The Character Files- Owen Grady (Jurassic World)

First character file: Owen Grady.

Cute, unassuming, and as brave as they come.

Funny, charming, totally awesome and yet humble, Owen Grady was one of the greatest aspects of Jurassic World. Chris Pratt owned this role like nobody's business, making Owen into a instantly likable guy who you were rooting for from minute one.

He was real. His facial expressions of sheer terror, intense determination, and utter disgust made his face like a moving landscape. This is a guy who reacted pretty rationally and normally to the nightmarish situation that we only visit in, well, movies.

Best Moments

He's the alpha for a group of raptors. *mic drop* I was really feeling a bit of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon coming through in this moment. It was really special.

There is a gentleness in his actions, even though he is dealing with dangerous animals. It reveals this character's tender heart.

The chaotic scene when one of the pterodactyls has Owen pinned down, and in a massive explosion of adrenaline, Claire takes it out with a machine gun. The look of utter astonishment and intense admiration on Owen's face it just priceless. It says, "I am SO attracted to you right now!"

Leading the raptors into battle. Even in the movie Owen realizes just how incredibly awesome that moment is. If you watch carefully you can see a hint of his smile right before he revs up his engine and begins the chase.

Best Quotes

Claire- "What kind of man shows up to a date in board shorts?"
Owen- "It's Central America. It's hot."

Claire- "The park needs a new attraction every few years in order to reinvigorate the public's interest. Kind of the like the space program. Corporate felt that genetic modification would up the wow factor."
Owen- "They're dinosaurs. Wow enough.
Claire- "Not according to our focus groups. The Indominus Rex makes us relevant again."
Owen- *chuckles* "The Indominus Rex?"
Claire- "We needed something scary and easy to pronounce. You should hear a four-year-old try to say "Archeaornithomimus".
Owen- "You should hear you try to say it."

(now I REALLY want to hear a four-year-old try to say Archeaornithomimus.)

Claire- "So, you can pick up their scent can't you? Track their footprints?"
Owen- "I was with the Navy, not the Navajo."

(he's so not full of it, he's hilarious)

Owen- "You'll last two minutes in there, less in those ridiculous shoes." (Hallelujah! Someone pointed out the idiocy of that poor woman's footwear.)
Claire *removes belt, rolls up sleeves, ties blouse*
Owen- ? "What is that supposed to mean?"
Claire- "It means I'm ready to go."
Owen- "....okay."

(Yeah, I don't get it either buddy.)


Owen Grady is bigger than merely an awesome protagonist, he also represents the voice of reason and the balance in this movie. Jurassic World was more than just a movie about a dinosaur escaping and going on a rampage. Many deep political and spiritual questions were actually raised in this movie. The different characters voiced many views to one very basic question: how do we value life?

Claire, despite meaning well, had very little connection or regard for the people or the animals at the park. Everything was a number, an asset, or a liability in her mind. They were items that she could control, regulate, and predict. Owen serves a guide to lead her to both an understanding and respect for people and animals. She is a changed person by the end of the movie.

Hoskins has a great admiration for the power and strength of the animals, but he has no regard for their life or for the life of the people at the park. He literally smiles at some of the footage of people screaming in terror as they are literally being picked apart by flying dinosaurs. Even Misrani, who desires for people to enjoy his park, is disconnected from the fact that the scientists in his lab are creating new lives. Creatures who live, breathe, and think, and not just park attractions. It is only after a murderous monster has been created that Misrani realizes the callous attitude and lack of responsibility he has displayed.

Owen Grady is the character of reason who has a proper value and respect for life; both for the animals and the humans. He is the alpha of the raptors, he has a relationship with them, but he is also aware of the fact that they are animals with separate instincts that he cannot control. He sees these creatures as living animals who should not be used, like Hoskins desires. Nor can they be controlled, like Claire believes.

His priority of life is people first, then animals. Owen is the first one to call for the park to be closed. He warns against sending a team out after the Dinosaur with non-lethal weapons. He heads out into danger to help Claire retrieve her nephews without a second thought. Throughout the movie, Owen protects Claire and the boys as if they were own.

