Based on the beloved novel by Ernest Cline, Ready Player One takes us on an exciting journey into the OASIS, an immersive virtual reality where everyone can escape the harsh realities of their daily lives to live in a limitless fantasy world.
When the OASIS creator, James Halliday (Mark Rylance) dies, he leaves behind a contest inside the game. Winners will not only receive Halliday’s fortune but also complete control of the OASIS. So let the games begin!
Full of imagination and captivating visual effects Ready Player One is definitely one fun action-packed ride. It is apparent that even director, Steven Spielberg, had a lot of fun with this one – especially when it comes to throwing in hundreds of pop culture references that will have cinephiles giggling in glee.
As an avid fan of pop culture, I found myself enjoying the references scattered throughout – especially the entire wildly entertaining sequence dedicated to my favorite horror movie, The Shining. One of the main concerns by many before this film was released was if the number of pop culture references would be distracting. In my opinion, they actually added to the experience.
Ready Player One shares an important message about disconnecting from our digital worlds to strengthen the connections in our actual world. However, this is ironic since I felt a complete disconnect from the characters. They are basic in every sense of the word, falling into either two categories: good guys or bad guys. There is no emotional depth or thought-provoking character development.
But at the end of the day, win or lose, games are all about having a good time, and Ready Player One does just that.
Final Thoughts: Ready Player One is a joyous celebration of fandom and a fun adventure. However, it is not one that does not challenge the viewer – unless you’re focused on finding all the pop culture Easter eggs.
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