
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The 2014 film &#8220;The Maze Runner&#8221; became a major hit, despite its small budget, thanks to its fast-paced plot and mysterious atmosphere.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Based on a popular YA dystopian novel, the film led to two sequels. Building on the success of the first film, the production moved forward with &#8220;Maze Runner: Scorch Trials.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-amazon wp-block-embed-amazon"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure (The Unofficial Cookbook): Surviving the Culinary Maze: Recipes Inspired by The Maze Runner Trilogy. (WANDERLUST PUBLISHING)" type="text/html" width="500" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&#038;linkCode=kpd&#038;ref_=k4w_oembed_4mcAPRWYYodeaa&#038;asin=B0CP15XCNZ&#038;tag=kpembed-20"></iframe>
</div></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Year of Release</th><th>Budget</th><th>Remarks (By Box Office Mojo)</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1. The Maze Runner</td><td>2014</td><td>Approximately $34 million</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1790864/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">Opening weekend box office in the US: $32.41 million; worldwide box office: $348 million</a><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td>2. Maze Runner: Scorch Trials</td><td>2015</td><td>Approximately $61 million</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4046784/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">Opening weekend box office in the US: $30.31 million; worldwide box office: $312 million</a><a href="https://www.cinematoday.jp/name/%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC2%EF%BC%9A%E7%A0%82%E6%BC%A0%E3%81%AE%E8%BF%B7%E5%AE%AE/article?o=30" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td>3. Maze Runner: The Death Cure</td><td>2018</td><td>Approximately $62 million</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4500922/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">Worldwide box office revenue of $271 million</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Male protagonist YA dystopian work</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At a time when YA dystopian works with female leads, such as &#8220;The Hunger Games&#8221; and &#8220;Divergent,&#8221; were gaining popularity, &#8220;Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials&#8221; stood out with Thomas, a male protagonist. The first installment mainly featured Teresa as its only significant female character, but this film brings more women into important roles, shifting the story away from its earlier male-centric focus.</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/the-hunger-games-2012/" class="vlp-link" title="The Hunger Games. Survival Game of Life and Death"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" style="max-width: 150px;" width="150" height="222" src="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games.webp" class="attachment-150x999 size-150x999" alt="" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games.webp 1382w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games-202x300.webp 202w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games-691x1024.webp 691w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games-768x1138.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games-1037x1536.webp 1037w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/the-hunger-games-607x900.webp 607w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">The Hunger Games. Survival Game of Life and Death</div><div class="vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary">The story is about a survival game called &#8220;Hunger Games,&#8221; in which a few wealthy people control the country and use the poor to relieve discontent. It is interesting to see the tactics outside of the games, such as gathering sponsors, appealing to the audience, and sales activities for the games.</div></div></div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Previously, the organization &#8220;WCKD (World Catastrophe Response Division)&#8221; remained mysterious. In this film, however, its presence and motives become clearer, making the story feel more typical of a YA dystopian work. At the same time, an increase in romantic elements—common in YA trilogies—brings the series further into alignment with standard genre formulas. Nevertheless, these changes do not erase its uniqueness; the story’s world and style remain distinct.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8598" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-900x506.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">©2015 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The truth behind the mysteries from the previous film gradually comes to light.</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Continuing the emphasis on mystery established in the first film, &#8220;Maze Runner: Scorch Trials&#8221; strengthens this aspect even further. Much of the intrigue centers on the characters’ memory loss, particularly that of Thomas and Teresa. As this sequel gradually reveals their memories, the group inches closer to the truth, deepening the mystery and providing even more enjoyment for fans of the genre.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To better understand the change in threats in this film compared to the first, it&#8217;s useful to recall how, in the previous installment, the maze itself served as an enclosed danger.</p>



<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The maze</strong> was a closed threat.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Environment: A closed, artificial space surrounded by towering walls.</li>



<li>Threat: Greer, a mechanical life form that appears at night. It has predictable patterns.</li>



<li>Psychology: Survival within order and rules. Hope lay in the clear goal of &#8220;escape.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
</div>



<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The desert (scorch)</strong> is a hopelessness with no end in sight.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Environment: Endless desolate desert and urban ruins. An open world that stretches out as far as the eye can see.</li>



<li>Threat: The elusive infected known as &#8220;Cranks.&#8221; Unpredictable and devoid of humanity.</li>