All of the death and destruction that happens in this movie is the direct result of failure to value life. Owen provides many solutions and all of the perspective in this movie as he has a correct view of life and how to treat it. At the end of the movie, he and his people are still standing because of who he is.

He's no Romeo making lovey dovey speeches beneath a balcony. He's not going to keep quiet about ridiculous fashion choices. He'll run for his life from angry dinosaurs and then punch the people responsible.

This guy will show up to your first date in board shorts with a bottle of tequila. He'll laugh when you say something stupid and call you on the carpet when you are dead wrong. When you ask him "So what do we do now?" He'll grin like a kid and reply, "Probably stay together. For survival."

But so long as that guy in board shorts is Owen Grady, there is no way you can lose.

What aspects did you love about Owen Grady? What thoughts did you have after seeing Jurassic World? What would you have changed? What was your favorite part? You can tell me in the comments, or you can connect on Facebook and Twitter

The Character Files- Introduction

What is one of the greatest elements of a good story?

It's as obvious as the nose on your face: good characters.

He may be a sad, strange little man. But he's one of my favorites!

A good character consists of someone who brings emotion out of you. A good character is a protagonist that you cheer for with all of you heart. A good character is an evil villain that causes you to grind your teeth and sends shivers down your spine. A good character is someone who begins as an unlikable, worthless individual, and ends as one of your best friends.

We were in love with this scoundrel from minute one, still, he was arguably a better person by the end.

A good character stays with you for longer than the amount of time you spent between the pages of their book. A good character rises up in your mind as you live your everyday life. A good character enables you to draw parallels between them and other individuals you meet in reality.

A good character is your friend even when you are 100 years old.

A good character becomes a friend, an ally, a family member, or an enemy.

"Which one am I?" We don't really know at this point, Loki, but we still love you. <3

A good character can make or break a story. Even a story with a somewhat dull plot can keep your interest if you are deeply in love with the character. We are instinctively drawn to root for persons who capture our interest and connect with our own hearts.

This is the beginning of a new series of mine in which I will explore some of the greatest characters in both books and movies. Characters, even fictional ones are a great way to connect with other people in your own world. The fact that two people are drawn to the same character can be a link that can lead to communication and friendship.

Great characters can bring us together, great characters can divide us, a great character can change our lives forever; and a great character can reveal the best and the worst parts of who we are as people.

Join me as I share about some of my favorite characters. And who knows? Maybe they are your favorite as well....

....and this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Ring Around the Rose: Stories and Pixar

I only have a few minutes to pound out this post. Also, I would like to thank these ladies for letting me play Ring Around the Rose with them, I have enjoyed it greatly. Please, check out their blogs here!




Savannah at Savannah Jay's Workshop
Jenelle at Jenelle Schmidt
Dorian at Dorian Writes
Hayden at The Story Girl
Heidi at Along the Brandywine
Kaycee at The Pink Cave




Ok, first question- What is the first story you wrote?

Well, I first had an inkling of the idea that I might like to be a writer when I was about eight years old. I didn't really learn how to read until I was about six or seven, and truthfully, I hated learning how to read. It was boring, I would get annoyed when I didn't get words right, and the stories weren't that interesting. Once I graduated from our reading lesson book I was moved into this set of readers written by the Amish community.


Oh. My. Goodness, can you say boredom. I, along with all of my five other siblings were taught how to read on those things. The only subjects in the earlier ones was about farming, or school, with Teacher Dan. The pictures always had objects, but never any people. I think one of my favorite stories was one where a little Amish girl named Nancy ran into the corner of the school house and cut her head open. I know, that sounds so bloodthirsty and terrible of me, but it was the only drama or excitement that had happened other than the goat getting loose, so cut me some slack.


Yeah, I learned how to read, but I can't say I am a fan of those readers. So you can imagine my utter delight when I tasted the delicious food of The Boxcar Children, that was when my reading career really took off. Now, it isn't that I hadn't been exposed to any good books. Mom had read my older brother and I the Little House on the Prairie series, and she and my dad tag-teamed The Chronicles of Narnia. It was largely because I knew that one day I would be able to read "big people" books with real stories that I didn't ever entirely loose heart on learning to read.


