Ready Player One (2018)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn

When the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world.

Few people are aware of the fact Steven Spielberg is also a video game creator. ‘Ready Player One’ brings us closer to that fact, with the film’s premise revolving around a game, and the film’s visuals looking like a video game.

People not into gaming – or computers for that matter – might have a difficult time understanding or appreciating the film. This is an acquired taste, and will not appeal to the mainstream audience. The animation is fantastic. I loved the soundtrack. I enjoyed the fact that they used old music for a futuristic movie. And I loved the characters and plot. It literally feels as if you’re inside a PlayStation experiencing the game. The reference to ‘The Shining’ – and the incorporation thereof into the film – was really cool. Being a game, though, much of the film was perceived not to be taken seriously, because “it’s only a game”. It only really became more serious towards the end, when their lives were in danger, but even then did it have that Disney family movie feel to it.

‘Ready Player One’ is an interesting look at what the future might hold for us – and it’s a rather daunting thought!

‘Ready Player One’ received an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Visual Effects. It won several awards and earned nearly $583 million on a $175 million budget.

Would I watch it again? I doubt it.