Read Mixed User Reviews for Ready Player One

5

Brent_MarchantApr 1, 2018

Continuing an unfortunate tradition that has come to characterize many of his recent films, director Steven Spielberg's latest big-budget bloated extravaganza dazzles visually but grows tiresome (some might even say exasperating) ratherContinuing an unfortunate tradition that has come to characterize many of his recent films, director Steven Spielberg's latest big-budget bloated extravaganza dazzles visually but grows tiresome (some might even say exasperating) rather quickly. The picture plays like a glitzy, nostalgic stroll down an '80s version of memory lane, chock full of nonstop references to the decade's movies. music and memes (in itself an odd fascination for characters in a story set in 2045). What's worse, the film lacks a fundamentally compelling story and takes about 45 minutes too long to get to a central message that becomes patently obvious early on in the picture. If you're looking for purely mindless entertainment, you'll probably find this moderately amusing, but, if you want something more substantive, skip this one and watch one of the filmmaker's earlier (and much better) offerings.… Expand

15 of 20 users found this helpful155

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4

mendiettaMar 30, 2018

Not all adaptations are true to the original text as books and movies are different beasts, however you do expect the core of the book to intact, and the characters done justice. Unfortunately Spielberg has not done that, the story is dilutedNot all adaptations are true to the original text as books and movies are different beasts, however you do expect the core of the book to intact, and the characters done justice. Unfortunately Spielberg has not done that, the story is diluted and weak, the characters paper thin with no depth. For all the special effects (which are great) and the cinematography (fantastic), it does not help hold the film to greatness. It's a shame since they spent alot of time and energy getting the rights for so many IPs into this film and if you had a remote and a copy of the film, you could pause it and check out every single easter egg and name every single character they have squeezed in, but that would mean watching this again, which is simply not happening.
Stick to the book. It's fantastic, and really captures what it means to gamers to be part of the game.… Expand

10 of 16 users found this helpful106

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5

CaptiosusApr 1, 2018

Putting aside my book bias and evaluating the movie on its own merits, it's simply mediocre and forgettable. The world building is limited to the first 5 minutes of the film where Wade (aka Parzival) narrates an introduction to the viewers.Putting aside my book bias and evaluating the movie on its own merits, it's simply mediocre and forgettable. The world building is limited to the first 5 minutes of the film where Wade (aka Parzival) narrates an introduction to the viewers. It doesn't adequately explain WHY the real world has become so lousy that everyone wants to escape to the OASIS, merely that the OASIS has become the preferred escapism drug of the masses. No attempt is made to tie in the constant 80's references, leaving the viewer to wonder why kids in 2045 would give a damn about John Hughes or Twisted Sister. All we're really told is that the real world sucks, everyone loves the OASIS, and that if the Big Bad™ IOI and Sorrento win the late James Halladay's easter egg hunt the OASIS will become as lousy as the real world. So players like Wade and his best friend Aech are on a quest to win the hunt and save the OASIS from IOI's corporate oppression.

Literally a few minutes later, we're introduced to Art3mis and the movie shifts entirely in tone. Art3mis is originally presented to the audience as a strong character who is apparently well known within the OASIS as one of the top Egg Hunters -- Gunters, in the parlance of the movie and book -- and Parzival is immediately smitten with her despite only seeing her avatar on Kaira's bike from AKIRA. At this point the movie becomes a cliche teen love, "get the girl" movie. Parzival still cares about the OASIS but only in the context of his relationship with Art3mis.

In the real world, Art3mis (aka Samantha Cook) is portrayed as a member of some rebellion group who has at least one shadow operative working behind the scenes. Yet barely an hour after being introduced to Art3mis as a strong character with an axe to grind against IOI (and 10 minutes after meeting her in the real), Art3mis' character is turned into a shrinking violet who defers to Parzival and even sacrifices herself to the very thing that she was fighting against in order to save Wade in the real. This, of course, sets up the final conflict which becomes more about saving Art3mis than saving the OASIS. Parzival trashing IOI and bringing down Sorrento is a bonus but the real reason he feels he has to win the Easter Egg hunt is to rescue his love interest from the clutches of IOI.

The other three members of the high five - Aech (Parzival's best friend ever), Daito, and Sho - are all given short shrift. They are paper thin characters both in the OASIS and in the real. Aech is the most prominent but Aech's role devolves into mid-movie comic relief and late movie chauffeur. Daito and Sho are practically afterthoughts.

