Ready Player One - Film Review
**DISCLAIMER** I have not read the book
'Ready Player One' is directed by Steven Spielberg and is based on the book written by Ernest Cline. The film is set in 2045, and much of the world use the virtual reality software OASIS to escape the desolation of the real world. The OASIS allows you to be whoever you want to be as well as showing plenty of pop culture from the 80s to today.
'Ready Player One' is a fun, colourful look into a virtual world, and offers incredible visual effects to display the OASIS. Its central character Wade Watts, played by Ty Sheridan, does a fine job in the film to deliver what is needed, but his character never made me care about him, although I loved the design of his avatar in the OASIS. Most of the characters failed to intrigue me, due to their lack of development. The OASIS world was just fantastic, and really intrigued me, particularly in the opening few scenes. Although, the opening scenes did feel rushed, with an equally rushed narration by our lead character.
The film had some arcs that begun, but just dropped the storyline and never circled back to it. In particular the storyline relating to Wade's family life involving his aunt and uncle. More attention given to this storyline could have resulted in more sympathy given to Wade, as well as fully solidify the overarching theme of escaping the harsh reality into the OASIS.
Every chase scene and action scene relish in Spielberg glory, in particular the chase scene toward the start of the film which was helmed masterfully. Although the OASIS was interesting as a concept and as a world, the intrigue gained initially did wear off as the film proceeded, due to its bloated runtime and elongated third act. The eventual message at the end of the film was deserved, and can truly speak to anyone.
The pop culture references, which were so heavily involved in the marketing scheme, is a large underlying theme within this movie, scaling mainly back to the 80s with video games, movies, characters and music. Although they were fun and they offered a reasonable amount of purpose, it would have been beneficial if some sort of connection was to be had with them. But instead they just came and went, which was fun enough, but more could have been done.
'Ready Player One' mainly flourishes within its action, stunning SFX, and wonderful world building. Although with its characters and arcs more could have been done, as well as its often lazy display of exposition; telling, not showing. It's a fun little adventure with things you remember to look at, but from a development perspective, more should have been done.
'Ready Player One' - 67%