<li>Psychology: Survival competition amid the collapse of order. The despair was brought on by fleeing without knowing the purpose.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, I was disappointed that the absence of mazes in this film caused it to stray from the title. It&#8217;s not that there is no running at all, but, in comparison, I believe the appeal of the previous film was largely due to the sense of speed as the main characters ran through the mazes and the moments when you couldn&#8217;t help but sweat as you watched them. Losing that was a big blow, I felt. As a result, the scenes of the characters fleeing through deserts and darkness feel visually repetitive, and they&#8217;ve lost some of the appeal of the previous work.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A post-apocalyptic world of overwhelming scale, unleashed from a closed maze</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the previous film, Thomas and his friends managed to escape from the huge, closed maze known as &#8220;The Maze.&#8221; However, peace did not await them outside. Instead, &#8220;Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials&#8221; shifts the setting to the vast, desolate desert region known as &#8220;The Scorch,&#8221; as indicated by its subtitle, drawing viewers into an extreme survival scenario. Here, crumbling skyscrapers, ruins buried in sand, and the infected &#8220;Cranks&#8221; roaming the area define the landscape. The post-apocalyptic world, reminiscent of a desolate open-world game, maintains a constant sense of tension throughout the film.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials VFX | Breakdown - Environments | Weta Digital" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrvnuIVysLM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New elements added to zombie movies</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Adding to the sense of danger, what makes this apocalyptic world feel even more real and terrifying is the presence of infected people called &#8220;cranks.&#8221; Their threat was depicted in the previous film, but in this film, their appearance, movements, and behavior patterns are explored in greater depth, greatly increasing the level of terror.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The &#8220;cranks&#8221; are depicted as being quite different from traditional zombies, which are often portrayed as mere &#8220;moving corpses.&#8221; These creatures (I am using personal pronouns because they still retain some humanity) pursue Thomas and his companions with astonishing agility and ferocity. This is reminiscent of Danny Boyle&#8217;s film &#8220;28 Days Later&#8230;&#8221; Additionally, their bodies, like in &#8217;28 Days Later&#8230;,&#8217; have mutated due to the virus, occasionally exhibiting bizarre, inhuman abilities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, the true horror lies in the fact that they are not portrayed as completely devoid of rationality. Depending on the progression of the infection, they occasionally reveal faint remnants of their human memories and emotions, which not only evoke a physiological sense of revulsion but also confront the viewer with profound pity and the theme of humanity&#8217;s loss. They are not merely pursuers but essential symbols of the collapse of this world and the tragedy brought about by WCKD, giving the story an indispensable presence.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the previous film, there was a single mission to &#8220;escape from the Cleaver,&#8221; but in this sequel, the additional element of &#8220;escaping from the Crank&#8221; has been introduced. Furthermore, the classic zombie movie trope—where humans bitten by a Crank become Crank themselves—combined with the pandemic movie aspect where the source is an infectious disease, has been newly incorporated.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8604" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image created by AI</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">When considering the depth of the story and its message, it is only natural that these elements are added, and they have a positive effect. On the other hand, it is undeniable that some of the good aspects of the first work, such as its sense of speed and handmade feel, have been lost. Additionally, since this is the second installment of a trilogy, it neither resolves the mystery elements nor provides sufficient setup for the next installment. This leaves me with the honest impression that the satisfaction level from a single work is low. This is a common occurrence in the second installment of a trilogy, but here, the lack of elements strong enough to break through that barrier is disappointing. Compared to the first installment, there is an undeniable sense of momentum being lost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Non-stop action and anticipation for the next installment</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The film features a variety of action sequences that leave no time to catch your breath, including intense chases across vast deserts, thrilling scenes of characters racing through buildings on the brink of collapse, and desperate escape scenes amid raging sandstorms. The depiction of the desert is harsh and unforgiving, further emphasizing the characters&#8217; determination to survive.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the other hand, the &#8220;lack of explanation&#8221; characteristic of the second installment cannot be denied. While many mysteries are introduced—such as the true purpose of WCKD and the full extent of the virus infection—clear answers are carried over to the next installment. Therefore, those who have not watched the series or have not watched the previous installment in a while may find some parts a bit unfriendly.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, this frustrating situation, where &#8220;the answers will come in the next installment,&#8221; is precisely what stimulates the viewer&#8217;s curiosity about what comes next, strongly drawing them into the series as a whole. Acting as a bridge between installments in the &#8216;Maze Runner&#8217; series, this film effectively sets the direction for the future story, expands the world-building, and heightens anticipation for the next chapter, making it a remarkable achievement.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8608" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image created by AI</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Summary: An intermediate work that raises expectations for the next installment</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The movie &#8220;Maze Runner: Scorch Trials&#8221; is a dystopian film aimed at young men. As the second installment in a trilogy, it may have some unresolved elements, but the mystery elements intensify, bringing us closer to the truth, and elements of zombie and pandemic films are added. Compared to the previous film, which focused solely on the adventure in the maze, the world has expanded significantly. To fully enjoy the final installment, take the time to explore the expanded world of Thomas and his companions in this film.</p>