The movie bombards the viewer with CGI special effects and nostalgia bombs. It's worth noting, however, that a good 90 percent of the nostalgia and in-movie pop culture references were in the trailers. If you've seen the reveal trailer, the second trailer, and the final trailer you've seen almost all of the references. There's only three sections not shown in the trailers with a handful of references. The high point of the nostalgia trip is the second key challenge within a recreation of Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining". As an aside, I couldn't help but wonder why, in this universe, video gaming development died circa 2017 -- where everyone is still playing Overwatch, Borderlands, Halo, and DOOM 30+ years later. It's as if the OASIS came out and game developers just gave up. Since the movie doesn't take the time to really explain WHY these old franchises and 80's nostalgia are so prevalent, it feels shoehorned in and makes very little sense.

Nostalgia alone is why this movie is getting high ratings by viewers. Take off the nostalgia goggles and evaluate the movie for the story it tells and how it tells it. It wants to be a nostalgia driven, young adult dystopia movie like Hunger Games or Maze Runner but lacks the story chops to pull it off and relies on CGI as glue to hold together the weak narrative. Bear in mind that this is just a view of the movie on its own merits. If I really wanted to do a deep dive comparing it to the book, well, that would take far too long. Suffice to say, if you liked the book and are expecting the book, you'll be disappointed. Especially if you're a fan of Ogden Morrow's character from the book.… Expand

7 of 12 users found this helpful75

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5

drake22Mar 29, 2018

Not bad I guess.

It's a pretty movie. Some genuinely funny moments. It's great to see cyberpunk, video games, and VR represented in a mainstream movie. Product tie-ins / references are fun. Acting wasn't bad. Writing wasn't noticeably bad.Not bad I guess.

It's a pretty movie.
Some genuinely funny moments.
It's great to see cyberpunk, video games, and VR represented in a mainstream movie.
Product tie-ins / references are fun.
Acting wasn't bad.
Writing wasn't noticeably bad.

Really strains the limits for suspension of disbelief, both in terms of the technology and the world built in the movie.
Plot is predictable, unoriginal, and shallow.
No real reason to care about any of the characters.
Feels rushed, especially the love story.
Scope is way too big.

Not worth paying movie theater prices.
Probably worth renting at home or watching on Netflix.

Excited to see someone else make a (hopefully good) adaptation of Snow Crash if this movie sells well.… Expand

13 of 23 users found this helpful1310

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5

MegaCritic24Apr 1, 2018

1. Extremely cliche storyline - boy meets girl, learns important life lessons, fights corporate greed - executed so horribly, that the movie becomes very sappy, very quick.

2. First action sequence is wonderful, but the rest are very, very1. Extremely cliche storyline - boy meets girl, learns important life lessons, fights corporate greed - executed so horribly, that the movie becomes very sappy, very quick.

2. First action sequence is wonderful, but the rest are very, very mediocre. It is not the blast that some people say it is.

3. The movie is advertised as a gamer's film, but it really isn't. The game world of Oasis in which much of the movie takes place is really not impressive at all, either in content or in visuals. And a surprisingly large portion of the movie takes place in the real world of the dystopian future, which is designed equally badly.

4. Humour is flat and surprisingly childish.

Conclusion: A cinematic version of the "How do you do, fellow kids?", created by an old master who seems out of practice.… Expand

11 of 20 users found this helpful119

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4

spddrcrMar 29, 2018

If you haven't read the book you will LOVE this movie, on the other hand if you loved the book you will loathe this movie. I was a fan of the book when it first was released, being an 80's kid and all the book was a nostalgic love affair ofIf you haven't read the book you will LOVE this movie, on the other hand if you loved the book you will loathe this movie. I was a fan of the book when it first was released, being an 80's kid and all the book was a nostalgic love affair of the 80's and 90's. The movie not so much, it seemed shifted towards the 2000's millenial era with scraps of the 80's and 90's left over. Everything that made this such a great story in book form has been lost on the movie.
I will say it is a beautiful movie visually with the way it melds 3d animation and real film together into a seamless vision, and the sound design is really good as well. I kept hearing music from all these other great Spielberg movies being mixed among new stuff.
I just can't get over how hollywood keeps screwing up these great book when they make them into movies.… Expand

