. Little did I realize Midnight was published in 1989. Koontz also has a tendency to repeat the same minute details over and over and over again, causing no shortage of frustration on my end.
Midnight started off with a bang and the ending had a lot promise, but alas, all the build-up was for naught. Like the rest of the book, it lacked the real scare-factor that I was looking for. J. Charles was a decent reader and the audio production itself was well done. Overall, I could see this story being adapted for TV and, in the right hands (here's to looking at you Guillermo del Toro!), I think it could be brilliant.
Title: Inferno Author(s): Dan Brown Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Thriller Publisher/Date: Doubleday / May 14, 2013 Series: Robert Langdon (Book #4)
In the heart of Italy, Harvard professor of symbology Robert Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centered on one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces . . . Dante’s Inferno.
Against this backdrop, Langdon battles a chilling adversary and grapples with an ingenious riddle that pulls him into a landscape of classic art, secret passageways, and futuristic science. Drawing from Dante’s dark epic poem, Langdon races to find answers and decide whom to trust . . . before the world is irrevocably altered. (synopsis from Goodreads)
Summary Prognosis
Generally speaking, I'm a fan of Dan Brown's work, particularly the Robert Langdon Series. Sure, Brown's books are predictable. Yes, they're a tad formulaic, however, for me, it's a formula that works so I can overlook all that. I loved the first two books in this series; however, because I was let down by the third,I picked up Inferno bearing some caution. Though it didn't quite live up to Angels & Demons or The DaVinci Code, overall, I found it to be more enjoyable than The Lost Symbol.
Before you go and pick up this book, there's one thing you should know: it's heavy on the history and lacking in action. But if you're like me and enjoy historical fiction, it shouldn't really be a problem. Though it can sometimes read like a giant info dump, Inferno touches on several subjects of interest: Dante Alighieri, the literary masterpiece Inferno, Florence and overpopulation. What? Yes. Overpopulation. I know it sounds a bit out of place but the relevancy behind it is both effective and befitting. In other words, Brown makes it work and in doing so, raises some chilling questions.
You don't really need to read the other books in the series to be able to follow Inferno, although, some familiar patterns become apparent (i.e. - the supposed good guy who ends up being bad). I did like how Brown structured this book differently than the others, using Langdon's amnesia as a means by which to tell the story. It was unexpected and a nice twist. As a reader, I really liked Paul Michael's performance and would happily listen to him narrate again. Inferno was a likeable book, though I'd hardly rank it as one of Brown's best works to date. If you enjoy books heavy on history or like books dealing with this subject matter, I recommend it.
Title: Terra Author(s): Gretchen Powell Genre(s): Dystopia, Young Adult Publisher/Date: Hopewell Media / December 10, 2012 Series: Terrestrials (Book #1)
"It really is a different world up here. On the face of every beautifully made-up woman and cleanly shaven man is a look of pure, unencumbered delight. A look that makes it very obvious they have never known the hardship of the groundworld. And they never will. Not while we are there to endure it for them.”
Case Study
A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl simply trying to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.
A discovery that will change everything.
In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.
Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own. With him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love. (synopsis from Goodreads)
The Game's Afoot
Hmm, let's see, how do I describe all the aspects of Terra? A post-apocalyptic world set on a dying planet. CHECK! A governmental conspiracy and shady cover-up attempt. CHECK! A kick-ass heroine fighting for the future of all mankind. CHECK! Hunky mysterious loner-dude to save the day. CHECK! Terra has all of the qualities that I typically look for in a dystopian YA. Now all that being said, why is it I was left with such a feeling of dissatisfaction in the end? Let's do some digging, shall we? I initially read Terra at the behest of Kay (read her review here) and because, frankly, it sounds like my kinda story. I love dystopias and it's quickly risen to be one of my favourite genres. In the past I've been completely blown away by The Hunger Games, V for Vendetta and the Under The Never Sky series. Unfortunately, dystopia happens to be one of those genres that's very hit-or-miss and lately I've been mega-burned by a number of popular books (namely The Maze Runner series and Divergent). It would seem that Terra also falls into the latter, the category I like to refer to as "The Wompa".
At first I thought I might have fallen victim to another bout of the motivation zap but then after forcing myself to push through it, I realized something. Terra--- it's not me, it's you. You're one of those very deceptive books --- full of promising potential yet completely underwhelming in your execution. It's not that the premise itself was bad, oh no, you had all the elements I generally enjoy in a post-apocalyptic scenario, it's just that there was no real connection forged between myself and your characters or their unforgiving world. Forgive me for saying, but you came across as dull, predictable and somewhat cliched. Basically, you bit off more than you could chew. I held out hope that maybe by the end I'd relegate you to my beloved "awesomely bad" category, but no. Just no. I was less than impressed. It's hard to explain but something just didn't click and I wish I had a better way to describe my lack of enthusiasm for this book but I don't. I felt like Powell tried too hard and there was too much going on --- the governmental conspiracy bit, the hard-hitting environmental message, class issues, aliens and... wait, have I said too much? Natch. There's just SO much happening that it didn't feel cohesive or well thought-out. And I guess my biggest issue was my connection to the characters --- as in, there wasn't one. I just didn't care. It's not like they were bad, they were just bland shells of characters that I've seen before. I wanted someone unique, someone who had some consistency (as in other than their consistently fluctuating personality, I mean). And I guess if you don't care about the characters, no matter how amazing the plot might be, that book isn't going to fare well.