Action

Maze Runner


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">2014年に公開された映画『メイズ・ランナー』は、予算規模は限られていたもののその疾走感あふれる映像とミステリアスな作品全体の雰囲気から、おおくのひとびとからしじを集めて大ヒット作となりました。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">若者向けのYA（ヤング・アダルト）小説かつディストピア小説という、人気ジャンルのかけ合わさった原作を持つ本作は、3部作で構成されていたため、1作目の実写映画が好評だったことを受け、続編の製作へとこぎつけました。それが映画『メイズ・ランナー2: 砂漠の迷宮』です。</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://amzn.asia/d/cTNure9" class="vlp-link" title="メイズ・ランナー (2) 砂漠の迷宮 (角川文庫)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71wC9yxsn8L._SL1500_.jpg" style="max-width: 150px; max-height: 150px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">メイズ・ランナー (2) 砂漠の迷宮 (角川文庫)</div><div class="vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary">Amazon.co.jp: メイズ・ランナー (2) 砂漠の迷宮 (角川文庫) : ジェイムズ・ダシュナー, 田内 志文: Japanese Books</div></div></div>


<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><thead><tr><th>作品名</th><th>公開年</th><th>予算（USD）</th><th>備考（Box Office Mojoより）</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>メイズ・ランナー</td><td>2014</td><td>約3,400万ドル</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1790864/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">全米オープニング興収3,241万ドル、全世界興収3億4,800万ドル</a><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td>メイズ・ランナー2：砂漠の迷宮</td><td>2015</td><td>約6,100万ドル</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4046784/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">全米オープニング興収3,031万ドル、全世界興収3億1,200万ドル</a><a href="https://www.cinematoday.jp/name/%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8A%E3%83%BC2%EF%BC%9A%E7%A0%82%E6%BC%A0%E3%81%AE%E8%BF%B7%E5%AE%AE/article?o=30" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></td></tr><tr><td>メイズ・ランナー：最期の迷宮</td><td>2018</td><td>約6,200万ドル</td><td><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt4500922/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" title="">全世界興収2億7,100万ドル</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">男性主人公のYAディストピア作品</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー2: 砂漠の迷宮』は、男性キャラクターであるトーマスが主人公のYAディストピア小説です。「ハンガー・ゲーム」シリーズや「ダイバージェント」シリーズなど、女性キャラクターが主人公の作品が成功を収めて目立っていた時期の公開となり、人気のジャンルでありながらも、差別化がしっかりとできていた一作だと感じました。1作目では、ヒロインのテレサのみでしたが、本作からは重要な立ち位置で登場する女性キャラクターが増加したことで、男性中心の作品物語という印象が薄らいだように感じます。</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/hunger-games/" class="vlp-link" title="ハンガー・ゲーム: 生きるか死ぬかサバイバルゲーム"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" style="max-width: 150px;" width="150" height="194" src="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hunger-game-poster.webp" class="attachment-150x999 size-150x999" alt="" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hunger-game-poster.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hunger-game-poster-232x300.webp 232w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/hunger-game-poster-696x900.webp 696w" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">ハンガー・ゲーム: 生きるか死ぬかサバイバルゲーム</div><div class="vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary">一部の富裕層が国を統制し、国民の不満を解消させるため貧困層を使い「ハンガー・ゲーム」というサバイバルゲームを行うというもの。ゲームのためにスポンサー集めや観衆へのアピール、営業活動などゲームの外での駆け引きおもしろい。</div></div></div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">そして前作では存在があいまいだった組織「WCKD（ウィキッド・世界災害対策本部）」の存在が、本作ではよりはっきりと見えてきて、YAディストピア作品らしい物語展開がなされていたと感じました。また、2作目で恋愛要素が増える、というのも若者向けの3部作ではありがちな展開かな、と思いました。ここにきて、本来のジャンルであるYAディストピアの王道に少し近づいてきた印象です。とはいえ、作品自体の個性が薄れたわけではなく、独自の世界をきっちりと保ち続けたように感じました。</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-1024x576.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8598" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-1024x576.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-300x169.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-768x432.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-900x506.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">©2015 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">前作で謎だった要素が徐々に明らかになる真実</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー2: 砂漠の迷宮』では、前作以上にミステリー色も強くなったかなと感じました。このシリーズで登場人物たちをより興味深くしているのが、記憶の欠落です。特に主人公トーマスとヒロインであるテレサの記憶の欠落は、前作でも大きなミステリー要素のひとつでした。本作ではそれが徐々に解き明かされていくのと、仲間たちが徐々に真実に近づいていく様が、前作以上にミステリー作品としての楽しみを与えてくれていたように感じました。</p>



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<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>迷路（メイズ）</strong>は<strong>閉鎖された脅威</strong>でした</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>環境：</strong>高くそびえる壁に囲まれた、閉鎖的で人工的な空間</li>