Good news, my reading career exploded once I was introduced into the realm of mysteries. I have the softest spot in my heart for the mystery genre, because that was the food I fed myself solidly on when I was just setting sail into the magical world of the written word. Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys (my first literary crush was Joe Hardy, oh he was so cute! I have since moved on to liking Frank, recognizing that he would suit my personality more, but I love them both to death), and Trixie Belden.

We didn't have hardly any money at this time in my life, Netflix didn't exist yet, we didn't have television, and we never went out. My entire world was made up what I could get from the library. My older brother and I would race through our other school subjects so that we could go running back to our bedroom and devour mysteries for hours on end.


I can remember thinking to myself one day, probably when I was about eight or nine, "Wow, it would be so neat to create your own story, you could do whatever you wanted with it. I think I might like to be a writer someday." Yes, I can even remember where I was standing when I said this.


I think my first real story that I ever wrote was for a Christmas school assignment. My brother and I were bummed about having to do school near the holidays, so Mom told us each to write a Christmas-themed story. I can remember both of us, sitting side by side at a tan folding table in Mom's bedroom, with notebook paper and pencils. No, I was NOT ready to type up my first story, more on that in a future post. ;) Spoiler alert, chunky keyboards, boring typing textbook, small fingers, you get the gist.


After staring at the page for a bit, I launched in, scribbling away.


My story was about a pioneering family who were headed west. I was a history nerd in the making, and both my brother and I were kind of obsessed with pioneers/cowboys. Yeah, mysteries and western pretend play were the essence of our entire existence.


Anyway, this pioneering family had ten kids, whom I listed out all by name. It started to snow, and the parents were distracted by the weather when the weakest girl, Kathy, fell off of the wagon. All of the other siblings jumped off of the wagon to grab their sister, and somehow their parents left them in the storm, never noticing the disappearance of their ten youngsters.


My self-reliant little kiddos set out to follow their parents, when suddenly, while passing a nearby cabin, they were kidnapped by two men! Again, at this point I'm constantly inhaling mysteries, kidnappings were a regular event in my schedule. Well, all were kidnapped except for two of the girls, Lyn, and Sarah. They managed to evade capture and then hunkered down outside of the cabin to discuss what to do. Lyn was the older and cleverer of the two, so she came up with a brilliant plan. Sarah, who was incredibly fast, would run in and lead the kidnappers away from the cabin while Lyn freed the rest of their siblings.


It worked like a charm, and once Lyn had freed her siblings Sarah led the kidnappers back towards the cabin where the intrepid group of pioneering youngsters took them down and tied them up! Then, the siblings walked several more miles where they came upon another cabin with a friendly older couple, and wonder of all wonders, their parents! Their parents were overjoyed to see their children again, and miraculously, they had arrived just in time for Christmas Day.


It was a typical little girl story, fraught with drama, unrealistic action, and girl-power. Mixed with my obsession with pioneers and covered wagons.


Truthfully, I haven't ever really identified that story as being the beginning of my writing career. I guess in a sense it was, but it has been a journey over the years of me discovering that writing is a part of who God made me to be, and for me to see the purpose in the way that I think and how writing fits into all of that.

But, every step, no matter how small, takes you just a little bit farther on your journey, even if you don't know it at the time.

Now, onto the second question- Which is Your Favorite Pixar Movie and Why?

Ugh! They are all so good! Pixar's worst is by comparison other movie studios' best. My family and I absolutely adore Pixar, and John Lasseter, a man largely responsible for making Pixar into what it is. A place the combines childlike creativity, wonderment, hard and beautiful truths of life, and rib-aching laughter all into single movies? Yes please!

I have struggled with this question many times before. Would I choose Cars? We watched that a while after it came out, it looked dumb on the cover, but oh my lands, we had no idea what a drive we were in for! My Dad always cries when we watch that movie, and we quote it all the time. Seriously, is there a non-quotable Pixar movie out there?