8 of 16 users found this helpful88

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5

Jess_HillMar 30, 2018

Pehaps one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the year, with Spielberg at the helm, this is a film which had a very high bar. In all fairness, it could never have fully lived up to the hype as the novel on which it is based is far tooPehaps one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the year, with Spielberg at the helm, this is a film which had a very high bar. In all fairness, it could never have fully lived up to the hype as the novel on which it is based is far too difficult to fully realise on screen. Therefore, my expectations were tempered by the knowledge that it would be unreasonable to expect the film to cover everything. What I wasn't expecting was a film that failed to cover virtually any aspect of the novel with anything more than a thin veneer of respect for the source material. There is spectacle to be enjoyed here, though it is often visually cluttered, and the lighting fast pace holds the audiences interest. However, the script of merely sufficient, the soundtrack isn't as iconic as needs to be, the plot lacks all depth, and this fails to address any of the myriad social, gender, class, and economic commentary that made the novel so engaging. The basic concept of the novel is there, but the lack of complexity and thematic interest means this is never elevated above the superficial, making for a hollow and unsatisfying experience. 4.78/10… Expand

7 of 14 users found this helpful77

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6

ScienceAdvisorMar 31, 2018

Flashy CGI cannot distract from the fact this is a Michael Bay-esque movie, that uses a large key labelled "nostalgia" instead of "FX". With far too little connection to the audience, this is a time waster, not the blockbuster it is beingFlashy CGI cannot distract from the fact this is a Michael Bay-esque movie, that uses a large key labelled "nostalgia" instead of "FX". With far too little connection to the audience, this is a time waster, not the blockbuster it is being championed as.… Expand

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

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4

FolderMathMar 30, 2018

I thought it was a standard, run-of-the-mill action film. Not good, not bad. Mark Rylance (James Halliday) was by far the best actor, everyone else was a tad annoying. I wasn't a huge fan of the book, but I did see this movie with someone whoI thought it was a standard, run-of-the-mill action film. Not good, not bad. Mark Rylance (James Halliday) was by far the best actor, everyone else was a tad annoying. I wasn't a huge fan of the book, but I did see this movie with someone who was a big fan of the book, and she didn't really like it either. Details and plot are definitely tinkered around with, which I didn't mind too much. What most bothered me was how superficial it felt, and how the premise of having everyone in the world logged into a video game is never explored past a cliche-laden generalization of the entire situation. Besides that, I could have used more good 80's music, and the CGI wasn't bad, but it just got too excessive for me. See it if you want some moderately satisfying entertainment, and nothing else.… Expand

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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6

D00mM4r1n3Mar 29, 2018

A poorly written 3rd act brings down the experience. General audiences unfamiliar with the videogame and anime characters throughout will be left aloof. Great for kids though.

5 of 10 users found this helpful55

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4

RattazustraMar 29, 2018

The movie as a whole as an enjoyable experience. It was funny and entertaining and I did not regret watching it.
However, the movie is also exceptionally parasitic. It feeds on content and pop culture created by far greater writers, visualsThe movie as a whole as an enjoyable experience. It was funny and entertaining and I did not regret watching it.
However, the movie is also exceptionally parasitic. It feeds on content and pop culture created by far greater writers, visuals from significantly more competent designers and narrative from better authors. The world itself only carries the story the movie tells and it only manages to do so because the story is light and thin as a feather.
In my opinion it is a decent children's movie that is tailored to be easily watchable for adults. The visuals are quite good and the special effects blend well. It is, however, no masterpiece in no way whatsoever. It will sink below and beneath almost every cultural reference that it has exploited to boost itself with third party content.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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5

Rebecca31Apr 1, 2018

Definitely the most ambitious Spielberg movie made in recent years. Let's face it, the only reason everyone is being unnecessarily kind to Ready Player One is Steven Spielberg. Starring numerous characters from games and movies that you love,Definitely the most ambitious Spielberg movie made in recent years. Let's face it, the only reason everyone is being unnecessarily kind to Ready Player One is Steven Spielberg. Starring numerous characters from games and movies that you love, ie the second reason everyone is loving Ready Player One. The visuals look great but for me it just felt too much like a never ending video game cutscene that I couldn't skip.

Set in a dystopian 2045, the only way people cope is by escaping into OASIS, a virtual reality created by James Halliday (Mark Rylance) where the only limit is your imagination. After Halliday's death he has left a series of challenges that will lead the players to an Easter egg which will give the player who finds it his fortune and control of the game. Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) is just one of the many people who spends most of his time in the OASIS desperately trying to win the digital Easter egg. Every scene is an assault on the eyes, there is so much to take in you spend the majority of the movie preoccupied with spotting reference upon reference. I'm not going to lie, I loved seeing the Iron Giant, and the DeLorean on the big screen. Not to mention the references to Alien, Superman, Jurassic Park etc. and I absolutely loved that sequence about the Shining. Brilliant, well thought out and entertaining. Yet that's all Ready Player One is, everything you loved as a kid brought together in one film. If you strip away the nostalgia and references you're left with a story you've seen done countless times before. The good guys going up against the evil corporate suits, because if the they win it's game over man. All the nostalgia is constantly in your face to distract you from how ridiculous the main characters look. Cartoonish avatars that just couldn't get me to stop seeing them as generic video game characters. Ready Player One doesn't feel like a film, it feels like a game, only you're not playing it, you're watching someone else play it. Recommended for all the gamers and/or Spielberg fans.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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6