<li><strong>脅威：</strong>夜間に出現する機械生命体「グリーバー」。予測可能なパターンを持つ。</li>



<li><strong>心理：</strong>秩序とルールの中でのサバイバル。希望は「脱出」という明確な目標にあった。</li>
</ul>
</div>



<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow">
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>砂漠（スコーチ）</strong>は<strong>終わりが見えない絶望</strong>です</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>環境：</strong>どこまでも続く荒廃した砂漠と都市の廃墟。どこかどこまでも広がるオープンワールドの様相。</li>



<li><strong>脅威：</strong>神出鬼没の感染者「クランク」。予測不能で、人間性を失っている。</li>



<li><strong>心理：：</strong>秩序が崩壊した中での生存競争。目的も分からぬままの逃走がもたらす絶望感。</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">その一方で、本作では迷路（メイズ）が登場しないことで、タイトルからの分離が怒ってしまっているのは少し残念だと感じました。決して走っていないわけではありませんが、前作の良さは主人公たちが迷路を駆け抜ける疾走感、それを見ながらついつい手に汗握ってしまう瞬間、というのが大きかったと思うので、それを失ってしまったのは大きな痛手かな、と感じました。砂漠や暗闇を逃げ惑うさまは映像的にどこか冗長に見えてしまい、前作の良さを失ってしまったようにも思います。</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">閉鎖された迷路から解き放たれた、圧倒的なスケールの終末世界</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">前作で閉鎖された巨大な迷路「メイズ」からの脱出を果たしたトーマスたち。しかし、彼らを待ち受けていたのは、安息の地ではありませんでした。映画『メイズ・ランナー2：砂漠の迷宮』は、そのサブタイトルが示す通り、舞台を一気に広大な荒廃した砂漠地帯「スコーチ」へと移し、観る者を極限のサバイバルへと引き込んでいきます。それは朽ち果てた高層ビル群であり、砂に埋もれた廃墟、そして、そこを徘徊する感染者「クランク」たち。まるで荒廃したオープンワールドゲームに迷い込んだかのような終末世界が、全編を通して緊張感を漂わせています。</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials VFX | Breakdown - Environments | Weta Digital" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lrvnuIVysLM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">新たに追加されたゾンビ映画としての新たな要素</h3>



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<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="810" height="415" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-chart.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8607" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-chart.png 810w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-chart-300x154.png 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-chart-768x393.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" /></figure>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">そして、この終末世界をよりリアルに、そしてより恐ろしく感じさせるのが「<strong>クランク</strong>」と呼ばれる感染者たちの存在です。前作でもその脅威は描かれていましたが、本作では彼らの造形、動き、そしてその行動原理がさらに深掘りされ、その恐怖は格段に増しています。</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">「<strong>クランク</strong>」は単なる「動く死体」として描かれがちな従来のゾンビとは一線を画し、彼ら（まだ人間性を保っているので人称代名詞で書いています）たちは驚くほどの俊敏さと凶暴性でトーマスたちを追い詰めます。これはダニー・ボイル監督の『<strong>28日後&#8230;</strong>』に通じるものがありますね。また彼らの肉体も『<strong>28日後&#8230;</strong>』と同じくウイルスによって変異し、時に奇妙な形で人間離れした能力を見せることもあります。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">しかし、真の恐ろしさは、彼らが完全に理性を失った存在として描かれているわけではない点にあります。感染の進行度合いによっては、かすかながらも人間だった頃の記憶や感情の残滓をのぞかせることがあり、これが観る者に生理的な嫌悪感だけでなく、深い哀れみや、人間性の喪失というテーマを突きつけます。彼らは、単なる追跡者ではなく、この世界の崩壊と、WCKDがもたらした悲劇の象徴として、物語に不可欠な存在感を示しているのです。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">前作では「クリーバーから逃げる」という一つのミッションがありましたが、本作ではこの「クランクから逃げる」という要素が追加されました。クランクにかまれた人間はクランクになってしまう、というゾンビ映画の王道的な展開、そしてそれの元は伝染病だというパンデミック映画という側面が、新たに加わったことになります。</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8604" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-screenshot-2.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AIで作成したイメージ画像</figcaption></figure>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">これは物語に深みを出したり、メッセージ性だったりのことを考えるとこれらの要素が付加されることは極めて自然であり、良い効果をもたらします。その一方で、やはり一作目で好評だった疾走感やどことない手作り感、のような良い部分は失われてしまった感が否めません。加えて、本作は三部作の2作目なので、ミステリー要素が解決するわけでもなければ、次の作品へのつなぎ要素も多分に含んでいるため、一作での満足度は低めかな、というのが正直な感想でした。これは、三部作物の2作目ではよくあることなのですが、その壁を打ち壊すほどの要素がなかったのは少し残念です。一作目と比較すると、やや失速してしまった印象が否めませんでした。</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">息つく暇もないアクションと、次作への期待</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">広大な砂漠での白熱のチェイス、崩壊寸前の建物を駆け抜けるスリリングなシーン、砂嵐が吹き荒れる中での決死の逃走劇など、多様なアクションシーケンスが息つく暇もなく繰り広げられます。砂漠の描写は過酷そのもので、登場人物たちの生き残りへの執念をさらに強く印象付けます。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">一方で、2作目特有の「<strong>説明不足</strong>」は否めません。まだまだWCKDの真の目的や、ウイルス感染の全容など、多くの謎が提示されながらも明確な解答は持ち越されます。そのため、シリーズ未視聴の方や前作から時間が空いてしまった方にとっては、やや不親切に感じる部分もあるかもしれません。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">しかし、この「<strong>答えは次作で</strong>」というもどかしい状況こそが、観る者の「<strong>次が気になる</strong>」という感覚を刺激し、シリーズ全体への興味を強く惹きつけるものだと思います。『メイズ・ランナー』シリーズの中継ぎとして、本作はしっかりと今後の物語の方向性を示し、その世界観を広げ、次のチャプターへの期待感を高める見事な出来栄えになっていると言えるでしょう。</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-8608" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/maze-runner-scorch-trials-2.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AIで作成したイメージ画像</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">まとめ: 次回作への期待が高まる中間作品</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー2: 砂漠の迷宮』は、男性を主人公とした、若者向けのディストピア映画です。三部作の2作目ということもありスッキリしない部分もあるかもしれませんが、ミステリー要素が高まり真実により近づけたり、ゾンビ映画やパンデミック映画としての要素が加わったりと、迷路での冒険ばかりだった前作と比較すると、世界がより広がっています。最終作を楽しむためにも、本作でより広がっていったトーマスたちの世界を楽しんでみてください。</p>