Oh, and what about Monster Inc? I believe that if I could choose any Pixar character to hug it would be Sully, big bundle of gravelly voiced love that he is! I love that movie, it is so incredibly creative, and Boo? Really? Does it get any more adorable than a totally precious flower petal of a little girl winning the heart of "Kitty" and a snarky, one-eyed green monster?

Let's not forget Up, I actually saw that movie in theaters, I spent the first fifteen minutes developing a boulder-sized lump in my throat and chest, and the rest of the movie shrinking it down to size, only to have it make a reappearance when Carl opens up Ellie's "Adventure Book". *Gulp* Oh, and since the creation of that movie, who has not shouted "SQUIRREL!" At some time or another.

The Incredibles? Incredible. My favorite part of the entire movie is when Elasti-Girl stops in front of the mirror at the bad guy base to see how she looks in her new suit. Seriously, she could get caught at any moment, her inexperienced children and she were just blown out of the sky, and her husband could be dead, and she stops in front of the mirror to see how she looks. Priceless.

Then there's Walle, Finding Nemo, Cars 2, Monsters University, Ratatoullie and we're not going to even start talking about the movies that Disney made once they bought Pixar. That was a good move right there Disney, Pixar had something in every one of their movies that you could only pull out here and there.

You might have noticed that I have overlooked one very, VERY, important movie, or rather, movies, yes, the movie that started it all.

That is because it is my favorite Pixar story of all time.

Oh, toys coming to life. Is there anything more creative, more imaginative, and more childlike than imagining your toys coming to life? How many hours did I spend imagining my own toys coming to life? I used to imagine that my doll house people were alive, and they lived in little communities under our furniture. Perhaps their cities were in the walls. One day I just might be walking down the hallway and see one of them scurry across my path. We would become friends and I would help them out by doing "big person" jobs for them like policing, reaching high things, and helping with moves and such.

I also just simply adore the characters in this movie, my top favorite being Woody.

I identify with Woody so much, I even took one of those character quizzes for certain movies and I came out as Woody. He is a really nice little toy with strong leadership qualities, a sometimes overbearing mother hen syndrome (I feel ya little man) and he tries to find a silver lining in every cloud. He is your go to guy for good times and bad times. He has led this incredible little group of toys, and really, Pixar characters from the very beginning. And you know that he will "Never give up on you." *Holding Back Tears, Begins Singing, "You've got a friend in me..."*

Woody, you were the charming little cowboy who began it all. And I love you.

Thank you for bearing up with my long ramblings. Ok, I'm gonna go yell "SQUIRREL" at somebody now.

Movie Review- Beyond the Mask

A British East India Trading Company assassin seeks to redeem his past by thwarting a plot against a young nation's hope for freedom

Thanks to the efforts of many incredible volunteers, this wonderful movie has made it to hundreds of theaters across the country, making it possible for me to have the privilege of attending a showing last night.


Truly friends, this is a breakthrough in Christian films. It is "revolutionary"! This is unlike any movie I have seen that has come forth from this sub-culture of movie making (I have more to say on the subject of the Christian film industry and what it produces, but that is for another day). I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I couldn't be prouder of the people who made it. I wish I could convince them to make a sequel (hint, hint).


Ok, enough gushing, about the movie itself.


What I Liked


The Setting- I adore films that are in historical settings, they excite me in a way that no other movie genre ever can. This is the history nerd in me coming out, but it is the truth. I was not at all disappointed with the setting of this movie. The writers did a brilliant job of weaving their fictional story into true life events in such a way that you entirely believed that this story could well have happened. I was particularly delighted with the way the writers used a real life invention made by Benjamin Franklin to be a key point in the plotline, it definitely added some "sparks" to this movie. Honestly it made me think, and shiver a little bit, wondering if perhaps this story wasn't actually fiction, but maybe elements of it did actually happen. Creepy.


I also have a particular affection for this particular period in history, not only was it the birth of America, but when I was little one of my favorite shows was Liberty's Kids, an animated series on PBS that told the story of Revolution. My older brother and I were obsessed with the Revolution when we were younger, and so this movie felt like coming home to me.