MindglowMar 29, 2018

I haven't read the book. I'm a huge nerd and 80s/90s fan and I love Stranger Things (80s callbacks). All the references and nods in the movie got tiring by about halfway through, I thought. There is a story here but it's so cliché andI haven't read the book. I'm a huge nerd and 80s/90s fan and I love Stranger Things (80s callbacks). All the references and nods in the movie got tiring by about halfway through, I thought. There is a story here but it's so cliché and predictable. The movie has good effects and some cool action scenes so it's entertaining enough but it never goes further than that because it plays it so safe.

What I don't understand is why there are so many critics and users giving video game movies bad rep because they are close to the source material (ie feels like a game) though I don't think I've seen another movie resembling a video game as much as this and it has quite a high score (no pun)? Is it because the name of the director, purely? Cause what this movie contains is as many references and easter eggs as there are stars in the sky and the story is as basic and "ticking the boxes" as it gets. It makes sure it doesn't step on any toes anywhere in the world and it doesn't dare to go outside the box. It's a shame because it could've been so much more!… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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4

LeoKearseApr 5, 2018

This film is like watching someone else playing a video game. There are two sections that are imaginative and engaging (when they enter the Shining and the "real world" chase/loyalty centre scene) but much of this film is spent watching cgiThis film is like watching someone else playing a video game. There are two sections that are imaginative and engaging (when they enter the Shining and the "real world" chase/loyalty centre scene) but much of this film is spent watching cgi characters zooming around like a PlayStation cut scene. There's no real depth or involvement to it because the characters are underwritten, the plot is clunky (there are several "why on earth would they do that?" moments) and I felt emotionally uninvested in anyone on screen. There's no jeopardy because everything looks CGI and you know EXACTLY how the plot will unfold. Yes, there are lots of references to 80s pop culture - I don't see why this makes the film better? This film could do with more dimensions in its plot and characters and fewer dimensions visually. And it was almost two and a half hours long. I was pretty bored by the end.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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6

ajzeg01Sep 21, 2019

This movie was dumb, but cool. It had a stupid story with dumb characters, but I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for huge franchise crossover event films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Wreck-It Ralph, and The LEGO Movie (the Batman one too)! JustThis movie was dumb, but cool. It had a stupid story with dumb characters, but I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for huge franchise crossover event films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Wreck-It Ralph, and The LEGO Movie (the Batman one too)! Just seeing all these recognizable characters on screen all at once is great to have! I could rewatch this movie 5 times and still not catch them all! The animation was really well-done, but the live-action segments felt very dull in comparison. The comedy was hit or miss, but the action was thrilling! If you love pop culture, you’ll find at least some enjoyment in this movie. There is something for everyone here. As a whole, the movie is only okay, but I think that fact alone makes it one of the best book-to-movie adaptations ever made! The fact that director Steven Spielberg was able to make a decent movie out of a book where half of it was just the author listing things that he likes is AMAZING!! It’s worth a watch! Wreck-It Ralph and Scott Pilgrim vs The World are better, though.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

WiscoJoeApr 12, 2018

Sterile, insipid, and entirely phony, 'Ready Player One' is a simulacrum of far superior films, Spielberg and otherwise. The movie (full-length cutscene?) works best when it embraces its artifice and dives deep into an uncanny valley that hasSterile, insipid, and entirely phony, 'Ready Player One' is a simulacrum of far superior films, Spielberg and otherwise. The movie (full-length cutscene?) works best when it embraces its artifice and dives deep into an uncanny valley that has never looked and felt more canny. The actors are mostly bland, overly-pretty, flatly sincere agents of wish-fulfillment, except for an incredibly realized performance from Mark Rylance and a much-welcomed late appearance from Lena Waithe. The nostalgic score is dreadfully out-of-place, doing its best to recreate the schmaltzy John Williams retro glow of early Spielberg but instead contrasting badly with the post-apocalyptic trappings and the implied social commentary. And that's the ultimate problem with this visually stunning but half-baked movie: it is too caught up in its own manufactured nostalgia to have any concern for the present or the future. That inherent conflict between sentimentality and forward-progress is essential to the underlying story, but here it is rendered into a meandering mush more concerned with expensive "gee-whiz" effects and cheap "awwww"-inducing pop culture references.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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6