サバイバル

ゾンビ

メイズ・ランナー2


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Beginning with the 2012 film &#8220;The Hunger Games,&#8221; a series of novels depicting a dystopian world from the American young adult (YA) fiction genre have been made into films. In this movement, the movie &#8220;The Maze Runner,&#8221; released in the United States in 2014, is also based on a YA dystopian novel.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-amazon wp-block-embed-amazon"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, Book 1)" type="text/html" width="500" height="550" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="max-width:100%" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?preview=inline&#038;linkCode=kpd&#038;ref_=k4w_oembed_tqGYVtSAIOga4Z&#038;asin=B002QE3CTY&#038;tag=kpembed-20"></iframe>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the limited budget, the film was a massive hit worldwide, grossing about 10 times its budget. The popularity of the film, combined with the fact that the original story was a trilogy, soon led to an official decision to produce a sequel. The film eventually became a trilogy of three movies.</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1790864/" class="vlp-link" title="The Maze Runner - Box Office Mojo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjUyNTA3MTAyM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTEyMTkyMjE@._V1_SL1024_.jpg" style="max-width: 150px; max-height: 150px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">The Maze Runner &#8211; Box Office Mojo</div><div class="vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary">Budget: $34,000,000<br />
Worldwide: $348,319,861</div></div></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A film in which the protagonists run through.</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If one word were to describe the characteristics of the movie &#8220;The Maze Runner,&#8221; it would be &#8220;fast and furious. As the title suggests, the main character, Thomas, and the other &#8220;Maze Runners&#8221; just kept running. The confusion of the boys, who were brought to the Glade with no memory, and the element of mystery suspense as they gradually unravel the mystery and get closer to the truth play a significant role in this work. The tension created by this, combined with the increased heart rate of Thomas and his friends as they run, has an incredible synergistic effect, causing the heart rate to rise along with the audience as they watch, creating a sweaty experience.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-5895" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1.webp 1456w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Created Image by AI</figcaption></figure>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The film as a whole also adds to the tension here. The daytime glades are brightly colored, like a field lit by the sun, but the chilly, dark images in the maze were a contrast, inviting more tension. The contrast of the cold, dark pictures in the maze heightened the tension. The thrill of not knowing what is happening in the dark and the increased heart rate as one runs through the maze were again well combined here. The effortless act of &#8220;running&#8221; was an element that made it easier for the viewers to imagine and immerse themselves in the work.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A space created thanks to a low budget.</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The low budget of the film &#8220;The Maze Runner&#8221; is mentioned here and there in the work. For example, since there was no budget to build the entire maze, the film was produced by skillfully combining only partially built sets and computer graphics. I think this &#8220;handmade&#8221; feeling, in a good sense, had a positive effect on this film. It can also be said of Godzilla-1.0. The scene in which Godzilla strolls through the streets of Shibuya combines a partially created set and CG, and the ship scene at the end is not shot on the sea. The boat scene at the end was not shot on the sea, but it was a tense scene.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="『ゴジラ-1.0』VFXメイキング" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tej6GCean34?start=114&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The maze&#8217;s walls are much higher than overhead, giving it a genuinely fortress-like visual. Although the labyrinth changes its appearance from hour to hour, its appearance always gives people a sense of despair. This despair is an integral part of creating a dystopian setting. Only a combination of actual sets and CG could have achieved this expression. This ingenuity was even better, especially since there are many dark scenes in the middle of the maze, and many of the scenes are running, making it impossible to look closely at the background. It was so well done that it was impossible to discern how much of the scene was a set and how much was CG.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Also, the camp-like atmosphere of Greedo&#8217;s campsite was created by the boys brought there by Greedo, so it was the right decision to produce the film on this scale rather than on a large scale with a budgeted set.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">High-profile young cast members play a significant role.</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the charms of this film lies in its cast members. The cast includes actors who have appeared in major Hollywood productions or have starred in movies and whose names alone can draw an audience. However, many young actors also have solid acting skills and charisma. Looking back on the film, 10 years after its release, many cast members have expanded their activities.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Dylan O&#8217;Brien, who played the main character Thomas, appeared in a TV drama series called Teen Wolf Season and was a very popular teen actor in the US. Still, he could have been better known in Japan. It was his first starring role in a Japanese theatrical release, and more people in Japan will recognize him with this movie. Kaya Scodelario, who played the heroine Teresa, made this film her Hollywood debut. Still, after this film, she became the new heroine of the &#8220;Pirates of the Caribbean&#8221; movie series, which created a big buzz.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The appearance of British actors such as Will Poulter and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who were active as child actors, was also very impressive. They proved in this film that they are capable of more mature performances. They, too, have been active in various films since this film, and they are now well-established as mature and talented actors.</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-spotlight wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://movieweb.com/the-maze-runner-cast-today/" class="vlp-link" title="the-maze-runner-cast-today" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-4 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" style="max-width: 749px;" width="749" height="395" src="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2.webp" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2.webp 749w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2-300x158.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">the-maze-runner-cast-today</div><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-button">Read More</div><div class="vlp-block-3 vlp-link-url">movieweb.com</div></div></div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It must have taken a lot of courage to make a film with a cast that was still inexperienced and unknown in acting as the main cast, but this may have worked in the right direction for this film.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The film &#8220;The Maze Runner&#8221; may not have been one of the most anticipated films, having a popular original novel, a low budget, and a cast that is not very experienced or well known. However, the synergy of these combined elements works well in this film. The film depicts two opposing sides of the story: those who live in a closed world with their friends and those who try to escape from such a world. The film depicted such an axis of opposition. I could enjoy the flair of Japanese novels for about two hours without being bored.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Furthermore, the sense of speed and thrill with which the main characters run through the dystopian space makes it an exquisite work that makes your hands sweat.</p>