The Costumes- What can I say? I'm a girl and I adore clothes, one of the reasons I love historical films is because of the clothes. I love Colonial fashion, and I was so proud of the costume department for this film. The ruffled blouses and coats that the men wore, the beautiful gowns for the ladies. And my chief delight, the tri-cornered hats! I adore tri-cornered hats, my absolute favorite costume that the leading lady, Charlotte Holloway, wore was one with a tri-cornered hat.


The Sets/Props- *Applause*, folks, the wonderful people who made this movie literally built a good chunk of these sets. They had a completely authentic feel, and were simply beautiful. Props are a huge part of making a movie feel legit, and this is even more vital when your movie is set in a specific historical time. Not only did the props department of Beyond the Mask nail the historical props, but they had to come up with some pretty specific, and shall we say, "special" props that were unique to this movie. I can't imagine how long it took them to make all of the props, but they did it, beautifully.


The Music- I am just waiting until the music comes out on Spotify. The soundtrack was a stunning mix of soft/heartfelt, adventure, and that spirited sound that is distinct to Colonial times. I loved it.


The Special Effects- You read that correctly, I said SPECIAL EFFECTS, and good ones too. Special effects are what made this movie possible. I was so proud, the shots were clear, beautifully colored, and not grainy with a weird lighting effect. I said breakthrough film didn't I?


Cinematography- It was beautiful, very natural, and yet, colorful. The fight scenes while moving quickly, weren't blurred. Well, my view was actually blurred, but the movie screen was terrible and the theater was having technical difficulties, but I could tell it wasn't the fault of the movie itself. I can't wait to get it on DVD and watch the movie again on a decent screen.


The Characters- Now to my favorite part of my movie reviews!


William Reynolds (Andrew Cheney)- I believe my 12 year old sister summed up her/my feelings very well as we walked out of the theater. "That guy, was CUTE!" Ha, yes, he was a perfect fit for the part. Cheney did a delightful job in bringing to life the character of Reynolds, an ex-assassin who wants to change. I loved watching him struggle with his identity and his desperate attempts at redemption in order to be worthy of Charlotte. You could read what he was thinking and feeling very easily. And I loved the fact that he was an ex-assassin, meaning that while he was trying to be good guy, he still had some pretty awesome skills that came in handy. I love a good fight scene.


Charlotte Holloway (Kara Killmer)- She was a pure delight, soft, gentle, beautiful,  and intelligent, a worthy balance to William Reynolds. She was the reason that he was desperately searching for redemption, and their romance was so sweet and earnest, the chemistry between them was obvious. She took on the mantle of a well-to-do lady in England/Colonial America like she was born to it. My favorite moments in the movie were the ones between her and Reynolds. They are the reason I want a sequel to this movie, there is so much more of their story yet to be told.


Charles Kemp (John Rhys-Davies)- A perfectly delicious villain! He plays the deceptive and scheming evil uncle perfectly. Much of this movie was about masks of deception, and he wore his fittingly. A perfect villain in my opinion. And his demise? Well, that was a treat, a very dramatic ending for a perfectly dramatic villain.


My Favorite Moments


The dock scene. All I can say is if you have seen it, then you know what I am talking about. I so called that one.


Any fight scene. William Reynolds has got skills ya'll, and I love watching anyone with skills use them.


The prison ship scene. If I could capture the exact moment when Charlotte does something nutty and William's reaction to it I would. His face was priceless!


This movie is so worth it, folks, I know there is so much to be said for Christian films, some good, and some bad. But without a doubt, progress is being made, Hollywood is hearing the rumblings of our media revolution, they can't ignore us anymore.

Please check out the website for Beyond the Mask and learn more about this magnificent movie and the people behind it.

Movie Review-The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Kadam family leaves India for France where they open a restaurant directly across the road from Madame Mallory's Michelin-starred eatery.

This was the movie my family watched in the evening on Christmas Day. I had seen the trailer for it before and I just had a gut instinct, this one was going to be an unforgettable watch.


I was right ladies and gentlemen, this has to be one of the most beautiful, rich, amazing movies I have ever seen! I cannot recommend it enough!


The plot- while everything seems to point to the idea that this movie is about food, it really isn't, although the food is a nice bonus. This movie is really about relationship, and it is beautiful.