LPWaffleManApr 1, 2018

It's great to watch from the multiple pop culture references and action scenes but is brought down by the average plot and terrible dialogue.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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4

EpidoxApr 1, 2018

One cannot deny the quality of CGI and intensity of the action scenes, but if you are interested in a movie with engaging characters you care about, a story that will keep you invested, this movie will leave a sour taste in your mouth.One cannot deny the quality of CGI and intensity of the action scenes, but if you are interested in a movie with engaging characters you care about, a story that will keep you invested, this movie will leave a sour taste in your mouth. Shallow as a puddle, full of awful tropes.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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6

VorNamorMar 31, 2018

To be honest, I am more disappointed rather than pleased. Regardless of whole visual part (which is of course splendid) main plot is really weak. Real world and Oasis are explained too short. The same is about all characters, including JamesTo be honest, I am more disappointed rather than pleased. Regardless of whole visual part (which is of course splendid) main plot is really weak. Real world and Oasis are explained too short. The same is about all characters, including James Halliday . The second part of film goes too fast and slightly. Also second part has a lot of contrived coincidence most of which look really dummy. Characters appear just out of a blue without any representation. As far as I think, They had to make the trilogy – one film for each key. Main music theme must be Player One by Machinae Supremacy. 6 of 10.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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6

JoeCoolAug 3, 2018

First half of the movie was great and visuals are top notch, the second half was not only too long, but actually laughably bad at times and then kinda turned into a cheap kids movie. Sticking it with a 6 for the good fun and the references toFirst half of the movie was great and visuals are top notch, the second half was not only too long, but actually laughably bad at times and then kinda turned into a cheap kids movie. Sticking it with a 6 for the good fun and the references to the old days I guess.
Still it's quite an enjoyable movie. I'd probably like to see again, as long as I don't have to sit through it until the end.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

EludiumQ36Aug 9, 2018

The great VR CGI hits you right off the bat but so does the endless, oh-no-I-think-I-need-to-take-notes exposition! Seriously, they basically read us a user guide to the movie! And, of course, the much heralded soundtrack which is basically aThe great VR CGI hits you right off the bat but so does the endless, oh-no-I-think-I-need-to-take-notes exposition! Seriously, they basically read us a user guide to the movie! And, of course, the much heralded soundtrack which is basically a greatest hits of the 80s playlist. Again, seriously, how much did THAT cost in licensing fees?! And 15-mins in I'm getting the first bit of too-muchery, during the wreck-every-sec opening race where Parzival, aka Z, is tailing Artemis and is just so fortunate to be able to pick up all the players' coins who crash near him, while he miraculously escapes the mayhem around him, yeh, ok, it's like this then. The animated characters are derivatives of those in "Avatar", so I guess they licensed that tech, too. Keep in mind that anyone can be anything, species, gender, etc but our principals have chosen avatars that resemble them IRL, way to spoon feed us Spielberg. And it's kind of incongruent that Wade IRL is nerdy meek and a pushover but his alter ego, Parzival, is bold and assertive, so that doesn't track. And the Curator, a C3PO derivative, seeing a pattern here? Skipping to the end, it's filled with Spielberg's "Amazing Stories" material and the most blatant is when Parzival asks Halliday what he is and Halliday responds deflectively. While enigmatic to young 'uns, it's once again infuriatingly derivative and a wasted trope to any grownup. And finally, the final scene is a direct contradiction of that just described scene betw Z and Halliday. Oh, unexpected treat, TJ Miller (formerly of "Silicon Valley") as an awkwardly comedic I-Roc. Tieing this up, the VR CGI was decent enough but it didn't always track with reality and the overall plot was so very derivative that watching this qualifies as a rewatch of like five other films.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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5

jarheadwhoMar 30, 2018

Disappointed - I read the book twice and high expectations of this move, waited for it for years. I don't know why they had to change so much from the book itself. Ernest Cline gave Spielberg too much freedom and flexibility in his moveDisappointed - I read the book twice and high expectations of this move, waited for it for years. I don't know why they had to change so much from the book itself. Ernest Cline gave Spielberg too much freedom and flexibility in his move version. The move changed from it's original book version way too much. It would have been much better if they stuck to the book version much closer.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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6

JLuis_001Apr 5, 2018

Can you be incredibly disappointed and at the same time entertained with a film? I have definitely discovered it with Ready Player One, a film that I think that if had fallen into the hands of an incompetent or inexperienced director wouldCan you be incredibly disappointed and at the same time entertained with a film? I have definitely discovered it with Ready Player One, a film that I think that if had fallen into the hands of an incompetent or inexperienced director would have ended up in an abominable disaster.