The Maze Runner


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">2012年に公開された映画『ハンガー・ゲーム』を皮切りに、アメリカのヤング・アダルト（YA）小説と呼ばれる若者向け小説の中から、ディストピアな世界を描いた小説が次々と映画化になりました。その動きの中で2014年にアメリカで公開された映画『メイズ・ランナー』は、同様にYAディストピア小説を原作とした作品です。</p>



<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div style="border:1px solid #95a5a6;border-radius:.75rem;background-color:#FFFFFF;width:504px;margin:0px;padding:5px;text-align:center;overflow:hidden;"><table><tr><td style="width:240px"><a href="https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/ichiba/3dae6bee.74dc066e.3dae6bef.3ec54903/?pc=https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fbookoffonline%2F0017332771%2F&#038;link_type=picttext&#038;ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJwaWN0dGV4dCIsInNpemUiOiIyNDB4MjQwIiwibmFtIjoxLCJuYW1wIjoicmlnaHQiLCJjb20iOjEsImNvbXAiOiJkb3duIiwicHJpY2UiOjEsImJvciI6MSwiY29sIjoxLCJiYnRuIjoxLCJwcm9kIjowLCJhbXAiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored noopener" style="word-wrap:break-word;"><img decoding="async" src="https://hbb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgb/3dae6bee.74dc066e.3dae6bef.3ec54903/?me_id=1275488&#038;item_id=13758858&#038;pc=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp%2F%400_mall%2Fbookoffonline%2Fcabinet%2F1163%2F0017332771l.jpg%3F_ex%3D240x240&#038;s=240x240&#038;t=picttext" border="0" style="margin:2px" alt="[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]" title="[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]"></a></td><td style="vertical-align:top;width:248px;display: block;"><p style="font-size:12px;line-height:1.4em;text-align:left;margin:0px;padding:2px 6px;word-wrap:break-word"><a href="https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/ichiba/3dae6bee.74dc066e.3dae6bef.3ec54903/?pc=https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fbookoffonline%2F0017332771%2F&#038;link_type=picttext&#038;ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJwaWN0dGV4dCIsInNpemUiOiIyNDB4MjQwIiwibmFtIjoxLCJuYW1wIjoicmlnaHQiLCJjb20iOjEsImNvbXAiOiJkb3duIiwicHJpY2UiOjEsImJvciI6MSwiY29sIjoxLCJiYnRuIjoxLCJwcm9kIjowLCJhbXAiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored noopener" style="word-wrap:break-word;">【中古】 メイズ・ランナー(1) 角川文庫／ジェイムズ・ダシュナー(著者),田内志文(訳者)</a><br><span >価格：220円（税込、送料別)</span> <span style="color:#BBB">(2024/11/27時点)</span></p><div style="margin:10px;"><a href="https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/ichiba/3dae6bee.74dc066e.3dae6bef.3ec54903/?pc=https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fbookoffonline%2F0017332771%2F&#038;link_type=picttext&#038;ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJwaWN0dGV4dCIsInNpemUiOiIyNDB4MjQwIiwibmFtIjoxLCJuYW1wIjoicmlnaHQiLCJjb20iOjEsImNvbXAiOiJkb3duIiwicHJpY2UiOjEsImJvciI6MSwiY29sIjoxLCJiYnRuIjoxLCJwcm9kIjowLCJhbXAiOmZhbHNlfQ%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored noopener" style="word-wrap:break-word;"><img decoding="async" src="https://static.affiliate.rakuten.co.jp/makelink/rl.svg" style="float:left;max-height:27px;width:auto;margin-top:0" ></a><a href="https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/ichiba/3dae6bee.74dc066e.3dae6bef.3ec54903/?pc=https%3A%2F%2Fitem.rakuten.co.jp%2Fbookoffonline%2F0017332771%2F%3Fscid%3Daf_pc_bbtn&#038;link_type=picttext&#038;ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJwaWN0dGV4dCIsInNpemUiOiIyNDB4MjQwIiwibmFtIjoxLCJuYW1wIjoicmlnaHQiLCJjb20iOjEsImNvbXAiOiJkb3duIiwicHJpY2UiOjEsImJvciI6MSwiY29sIjoxLCJiYnRuIjoxLCJwcm9kIjowLCJhbXAiOmZhbHNlfQ==" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored noopener" style="word-wrap:break-word;"><div style="float:right;width:41%;height:27px;background-color:#bf0000;color:#fff!important;font-size:12px;font-weight:500;line-height:27px;margin-left:1px;padding: 0 12px;border-radius:16px;cursor:pointer;text-align:center;"> 楽天で購入 </div></a></div></td></tr></table></div><br><p style="color:#000000;font-size:12px;line-height:1.4em;margin:5px;word-wrap:break-word"></p></td></tr></table>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">そしてあまり予算がかけられなかったにもかかわらず、世界中で大ヒットし予算の約10倍の興行収入を稼ぎ出しました。