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Show 1111111 1111111 TAT'S A WRAP "The Maze Runner" translates well to the big screen thanks to the acting, set design and plot intensity WITH STEVE STAFSHOLT STAFF WRITER D irector Wes Ball's recent release, "The Maze Runner does not disappoint. Nonstop action, a wondrous but believable set, good acting and a plot that creates even more mysteries than it solves keeps viewers riveted to the story. Based on the first book in James Dashner's Maze Runner series, the movie tells the story of a community of teenage boys called Gladers who live in a forest in the middle of a colossal concrete maze. Every month some supplies and a new, amnesiac boy are sent up an elevator by parties unknown to join the other Gladers. Shortly after the protagonist, Thomas, arrives in the Glade, the elevator arrives unexpectedly with an unusual load. Along with the cargo there is a vague note implying everything is going to change — and not for the better. The movie's efforts to condense the plot threaten to alien- ate recent readers with some serious changes and stunning omissions: There are no Beetle Blades, only two syringes of Grief Serum are ever sent to the Gladers, none of the Gladers have survived the Changing by the time Thomas arrives, the slang of the Glader community is virtually nonexistent and all the Griever attacks are culminated into one night of indiscriminate slaughter. Despite that, the general story arc remains the same, and the movie's intensity does the book justice. The acting was good for the most part. Will Poulter (Gaily), Ki Hong Lee (Minho), Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Newt), and Ami Ameen (Alby) were all exceptional in their respective roles. Dylan O'Brien (Thomas) had some very good moments on screen, but by and large he was not noteworthy. Gally's character was not nearly as brutal as he was in the books. I thought this was a point at which the film actually eclipsed the book. Instead of being a flat antagonist meant only to be hated by readers/viewers, Gaily was a complex character whose motivations were clear and easy to empathize with. This added element was made even stronger by Poulter's acting. The film was much more intense than I was expecting. Although the Grievers did not fit their description in the book, they were still terrifying. Also, all of the fighting between Gladers in the movie, especially when Ben attacks Thomas, felt more realistic than your average action film fight scene. My biggest critique about the movie is that some main characters' roles were diminished. Teresa and Chuck were just as central to the book's plot as Alby and Newt, and they certainly had bigger roles than Minho, but in the movie they were afterthoughts. Also, Frypan and Winston were mentioned only in passing. This breakdown of character importance stunted the emotional build of the film. What's more, it might affect the success of the sequel, where Teresa plays an even larger role than she did in the first. However, I hesitate to say the film would have been better if Teresa and Chuck had more screen time because they were by far the worst actors in the movie. Of all the dystopian fiction movies based on young adult fiction that have been released in the past few years, 'The Maze Runner" is only outshone by "The Hunger Games:' With its sequel, `The Scorch Trials:' already planned for release in Sept. 2015, who knows how "The Maze Runner" series might eventually rank within the genre. s.stafsholt@chronicle.utah.edu @ChronyArts PARK CITY IS NOW 110" COLLEGE PRICING AVAILABLE BUY BEFORE 10/12 Gallery takes viewers 'Between Worlds' BY BRIAN POWELL /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY DANE GOODWIN 0 n Sept. 19, the Alice Gallery in Salt Lake City held an opening reception to present its first solo artist show: Between Worlds by Bernard C. Meyers. Meyers is a contemporary fine art photographer based in Utah. He is an internationally recognized master printer, artist, photographer and teacher. The artist has a background in traditional printmaking, stone and plate lithography and etching, though this exhibit is dedicated to digital photography and printing. Meyers said he is "enamored with the surprises of light and structures." He is interested in the way light can "move through glass, plastic and screen, the overlap of one dimension into another In this gallery exhibit, we see Meyers' passion for garden flora contrasted against man-made structures. Many of the images are of greenhouses, some flourishing with flowers and leaves, some empty and abandoned. Long streaks of light stream across petals, stems and hoses.The artist takes great advantage of the greenhouse piping systems to draw your eye from one point of the photograph to the other.The perspective he has found on many of the images makes you stop and wonder if it's real.This certainly achieves the artist's goal of bringing the viewer between worlds. Another interesting technique you'll see at this showing is the artist's use of screens, windows and plastics to create an extra layer within the photograph. The effect this choice created re- minded me of a 19th century painting technique called pointillism. Pioneered by Georges-Pierre Seurat, pointillism is simply using small points of color in a way that when you step back from the image it appears smooth and seamless. In these prints it gives the images a sense of depth, like you're with the photographer, peering into the greenhouse. One piece, found near the back wall of the gallery, does this in a particularly interesting way by using the drips left from a morning fog on a window — certainly the gem of the entire exhibit. Meyers insisted that "the narrative here is about an elusive place, the vantage point between the world of our constructed socialized realities and everything else beyond:' He wants the viewer to consider other realms of consciousness and wants his photographs to "transcend the everyday' The space itself is a sight to see. The Alice Gallery is located inside the Glendinning Mansion, which was built during the 1800s. In 1975, Utah purchased the property to house the offices of Utah Arts and Museums.The Alice Gallery was created as a service to Utah artists by providing free venues for emerging and established artists. With this exhibit the gallery housed approximately 20 photographs. Between Worlds will be at the Alice Gallery (617 E. South Temple) now through Nov. 14. Viewing the gallery is always free, though small donations are appreciated. You can get more information at alicegallery.org . b.powell@chronicle.utah.edu @ChronyArts tic LOCAL PASS' 42? $ Perfect for people who can navigate a pass with restrictions.* Now includes Park City in Utah. PARK CITY CANYONS YOUTH PASS- $399 $279 Perfect for Utah's College Students who only plan to ski or ride at Park City and Canyons.* Perfect for Utah residents who don't plan to ski or ride more than 4 days.* COLLEGE IG EPICPASS.COM PARK CITY CANYONS 4-PACKTM SEASO N RESIDENT * For complete details on limited restrictions and blackout dates that apply to the Epic Local, Park City Canyons Youth, and Park City Canyons 4-Pack Passes, as well as explanations of our product age groupings, please visit epicpass.com . © 2014 Vail Resorts Management Company. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2014/2015 |