Ready Player One | Film Review

Spielberg is back, baby! Sure, we’ve had recent films from him like War Horse and The Post, each with their own merits. He even brought the whimsy with The BFG, but many of us (myself included) have missed the Spielberg of the 80s. So what better way to go back to his roots than a movie about the “Reagan Decade”? Ready Player One gives older audiences a shot of nostalgia while showcasing current pop culture references for younger audiences as well. It hearkens back to a time when movies sparked our imagination and reminds us of what it was like to be a kid.

Ready Player One is based on the novel by Ernest Cline and tells the story of Wade Watts, an Ohio teenager in the year 2044. The real world is in near shambles, and its inhabitants escape the ugliness in a virtual reality world called “The Oasis”. Users can do anything they please and be whatever kind of person they’ve always dreamed. The technology’s creator, James Halliday, leaves a video will upon his death. In it, he offers his fortune and his company to whomever can find a hidden easter egg in The Oasis. Wade, under his online moniker “Parzival“, begins his adventure to unlock the three keys within the game before the evil corporation Innovative Online Industries does.

Book adaptations to film are a tricky business. In most instances, fans of the original source material will always say, “the book was better”. Cline and Zak Penn made changes that genuinely work better on the screen than what the book offered. I can honestly say that might be the first time I’ve ever said that about an adaption, but I say it with all sincerity. And that’s coming from a huge fan of the book. I was pleasantly surprised with the way the spirit of Cline’s work still shines through in Spielberg’s film.

And what a glorious ride this movie is! Ready Player One begs repeat viewings, if for no other reason than to catch all of the pop culture references present. It’s nearly overwhelming how much is on-screen at one time, but I’m not complaining in the slightest. The licensing alone must have been a nightmare to put together, but I’m so happy with what they accomplished. There are multiple scenes that had be bouncing in my seat with excitement (just ask my wife). I felt like a kid again, and could feel the excitement from the rest of the audience, which included all ages. This film is why I enjoy going to the theater. There’s nothing that compares to the electricity in the air during a viewing of a spectacle like this one.

Ready Player One Final Verdict

Ready Player One is a perfect segue into the summer season. Fans of the 80s will feel right at home with the music and references to video games and films from the era. Outside of some PG-13 content, this is a movie that works for all ages. Don’t wait for home viewing on this one, as it’s a must-see theater experience. Bonus points if you drive to the cinema in your very own Delorean.