その人気と原作が3部作だったことも相まって、すぐに続編の製作も正式に決定しました。最終的には3部作構成のシリーズとなる大作にいたりました。</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt1790864/" class="vlp-link" title="The Maze Runner - Box Office Mojo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjUyNTA3MTAyM15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwOTEyMTkyMjE@._V1_SL1024_.jpg" style="max-width: 150px; max-height: 150px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">The Maze Runner &#8211; Box Office Mojo</div><div class="vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary">Budget: $34,000,000<br />
Worldwide: $348,319,861</div></div></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">主人公たちが駆け抜ける映画</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー』の特徴を一言で表現するなら、「疾走感」に尽きるでしょう。主人公トーマスたち「メイズランナー」たちがタイトルの通り、とにかく走り続ける作品でした。記憶のない状態でグレイドに連れてこられた少年たちの戸惑いと、だんだんと謎を解き明かし真実に近づいていくミステリーサスペンスの要素が本作では大きな役割を果たしています。これによる緊迫感が、トーマスたちが走る際の心拍数の上昇と駆け合わさった相乗効果が素晴らしく、見ていると一緒に心拍数が上がり、手に汗握る体験が可能になっています。</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="574" src="http://katsumascore.conohawing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-1024x574.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-5895" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-1024x574.webp 1024w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-300x168.webp 300w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-768x430.webp 768w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1-900x504.webp 900w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-1-1.webp 1456w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AIで作成したイメージ画像</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画全体もここにさらなる緊迫感を与えています。昼間のグレイドは日に照らされた野原といった感じで明るい色調ですが、迷路の中のうす寒く暗い映像が対比的で、より緊張感を誘いました。暗い中で何が起こっているか分からないドキドキと、駆け抜ける際の心拍数の上昇がここでもうまい組み合わせになっていたと思います。「走る」というとてもシンプルな行為が、見ている側としても想像しやすい者だけにより作品に没入できる要素になっていたのではないかと思います。</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">低予算だからこそ作り上げられた空間</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー』が日本で劇場公開された際、宣伝時に低予算であることをよく宣伝していたのを記憶しています。低予算だからこその工夫がよく話されていて、例えば迷路をすべて作る予算がなかったため、一部だけ作られたセットとCGを巧みに組み合わせて製作していたようです。このいい意味での「手作り感」が本作には良い効果をもたらしていたと思います。これはゴジラ-1.0にもいえることだと思います。ゴジラが渋谷の街を闊歩するシーンは、一部だけ作られたセットとCGを組み合わせたシーンだったり、最後の船のシーンは実際には海の上で撮影されたシーンではありません。しかしながら緊迫シーンとなっていました。</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="『ゴジラ-1.0』VFXメイキング" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tej6GCean34?start=114&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">迷路の壁は頭上よりもはるか高く、まさに要塞のようなビジュアルをしています。時間ごとで表情を変える迷路ではありますが、その姿はいつ見ても人々に絶望を与えます。この絶望こそがディストピアという設定を作るのに重要な部分です。実際のセットとCGを組み合わせることでしか、この表現はできなかったのではないかと思います。特に迷路の仲は暗いシーンも多く、基本的に走っていて背景をじっくりと見ることができないシーンも少なくないので、この工夫がよりよかったのだと思います。個人的には、どこまでがセットでどこからがCGなのか、判別できないほどによく出来ていたと感じました。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">またグレイドのキャンプ地のような雰囲気も、グレイドに連れてこられた少年たちが自ら作ったという設定なので、予算をかけた大掛かりなセットよりもこの規模で製作したのが正解だったのではないかと感じます。</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">注目の若手キャストが大活躍</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">本作の魅力の一つは、出演しているキャスト陣にもあるといえると思います。ハリウッドの大作に出演していたり、主演映画を持ちその名前だけで観客を呼び込めたりするような役者は出演しています。しかしながら、確かな演技力とカリスマ性を持った若手の俳優たちがたくさん出演しています。事実、映画の公開から10年たった今振り返ってみると、活躍の場を広げたキャストが多いなと感じます。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">主人公トーマスを演じたディラン・オブライエンは『ティー・ウルフ』というテレビドラマシリーズに出演しており、アメリカではティーンにとても人気のある俳優でしたが、日本での知名度はあまり高くありませんでした。日本の劇場公開作品としては初主演で、この映画で日本でも彼を認識する人が増えたと思います。ヒロインのテレサ役を務めたカヤ・スコデラリオは、本作がハリウッドデビュー作でしたが、この後に映画「パイレーツ・オブ・カリビアン」シリーズの新たなヒロイン役を務めるようになるなど、大きな話題を呼びました。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">また子役として活躍していたウィル・ポールターやトーマス・ブロディ＝サングスターといったイギリス俳優勢の出演もとても印象的で、より成長した演技ができることを本作で見事に証明していたと思います。彼らも本作以降、さまざまな作品で活躍していて、現在ではすっかり大人の実力派俳優として定着してきているイメージがあります。</p>