The writing- This has some of the best writing I have ever seen in a movie. The writers were able to weave truth, normal conversational, deeply felt emotions, and humor all together in an unbreakable flow that was magnificent.


The music- What can I say? I am listening to the soundtrack as we speak. It's pretty wow.


The setting- First in India, then in a small and stunning village in the countryside of France. I have to be honest, I am not really a fan of either the Indian or the French cultures, I often feel like the former is oppressive and rigid, and the latter is snobbish. While this movie does an excellent job of showing how strongly these characters are rooted in their culture, it also shows them living their lives in a manner that is relatable to all humanity, no matter what the culture.


The romance- This movie did such a lovely job with the romance, both the older, and the younger. It was gentle, sweet, and not at all forced or made to look "sexy" or "passionate". It was real people opening up their hearts, some learning to love for the first time, and some learning to love again. They took their time, and ended up making a much more real, beautiful romance than most movies I have ever seen.


The characters- They were beautifully written, and beautifully portrayed.


Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren)- The proud and very French owner of a famous eating establishment in a French village. Her whole world is tied up in this restaurant and its success. Honestly, she is a difficult character to like at first, but over time you find yourself completely in love with her as she lets down her walls, opens her heart, and begins to live once more. And despite the ups and downs, Madam Mallory is a lovely woman who carries a graceful and elegant presence with her wherever she goes.


Papa (Om Puri)- This man, oh this man! He speaks his mind, does what he likes, and doesn't put up with nonsense, all while being absolutely hilarious, a little bit mischievous, and above all, a Papa with a big heart.


Hassan (Manish Dayal)- The second oldest son of the Kadam family, you were rooting for him from the very start. He carries this sweet feeling of innocence and value for beautiful things like food and memories. He knows how to savor. He does have some struggles, but comes out a much fuller person in the end, having slain his dragons and come to realize what is important to him. I loved watching him cook, it was like watching a musician play beautiful music.


Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon)- A lovely young lady who works for Madam Mallory in her restaurant. She was the sweetest little thing, lovely, feminine, honest, and just a pleasure to watch. She was so very French, but not in the "sexy and alluring" way that they often play French girls up to be, she was a breath of fresh air.


This movie grabbed my soul from the moment it started and held my attention all the way until the end credits. I can tell when I deeply enjoy a movie, because my face moves more often, I often find myself smiling through large sections of it.
This movie leaves you feeling full, and no, not in your stomach, you are actually insanely hungry when it is all over, but in your heart. Like you have traveled to a distant land where the light is golden and the truth is obvious, and came away just a little bit wiser. I can't recommend this movie enough and I know my family will be purchasing it.

The Maze Runner- Movie Review

(Warning, Spoilers)

Thomas is deposited in a community of boys after his memory is erased, soon learning they're all trapped in a maze that will require him to join forces with fellow "runners" for a shot at escape.

I went and saw this movie with my older brother last night. Warning, if someone you know is pushed outside of their comfort zone with the intensity of Captain America 2, then they should not watch this movie. I think I probably breathed only every other minute the whole time I was watching it.


Honestly, I loved the movie. It has that theme that we find in Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, and Hunger Games (which I have not seen but heard and read a lot about). That theme of a small, but highly committed group who are fighting against insurmountable odds to find freedom, purpose, truth, a better future, etc. Only in this movie all of that is heightened by the fact that none of the characters remember anything about the outside world or themselves beyond their own names.


The boys who were previously in the Maze welcome Thomas when he arrives, panicked and confused. They show him the ropes of how life works in "The Glade", their small square oasis where they live and grow their food inside of the massive walls of the Maze. Everyone has their own assignments, and they all follow 3 simple rules. Do your part, don't hurt anyone, and DON'T go into the Maze unless you are a Maze Runner. The Maze Runners are a group of the strongest, fastest boys in the group who go out every day when the gates to the Maze open at sunup and run the Maze in an attempt to map it and find a way out. And if you are a Maze Runner, you have to be back by sundown, or face a night alone in the Maze and certain death by the monstrous Grievers that roam it at night.


