Let’s face it, we’ve all been burned by bad literary adaptations once or twice. Well, two Hypable staffers were lucky enough to see The Maze Runner at San Diego Comic-Con and we are here to reassure you that you won’t be burned by this one.

1. The cast is absolute perfection.

There aren’t too many films these days that get every casting decision exactly right, but The Maze Runner will surpass even the highest of expectations. Every single actor brings honesty and heart to the Glader they play, and they do so with an energy so genuine you can’t help but fall for each and every one of them. Thomas, Alby, Newt, Chuck, Gally, Minho, and Teresa are all played with so much compassion and ferocity it’s as if they jumped right off the page and onto the screen before you.

2. The maze is just as huge and scary as you thought it would be.

Readers of the book may be a little wary about how someone could manage to bring the general horror of the maze to life and do the grandeur of it justice, but Wes Ball and the brilliant effects team at work on The Maze Runner far surpassed this reader’s expectations. The maze seems to have a mind of its own as it contorts and collapses around our favorite Gladers, which had us literally hanging onto our seats for dear life. Overall, the maze is dark, forboding, and sets the perfect backdrop for the next item on our list.

3. The Grievers are nightmarish and terrifying. As they should be.

Grievers are scary. Whether in your imagination or on screen. No matter how you first envisioned them when reading James Dashner’s excellent novel, in the film you will find them horrifying, disgusting, and downright nightmarish. The production team has gone to great lengths to keep the look of these appalling creatures secret until you see them on screen, and it only adds fuel to the fire burning in every fan’s heart. You will undoubtedly find yourself cringing in your seat as these horrible things race through the world on screen, and if you have to shield your eyes, don’t worry, we did too.

4. All your favorite book moments are there.

We aren’t going to list them or spoil just exactly how and why they are as fantastic as we imagined, but rest assured that they are there. That said, there are a few changes from the original source material, bestowed upon us by the amazingly talented James Dashner, but the moments you most want to see are there. The pieces that hit the cutting room floor are few and far between, and when you look back at the story as a whole you realize that this hard-working crew told the story in the best way possible. What more could a fandom ask for?

5. James Dashner approves.

In case you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t been following James Dashner’s twitter account like a hawk, this author is every bit as devoted to this movie as his fans are. He has fully embraced the entire filmmaking process and has quickly become its biggest proponent. It’s always comforting as a reader to know that the creator of this world we love so much appreciates the thousands of hours of hard work and dedication that goes into doing an adaptation right. It makes it easier for us to fully enjoy what is unfolding on screen. Simply put: It’s okay to like The Maze Runner movie, because James Dashner likes it too.

Oh, and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse at Dashner’s acting debut! See if you can spot him!

Update: In related news, a new poster for Maze Runner debuted today on Yahoo!. Check it out below…