I feel kinda bad about railing on this book because I know it meant well and all, and I guess if I can say one good thing about it, it's that I really appreciated Powell's choice in character names. Most of our main peeps (Terra, Mica and Adam) all have cleverly appropriated names that related to some key aspect of the book, whether it be a plot or an overall theme. Another thing I enjoyed was that Terra is one of those books that promoes a message, one which is part environmental and part human rights. But while those are both issues I fully support, the book often comes across as heavy-handed and preachy (even for my liking). That being said, however in-your-face the message is, it's one I can get down with having worked in an envrionmental non-profit for over three years. I'd just like to note that it might not be for everyone due to its intensity.
Basically, every time I had a choice of picking up this book or doing something else, well, I generally leaned towards doing that something else. I mustered up a lot of effort to finish Terra, which is such a shame because it could've been SO MUCH MORE. Instead it came off feeling hollow and empty. I'm not sure if this is Powell's first attempt at writing dystopia but the book came off feeling a bit too novice. I dunno. Maybe I'm being too harsh here. Maybe this is the discontent voice of someone who's seen it all, read it all before. Maybe it's not entirely your fault, Terra. Just maybe...
Summary Prognosis
Terra is one of those books that has all the elements of a great dystopia but fails in the execution. I really wanted to like it more than I actually did though I tried very hard to give it the benefit of the doubt. Whether due to the preachiness of its message or the lack of a connection to any of the characters, it just didn't quite measure up to many of its more popular predecessors. And even though the book isn't to my liking, I do think it's a great intro if you're just getting into the dystopia genre.
Title: A Good Day To Die Hard Director(s): John Moore Genre(s): Action, Crime, Thriller Rating: R Release Date (USA): February 14, 2013
"Ah, no! No, no, no! You're not gonna open up to me before we die! That's not your thing, John!" - John McClane Jr.
Just when you thought McClane had yippee-ki-yay'd his way out of police work, he manages to battle his way back from retirement, only this time his problems are a bit more international. After traveling to Moscow to help his wayward son, Jack (Jai Courtney), John winds up knee deep in a nuclear weapons heist. It's up to the two McClanes to put aside their differences and prevent a global outbreak of war. Add in Russian politicos, the underground crime scene and a dash of Chernobyl and you've got yourself quite the awesomely bad vacation.
A Good Day To Die Hard is one of those awesomely bad action movies that's a mix of old school heroics and modern day technologies. But before I get into my review let me start by saying, this movie is really made for die hard fans of the Die Hard series. While it might be passable for something produced in the late 80's/early 90's, it would never fly past today's high standards. You really need to go into the movie with low/no expectations in order to come out satisfied because, in a word, it's ridiculous. I feel like each Die Hard movie is a little more over-the-top than its predecessor and now that we're on the 5th one, you can only imagine what that might entail. Exploding helicopters, massive car/tank chases through the busy streets of Moscow and expertly orchestrated prison breaks. You know, just a normal days work for the McClane family.
Bruce Willis delivers all the iconic McClane lines and executes them with his trademarked squint and snarky attitude. And for a man of 57, you have to appreciate how he can still kick some serious ass. He embodies everything we come to expect from John McClane: the stubbornness, sarcasm and a take-charge now ask questions later method. What was lacking though was the father-son dynamic between him and Jack. Their relationship is anything but engaging and borders on frustratingly repetitive and hollow. I liked Jai Courtney well enough for an action guy but I just wasn't buying him as McClane Jr. Their relationship fluctuates between stony and warm fuzzies with little progression in between. As far as the cinematography goes, Moore had a more artistic vision in this film with slow-mo sequencing and well-framed shots, but I felt like for this type of movie, it didn't really work. Often it felt out of place, unnecessary and, at times, comical. I'm sorry but I'm there f or the action, not the art direction. What really worked in this movie, though, was the location. The change in scenery felt fresh and interesting. Sure, some of the old Russian communism "us versus them" mentality remains, but it works for all intensive purposes. I felt like they were able to get away with a lot of the outrageous action specifically because of the setting. It was in, no way, believable but I don't think it should be. All in all, A Good Day To Die Hard isn't the best action movie I've seen, but it's not the worst either. It hits all the marks of the traditional Die Hard film with all the cheesetastic, explosive, wry action that you could want. If you're looking for awesomely bad, then you've found it. Let's just hope that the franchise follows fast in McClane's footsteps and considers a long, hard retirement.
