Minotaur (2006) Movie Review

If there’s one thing I know about labyrinths it is that in the center you might just find a mythical Minotaur protecting it.

Minotaur (2006) (IMDB)

Minotaur (2006) movie poster

This is a fantasy film about the Minotaur monster starring Tom Hardy !! Note that this is 2006 Tom Hardy and not the 2008 Tom Hardy which has starred in Bronson and RocknRolla and became the actor we now know. NO, this was his first film where he was the lead actor (we all start somewhere). We have already reviewed Mazes and Monsters starring Tom Hanks, considered to be his worst movie ever. Well wouldn’t you know it, this happens to be Tom Hardy’s worst rated film ever. But to be fair that is balanced out by his character in one of the greatest maze movies ever (and wonderful regardless of genre), Inception.

Here is the gist of this terrible film. A village sacrifices youths to the Minotaur until Tom Hardy and a band of misfits fights back. Most of the movie takes place in the labyrinth with the group being chased by the beast. For a film with a low budget I must say the beast looks pretty good all things considered. This film is a loose retelling of the famous Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. However, plot points have been changed to keep things fresh ? Tom Hardy’s character is named Theo in the film as a nod to Theseus. Sadly the overall acting in the film is very bad with the key problem for me being overacting. The script does not help much either.

Whatever. 3/10.

If you like the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, in this blog post I compare 4 different comic book versions of it, which feature great illustrations. I was able to checkout each from my local library online !!

Maze Comic Book Reviews - Theseus and the Minotaur

Here is a link to watch the trailer:

Foxes (2011) Movie Review

I seem to be on a movie kick lately. There have been some great maze movies and there have been some terrible ones, umm…. The Funhouse Massacre, The Maze and Mazes and Monsters. So how is the short film Foxes ? Have you seen Vivarium ? That is important to understand this review.

FOXES (2011) (IMDB)

Foxes (2011) movie poster

This is actually 2 different reviews based on one piece of information that only you know - Have you seen the film Vivarium starring Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Potts or not ? The movie poster and trailer should help you if you are not sure.

Vivarium movie poster

Best movie trailer thumbnail ever ?

Now read the appropriate section !

I have seen Vivarium - Read this

I found this movie when I was researching the movie Vivarium which was based on this short film from the same director, Lorcan Finnegan. So comparisons between the 2 movies make sense, like how this film feels much less maze-like than Vivarium. Remember how the housing complex in Vivarium had a very artificial and plastic look to it, well the housing complex this couple is trapped in has a much more realistic look to it. While the couple in Vivarium has a much more linear timeline, this couple appears to be in a more Groundhog Day type loop of sameness. The wife eventually senses this and tries to break out of the monotony. And there are shrieking foxes. And things are weird. There aren’t a lot of answers in this film but there sure are a lot of questions. It is worth a look (see the video below!).

I have NOT seen Vivarium - Read this

The 2011 short film Foxes is directed by Lorcan Finnegan who later directed the film Vivarium based on this same story. Have you ever been to a planned community in suburbia where every house looks the same and they seem to stretch on forever ? Every street you turn down curves around to another street that looks the same as the last one. You are more likely to meet a roundabout dead end than the main road because the traffic planners did not want to make streets that could be navigated quickly, slowing vehicles down and keeping the local children safe. Those subdivision developments are built on the edges of towns where large amounts of land can be secured and they have names like The Meadows, Canyon Estates and Magnolia Country Lakes. Now you have a sense for the setting of this movie. Now add in a bit of Groundhog Day like daily grind of being that you can get stuck in from the routines we have from going to work each day. And every once in awhile because the subdivision was built on new land you get visited by foxes. Loud foxes. And you begin to question what exactly is really going on. What does this all mean ? You won’t find any answers here, but you will have lots of questions. This is a short film worth watching. I recommend it.

Hey, no need for a trailer, why don’t you just watch the whole thing !!! If you have 16 minutes, I think it is worth your time !

Maze Comic Book Cover #105 - Mara-thon

Issue #105 in my comic book cover series is called Mara-thon and features a maze of a Patagonia Mara. This cute rodent becomes our last Comic book cover maze of the year.

My comic book cover mazes can be found in 2 places:

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 1 (Issues #1-53)

Comic Book Cover Mazes - Year 2 (Issues 54-105)

Patagonia Mara Maze Comic Book

To receive a book of my first year of comic book book mazes (Volume 1 with mazes #1-53) you can sign up for my book alerts - any time I launch a free maze book, or paid book (on Amazon), I will send you a note about the new book launch.

Maze of the Week #209 - Lunar Lander Maze

Our last maze of the week for the year takes us back to space (the moon). Introducing Maze of the Week #209 featuring the Lunar Lander Maze. This maze is the sibling of my large Moon Maze, which if you have not seen, I suggest you check out (It is difficult). I have seen the lunar lander at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC, and I must say it did not look sturdy enough to take a trip in (but it worked, so I am wrong). Because of the tight panels the Start is denoted with and S.

Lunar Lander Maze

Free Maze download is available in the Vehicle Maze section of the site.