<div class="vlp-link-container vlp-layout-spotlight wp-block-visual-link-preview-link"><a href="https://movieweb.com/the-maze-runner-cast-today/" class="vlp-link" title="the-maze-runner-cast-today" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="vlp-layout-zone-side"><div class="vlp-block-4 vlp-link-image"><img decoding="async" style="max-width: 749px;" width="749" height="395" src="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2.webp" class="attachment-large size-large" alt="" srcset="https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2.webp 749w, https://cms.katsumascore.blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Maze-Runner-2-300x158.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px" /></div></div><div class="vlp-layout-zone-main"><div class="vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title">the-maze-runner-cast-today</div><div class="vlp-block-2 vlp-link-button">Read More</div><div class="vlp-block-3 vlp-link-url">movieweb.com</div></div></div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">まだ演技経験や知名度が浅かったキャストたちをメインに据えての映画製作には勇気がいる部分もあるのでしょうが、本作ではそれが良い方向に機能しているのではないでしょうか。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">映画『メイズ・ランナー』は、人気の原作小説を持ちながらも、低予算かつ出演者の経験値や知名度も高くないなど、とても期待された一作とは言えなかったのかもしれません。しかしながら、それらが組み合わさった相乗効果がうまく機能している映画だと感じます。閉ざされた世界で仲間と過ごすのかと、そんな世界を脱出するを試みるもの。そんな対立軸を描いていました。日本のラノベのノリを約2時間退屈せず楽しめました。</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">さらに、ディストピアという空間で主人公たちが駆け抜ける疾走感とスリリングさが手に汗握る絶妙な作品に仕上がっています。</p>



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メイズ・ランナー

作品一覧

映画

Maze Runner

メイズ・ランナー2

The Maze Runner

メイズ・ランナー