Summary Prognosis
While nowhere as perfect as the original, A Good Day To Die Hard contains all the elements essential to make it a decent addition to the high-octane Die Hard saga. It's got a ridiculous plot, over-the-top action sequences, cheesy one-liners and a whole lot of yippee-ki-yaying which are essential to keep the 80's actiony feel. And while I did get a kick out of the movie, I can only hope that this was the end of an era and they let John McClane's adventures stop here. Because this series needs a good way to die hard and this movie is it.
Title: The Death Cure Author(s): James Dashner Genre(s): Dystopia, Science Fiction, Young Adult Publisher/Date: Delacorte Books for Young Readers / October, 11 2011 Series: The Maze Runner (Book #3) Challenge(s): 2013 Catch Up Reading Challenge
'WICKED thinks they can complete the cure, that they're almost there. The only missing piece is me. They swear it's the truth, but they've manipulated and lied so much, it's become impossible to know what's real and what's not real. Who knows what their motives are now. Or how desperate they've gotten, or what they might be willing to do."
The trials are over and the stakes higher than ever for Thomas and his friends. The variables are all in place and a final candidate has been chosen, putting WICKED closer than ever to finding a cure for the flare. All the gang has to do is cooperate for this one last test and they will finally remember everything; but after going through so much, Thomas isn't sure WICKED can be trusted. Upon staging a daring escape, Thomas, Minho, Newt, Jorge and Brenda navigate the disease-ridden world and see the effects of the flare first hand. And suddenly, they're left questioning the reasoning behind WICKED's actions. Do the means justify the ends? Are the lives of a few sacrificed in the name of the greater good worth it? Or was there never any hope to begin with? In the end, it's up to Thomas to decide.
The Game's Afoot
The Death Cure is the final chapter of Dashner's dystopian Maze Runner trilogy. Though I enjoyed the first two books, my liking for the third pales in comparison to previous installments. I was hoping for something really climactic, to be left with a big bang. Oh, there was a BANG alright, just not the satisfying kind. I feel sort of cheated because all I'm left with is a bunch of unanswered questions --- like, how was mapping their reactions to the trials going to create a cure? What point did it serve? To what extent were Thomas and Teresa involved with WICKED? Why was Thomas so much more important than all the rest? I don't always need or want my endings to be tied up in a pretty little bow, but Dashner places so much emphasis on certain mysteries that, by the end, you sort of expect to get those answers. Well, SPOILER ALERT, folks: you don't. He dances around these issues by asking more questions, and if you've ever watched the TV showLost, you know exactly how frustrating that can be. Another problem I had with this book (and the series, in general) is that I found most of the main characters to be one-dimensional and flat. Thomas is annoying and weak, Brenda is underdeveloped and Teresa is dull. And don't even get me started on the touch-and-go love triangle. Seriously, it needed to be omitted altogether. Clearly Dashner has some issues with writing multifaceted lead characters, particularly with regard to women which is a shame because his knack for writing engaging sidekicks is quite good. Let's just say, my love for Newt and Minho was enough to let me get over my issues with the rest of the cast. These guys are the two whose fates I genuinely cared about and they are the ones I was really rooting for. It just sucks because Dashner puts them through the ringer and no one, I repeat, no one made it out unscathed!
Overall, I really enjoyed the series though this book was my least favourite of the three. As a whole, I think the series could've been parred down to either one really long book or made into two, at best, because so much happens that wasn't necessary to the main plot, entertaining as it was. And I know it sounds like I hated The Death Cure, I didn't. There were heart-pounding moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. We lose two more Gladers and the end action takes us back to a very familiar setting. It was appropriate to end it that way, as I felt like it brought the series around full circle.
Perhaps the best thing about the book is that Dashner gets you thinking about right versus wrong and how the answers aren't always in black and white. In this war, there are two conflicting sides, WICKED and The Right Arm, and each takes an extreme stance on how to treat the disease.You start to wonder, does the end really justify the means? Is either force justified in their extreme actions? To The Death Cure's credit, I will say this--- it leaves you pondering those thought-provoking questions long after you finish reading.
Summary Prognosis
The Death Cure wasn't quite the ending I hoped for in the Maze Runner trilogy, leaving me with a maddening amount of questions. Jam packed with action though, there is some sort of resolution albeit not the one I was hoping for. There's no comparison to The Hunger Games but it's stillan entertaining and interesting series at the very least. I'm intrigued to see if the prequel circles back around to answer some of those mysteries, though I doubt it'll be the next book I decide to pick up.
