I have returned from the Oasis without a single key or coin to show for it. However, I do have a ticket!
I went to Ready Player One the day before it officially opened in theaters and it was amazing! I really enjoyed the story and how Spielberg created an incredibly CGI-filled world. Today will be part review and part reasons to watch list. But first, some background.
NOTE: Spoilers beyond this point. You shall not pass...if you don't want spoilers.
Ready Player One - Background
For those unfamiliar with the book, I first recommend reading it. It is a fun story that probably has even more pop culture references than the movie. For those who wish to not read it, here are the highlights:
What is Ready Player One?
Ready Player One is about a teen living in a dystopia version of Ohio in the year 2049 where he becomes the first person to find one of three keys hidden inside a video game called Oasis. In the story, the creator of the game, James Halliday, died, leaving behind an enormous fortune. The right to his fortune is hidden inside the game as an Easter egg. The Easter egg can only be found after acquiring all three keys, also hidden in the game. When our hero, Wade Watts, finds the first key, he finds himself in a race against an evil corporation to find the remaining keys and prevent the corporation from taking over the Oasis.
Now that you have a short background, we will dive into the review.
Ready Player One - Review
Having read the book prior to the movie, I have a bit of a preference toward the book. That being said, I really enjoyed this film. The film starts off like a classic Spielberg film, introducing us to the world with smooth, sweeping shots. The way Spielberg paces an opening, and films in general, is always impressive to me. In this movie, we jump right into the action with an amazing car race sequence that got my adrenaline pumping immediately. Also, listening to Van Halen's Jump helped too!
The movie grabs you and keeps you interested throughout. The characters Wade Watts/Parzival, played by Tye Sheridan, and Samantha/Art3mis, played by Olivia Cooke, had a great dynamic between each other. It was fun and light, but kept the romantic connection strong as the movie progressed. The side characters were, at least for me, a bit more forgettable. Well, except for Sho, played by Phillip Zhao. James Halliday, played by the great Mark Rylance, was my favorite character. He portrayed the anti-social, nerdy side well and displayed the heart behind the character in a genuine way. Honestly, in that regard, I felt the movie did better than the book.
The story itself was going to be difficult to deliver. The book was packed with references and the movie had to at least live up to that. I couldn't imagine being the producer on this movie. The amount of phone calls and favors they made/asked for had to be ridiculous! Even with all the references, the story had to be sound. Thankfully, it was faithfully adapted by the writer of the book, Ernest Cline. Zak Penn helped too (another solid, Hollywood writer). The references did not get in the way of the story, but the story wasn't trying to be overly complex. It was a simple story that was told well. The movie was a great example of all pieces of production coming together to make a solid movie.
The best part about the movie was the CGI. Movies have been improving CGI for a few years now. Star Wars and Marvel films tend to be the first movies that come to mind when you think of CGI-heavy movies, but I believe this one deserves serious consideration. The car race sequence and final battle scenes are the most epic CGI experiences I have ever seen. For many, Spielberg isn't the name that comes to mind when they hear about a CGI movie. He's been known for Academy Award winning films and pop culture classics like Jurassic Park, Jaws, and E.T. Yet, he has been quietly working on some amazing CGI films like The Adventures of Tintin and The B.F.G.
I could probably go on forever about the CGI and Spielberg's talent, so I'll stop here and just say, it was impressive. The movie overall, is a solid film with impressive CGI that is fun entertainment. Now for the Top 10!
Top 10 Reasons To See Ready Player One
These are in no particular order:
- STEVEN SPIELBERG!
- The impressive CGI of fake people in a fake world
- A Delorean that doesn't go back in time
- Mark Rylance acting awkward and not like a big, friendly giant
- Seeing Director Krennic again lose to a rebel group
- Awkward teenage romance
- Raging adults wearing headsets and power gloves
- 80's music
- An abundance of outdated, but lovable pop culture references
- A giant freaking egg!
Have you seen Ready Player One? Do you agree with this review? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments or on social media.
-J.J.