I haven't read the novel although I don't think it's necessary, after all we're talking about a movie, but it does makes me wonder, where's the story? What's the story?What's the whole point of it? Friendship? Ambition and corporate greed? Love? Technological slavery? Nostalgia?
In reality, it's never clear and all those elements are inside the film and yet nothing fits. All the pieces of the puzzle seem to be forced into the holes and they don't fit correctly.

Personally I must say, Ready Player One is the ultimate geek dream, many visual and musical references, it's indeed a big tribute to pop culture, nostalgia and video games but in the end it doesn't stop feeling empty. It's an intrepid, exciting and joyful show, but empty at the end of it all. The ending makes it very clear, because the big conflict, the big espectacle happens inside the virtual world so when you get back to reality, I was like, 'that's it?''

I'm disappointed because Ready Player One didn't offer me more than a 140-minute audiovisual trip that although its purpose is just to entertain, well I'm more of a fan of substance.

You will have a good time, I will not deny it, but it's like an attraction of an amusement park, you will forget about it as soon as the trip ends.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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6

DirigiblePulpApr 28, 2018

First things first -- it's kind of fun and there's thrills to be had and all that. It drags at times and is manic but hey aren't most expensive tentpoles nowadays.

This movie somehow was able to take highly advanced virtual reality combinedFirst things first -- it's kind of fun and there's thrills to be had and all that. It drags at times and is manic but hey aren't most expensive tentpoles nowadays.

This movie somehow was able to take highly advanced virtual reality combined with an insane amount of pop culture nostalgia reverence and manage to put those things in a dystopia!, revel in it a bit (like we all do), and then somehow refuse to make any kind of meta-commentary on what that means for contemporary society or modern film/art/etc. I mean, turn off the video games for 2 days a week and meet a girl? That's all we get?

I really hated the 2nd sequence. Not homage, not fun, not clever, just perversely misguided and completely ruining a masterpiece that deserves to be seen on its own terms for new generations. I can't believe Spielberg would do that to a friend...

It's so blatant it almost feels intentional. At least with the book you put it off as bad writing by an author clearly unaware of the implications of his premise but more than ready to treat it as pseudo-paradise unironically. I have no idea what Spielberg wanted to do with this. "Look on my works ye mighty and despair!" I guess?… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

GlowguyApr 20, 2018

I found the movie to be disappointing compared to the book. I realize the content is difficult to adapt but they changed some of the major plot points for what seemed like no other reason than to appeal to as broad of an audience asI found the movie to be disappointing compared to the book. I realize the content is difficult to adapt but they changed some of the major plot points for what seemed like no other reason than to appeal to as broad of an audience as possible. The trails felt slapped together and were far less interesting and nuanced than in the novel. I didn't understand all of the references when I read it and that actually made it more interesting and fun. The film panders to a broad audience.

The acting was mediocre and I felt that some performances were just poor. The dialogue didn't help much and some of the scenes were just cringe inducing. The ending was at least solid and more entertaining than first half of the movie so they didn't completely butcher it.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

TheQuietGamerAug 4, 2018

Not a love letter to the '80s or a celebration of all things pop culture. Nor is it another escapism classic from Steven Spielberg. Basically none of the things we were all told it was going to be. Instead, Ready Player One is a gaudyNot a love letter to the '80s or a celebration of all things pop culture. Nor is it another escapism classic from Steven Spielberg. Basically none of the things we were all told it was going to be. Instead, Ready Player One is a gaudy CGI-fest with nonexistent characters. The perfect example of what is wrong with so much of modern cinema. It's not devoid of joy though. Spielberg still manages to put on a decent show no matter how overblown.

The movie is filled with Easter eggs. Good luck seeing any of them though. Even the most eagle-eyed of viewers will have a hard time picking out all of the references and cameos amongst the constant movement and visual clutter. I can only think of about three properties that were handled with any sort of love anyways (Chucky, The Shining, and Back to the Future in case you were wondering). The rest of the inclusions feel shallow and devoid of affection.

There's so much happening onscreen that it often devolves into visual noise. The movie is at it's best when it slows down and focuses on the story. I really dug the core premise of players trying to complete secret challenges to win a once and a lifetime prize. There are some really cool sequences that result from this. The battle against the evil corporation is nowhere near as interesting though thanks to some truly terrible characterization. We spend so much time looking at CGI avatars that I often found myself forgetting there were real people just on the other side. Even when we do get to look at some human faces the material they are given is so weak that the actors aren't able to have any kind of impact or presence. They have the makings of backstories, but these only ever come up once and very briefly at that. So things like the main character's loss of parents and occasional abuse from whatever loser his aunt is dating at the time do nothing to make us sympathize with and root for him. It's too shallow and cliché anyways. The rest of the cast fares much worse.