When Thomas arrives he doesn't do a very good job of "staying in the rules". He's curious, he's driven, he even breaks the rules and manages to survive a night in the Maze with two fellow runners. Eventually most of the boys recognize that he is different, that he is changing things, and that he may be their only way out. In a sense, he is the only hope they have had for 3 years.


I found several aspects of this movie fascinating, and found some neat parallels between this story and life. The boys live in a self sustaining society. They built their own houses, grow their own food, and every time a new boy is sent up to them in the elevator box they receive supplies. They found a way to coexist, they have almost what some people might call a "Utopia". It certainly is natural and down to earth, literally, you would think that those boys would wash their faces now and then. Men. ;)


Some of the boys, Will Poulter's character, Gally, in particular are fine to leave things the way they are. Life isn't so bad, and if they try to do anything differently usually someone dies, leave things the way they are and we all survive. But Thomas recognizes that there must be something more to this, they don't belong here, there has to be something more. This morning I was rehashing the movie over in my mind and recognizing that's what I loved about Thomas's character. He was willing to go against the popular opinion because he knew that he was made for something better, that this couldn't be all that there was, and he would rather die trying to get out of the Maze then spend the rest of his life living a lie. Thomas almost represents a person in life who recognizes that life here on earth isn't enough, it's not the ultimate goal, and there has to be something more.


Because Thomas is so devoted to seeking answers and an escape, he actually is able to find a way out. Sounds simple huh? Not really, it is so much more complicated, bloodier, and more agonizing than that. And if you think you are going to get some closure at the end of the movie, forget it Buster, you have now signed a contract on your soul that you must return to watch the sequel, because there was no closure, just more secrets, more questions, and a bigger battle to win.


My other favorite aspect of this movie was the characters themselves. There weren't too many changes in the scenery, it was pretty much either the Glade, or the Maze itself. But the characters are what gave this movie color, vigor, and life.


Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) was brilliantly portrayed as being passionate, he felt things deeply, he was curious, he was driven. I could almost see the wheels turning in his brain when I looked into his eyes. He was courageous and handsome, but humble. I haven't enjoyed a character of the teenage group that much in a long time.


Alby (Aml Ameen), the boy who has been there the longest, the leader, almost the father figure of the group. He felt things deeply, because these were his boys. He was instantly warm, likeable and charming.


Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) He reminded me of Skandar Keynes (Edmund Pevensie) and Peter Pan rolled into a very kind, intelligent boy. He was friendly, forgiving, and let's not forget that great accent and super cute nose.


Minho (Ki Hong Lee) The very handsome head of the Maze Runners. At first he seemed incredibly stoic and not very approachable, but once you got to know him you saw him for what he was, a normal kid with a huge weight on his shoulders. He had skills, and he and Thomas really bonded after a night in the Maze together. He is definitely someone I would want by my side if I was in this story.


Chuck (Blake Cooper) Sweet and due to his age, much more of a child than the others, this gave him a trusting innocence that I think really appealed to Thomas. Thomas felt very protective of Chuck, and Chuck responded by a deep admiration of Thomas.


Gally (Will Poulter) I was thrilled to see a familiar face, particularly since its been so long since a new Narnia film was released (not much longer to wait fans!). Poulter did his part very well as Gally, a boy who had been there a long time, seen a lot of boys die, and didn't want to upset the balance of life. He opposed Thomas the most, with some pretty serious consequences. You were angry at Gally's choices, but you didn't hate him, you ached for him, he was clearly a good boy who had lost hope and the will to try to escape. Applause on Poulter's American accent, well done sir, well done.


Theresa (Kaya Scodelario) The girl who gets sent up in the elevator box a few days after Thomas' arrival with a note that says, "She's the last one". Theresa had a depth in her face that meant one look and you knew you could trust her. She jumped right into the situation with vigor, brains, and common sense. She wasn't my favorite character, but she certainly owned her part very well.


This movie definitely took me by surprise, but I am glad that I went to see it. I would recommend it to anyone over 13 (this may vary person to person) who enjoys a good adrenaline rush in a movie. I cannot wait for the next one.