Whatever message the story is trying to get across ends up lost in translation. If this is really supposed to be about valuing real life then shouldn't more of the movie taken place there rather than almost entirely inside the game? I liked how Spielberg used the game's creator to sort of parallel himself and express how all creators will have a piece of themselves living on inside of their creations, but admittedly not much is happening there either. Ready Player One is much better as a critique of the current state of the video game industry with it's subtle jabs at things like microtransactions and IAPs.

I know it must sound like I hate this given all of the negative stuff I've had to say up to this point, but let me assure you that I don't. There are most certainly elements that I enjoyed. Such as the Overlook Hotel sequence which is both genuinely thrilling and a wonderful homage to one of the most celebrated horror films of all time. It's also a technical marvel. T.J. Miller, who I usually can't stand outside of Silicon Valley, is quite amusing here. Although his character contributes nothing to the overall story. I loved seeing that Master of None's Lena Waithe got a role in the film. Hopefully this will serve as a launching point for her into bigger and better things.

Make no mistake, Ready Player One is highly flawed, lacking in the narrative chops that will allow viewers to engage with anything other than the gargantuan visuals, and I'm likely never going to watch it again. The Willy Wonka with a VR-gaming angle type plot keeps things entertaining even at it's most excessive, but the depth we normally get from Spielberg films just isn't there.… Expand

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6

temptershellApr 8, 2018

The film is nothing more than a conglomeration of scenes packed with action and with miserable (for such a budget and creators) special effects, based on nostalgia and beyond that which does not give a meaningful story or characters withThe film is nothing more than a conglomeration of scenes packed with action and with miserable (for such a budget and creators) special effects, based on nostalgia and beyond that which does not give a meaningful story or characters with which one could be identified in any way. It is not enough that the avatars themselves look repulsive and poorly yet the real world is so unreal, stupid and insipid that better "visions of the future" was made half a century ago.… Expand

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5

VandinrothApr 7, 2018

All in all a pretty average movie. Great special effects but little else of substance. The movie is more like a 2 hour video game with some mild 80's references sewn in that really add nothing to the movie itself. As a kid of the 80'sAll in all a pretty average movie. Great special effects but little else of substance. The movie is more like a 2 hour video game with some mild 80's references sewn in that really add nothing to the movie itself. As a kid of the 80's these references didn't even evoke a sense of nostalgia as they were used to incredibly weakly. Very predictable plot, nothing especially stand out about any of it.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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5

mrdr4gonMar 30, 2018

Badly written, with sketchy characters and a bit of a waste of its concept. Speilberg just about saves it through some great action direction but its not great.

4 of 14 users found this helpful410

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6

noshiApr 1, 2018

To be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand Ready Player One. The humor is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of video games most of the jokes will go over a typical viewer's head. There's also Parzival's optimisticTo be fair, you have to have a very high IQ to understand Ready Player One. The humor is extremely subtle, and without a solid grasp of video games most of the jokes will go over a typical viewer's head. There's also Parzival's optimistic outlook, which is deftly woven into his characterization - his personal philosophy draws heavily from the video game series Final Fantasy, for instance. The fans understand this stuff; they have the intellectual capacity to truly appreciate the depths of these jokes, to realize that they're not just funny- they say something deep about LIFE. As a consequence people who dislike Ready Player One truly ARE idiots- of course they wouldn't appreciate, for instance, the humour in Parzival's existential catchphrase "You're full of feces" which itself is a cryptic reference to Activision's video game epic Call Of Duty. I'm smirking right now just imagining one of those addlepated simpletons scratching their heads in confusion as Steven Spielberg's genius unfolds itself on their theater screens. What fools... how I pity them.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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6

macdiggerApr 25, 2018

I'd say… if you read the original book, lower your expectations of the movie as much as humanly possible. The original story, its flow, all shred to tiny hardly recognizable pieces.
I mean you probably have to do some changes when you createI'd say… if you read the original book, lower your expectations of the movie as much as humanly possible. The original story, its flow, all shred to tiny hardly recognizable pieces.
I mean you probably have to do some changes when you create an adaptation of a book for a movie. But THIS one is not done right. At all.

The movie could probably be liked by those who didn't read the book, just for effects maybe? I dunno… I literally had a "WTF??" blurb over my head from the very beginning to the very end of this kinda nice-looking, but still pretty much disaster of an adaptation of a fantastic, great, insightful book. Duh :(… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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4

AxeTApr 2, 2018

On the one hand you look at this in all its complexity of scale and detail and say my God it takes a genius like Spielberg with all his experience and talent to helm this. On the other, it's nearly indistinguishable from the work of many ofOn the one hand you look at this in all its complexity of scale and detail and say my God it takes a genius like Spielberg with all his experience and talent to helm this. On the other, it's nearly indistinguishable from the work of many of today's techie directors and is more than ever the dull step removed activity of passively watching a video game without the compelling interactivity of playing it. Loaded with retro geek reference and full of highly choreographed but utterly predictable over-the-top action and this time set in a world where anything goes and physics doesn't apply it's a movie with little real suspense which is not a movie worth sitting through.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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4

VirgonoShakaMay 26, 2018

This is movie I like to call: "How many references can you shove in 180 minutes?" and the answer is A LOT. Does that makes it a good movie? Not at all. With some of the most cliched story, characters that I've forgotten their names as soon asThis is movie I like to call: "How many references can you shove in 180 minutes?" and the answer is A LOT. Does that makes it a good movie? Not at all. With some of the most cliched story, characters that I've forgotten their names as soon as I came out, and not even the most memorable soundtrack or effects. This is one videogame that should be better forgotten.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

akenaton1984Apr 8, 2018

Una historia predecible, en la que brillan los efectos especiales, la iluminación y el color. Sobre todo es agradable ver cómo, poco a poco, el mundo virtual se va tornando oscuro mientras que el mundo real se convierte en colorido. Llena deUna historia predecible, en la que brillan los efectos especiales, la iluminación y el color. Sobre todo es agradable ver cómo, poco a poco, el mundo virtual se va tornando oscuro mientras que el mundo real se convierte en colorido. Llena de referencias, sí, pero también de muchos clichés. Apuesta por lo seguro y es una película divertida; pero sólo una más de tantas.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

shonanApr 2, 2018

This movie is bookended by two visual effects feasts loaded with great references to pop culture. However, between these two peaks is a story with the most bland dialogue, one dimensional villains, and unlikeavle heroes I’ve seen in someThis movie is bookended by two visual effects feasts loaded with great references to pop culture. However, between these two peaks is a story with the most bland dialogue, one dimensional villains, and unlikeavle heroes I’ve seen in some time. As a child of the 80’s, a big fan of the book and Spielberg’s other work, this was a disappointing experience. Great movies tell a story everyone can enjoy through layers of meaning. This film is ironically a flat, two-dimensional romp through nostalgia.… Expand

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6

RychardoMar 30, 2018

Al principio pensaba que todas las referencias que usa esta película iban a estar como en segundo plano, algo que está ahí pero no se entromete tanto e iba a hacer algo genial con ellas dando su propia personalidad. Pues me equivoqué; pareceAl principio pensaba que todas las referencias que usa esta película iban a estar como en segundo plano, algo que está ahí pero no se entromete tanto e iba a hacer algo genial con ellas dando su propia personalidad. Pues me equivoqué; parece hecha para decir "oye, esto y esto te gusta ¿no?" o "Te gustan las películas ochenteras ¿no?" y se queda en algo que se siente que ya hayas visto algo similar, pero eso otro era mejor.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

NinteundoApr 21, 2018

I enjoyed this movie, the action scenes where really wel done and the pacing was also really good.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

zakmatomMay 16, 2018

This movie was disappointing. I never read the book, but I was expecting to see something that celebrates nostalgia and geek culture, not something desperately trying to reference geek culture to look cool. Like the scene where Wade Watts,This movie was disappointing. I never read the book, but I was expecting to see something that celebrates nostalgia and geek culture, not something desperately trying to reference geek culture to look cool. Like the scene where Wade Watts, the protagonist, references slappers from Goldeneye 007, or when the villain I don't even remember the name of references Gurren Lagann, It just feels so forced. Something I did enjoy though, was the visuals in The Oasis. You can see the polygons on every character, which is a nice touch. Overall I did not love this movie, but I did manage to get some enjoyment out of the scenes in the game, which are unfortunately pretty rare thanks to how long the real life sections drag on for sometimes.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

LegendaryLassDec 14, 2018

It's beyond stupid and insultingly so, but damned if Spielberg hasn't managed to make a kinetic, visual spectacle of the whole thing.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

TyranianApr 13, 2019

Incredible visuals and design and decent acting but the writing is very lame and the story predictable. Disappointing from Spielberg.