{"id":292,"date":"2018-04-06T23:45:03","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T23:45:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=292"},"modified":"2018-04-06T23:45:03","modified_gmt":"2018-04-06T23:45:03","slug":"ready-player-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=292","title":{"rendered":"Ready Player One"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Even if you can\u2019t play the notes (me!), you no doubt know the tune: (insert killer keyboard intro to Van Halen\u2019s \u201cJump\u201d here).<\/em><\/p>\n

And with that, director Steven Spielberg introduces us to his latest flick \u2013 an ambitious, sci-fi adventure that is futuristic in nature but is bursting<\/em> with nostalgia at its heart. Giggity!<\/p>\n

Based on the debut novel (haven\u2019t read it; I don\u2019t do that) from Ernest Cline, \u201cReady Player One\u201d mostly takes place in the OASIS, a virtual world in which most of humanity spends its time, because\u2026 well, because real life circa 2045 is depressing AF.<\/p>\n

The OASIS is a \u201cplace where the limits of reality are your imagination,\u201d as explained by young Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan).<\/p>\n

Under the guise of avatars and aliases, \u201cpeople come to the OASIS for all the things they can do<\/em>,\u201d Wade continues, \u201cbut they stay because of all the things they can be<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s sorta like the Big Market from \u201cValerian\u201d<\/a> \u2013 only not stupid.<\/p>\n

After his death, OASIS creator James Halladay (Mark Rylance) announces \u2013 via pre-recorded video, of course \u2013 that within the OASIS is a game, and the first to find Halladay\u2019s \u201cEaster Eggs\u201d hidden in that game will inherit his fortune \u2013 and full control of the OASIS.<\/p>\n

Double giggity, right??<\/p>\n

Wade, known in the OASIS as Parzival, is among the eager \u201cGunters,\u201d or egg hunters, engaged in this search \u2013 that\u2019s been ongoing for years.<\/p>\n

In real life, Wade exists in his \u201cown tiny corner of nowhere, protecting my tiny slice of nothing\u201d; he lives with his aunt Alice (Susan Lynch) and her dippy boyfriend in an area known as \u201cThe Stacks,\u201d which is a hundred times more deplorable than its name implies.<\/p>\n

Halladay\u2019s posthumous announcement could be Wade\u2019s ticket to a better life, so this kid is all in. But he\u2019s not the only one\u2026 .<\/p>\n

And so begins this virtual pursuit that looks insanely cool, incorporates the most kick-ass music, and is so much fun you\u2019ll forget about reality for 140 minutes.<\/p>\n

Though \u201cReady Player One\u201d spends most of its time in a fictitious realm, Spielberg continually jumps back and forth between it and its nonfiction counterpart to remind us that there is<\/em> a difference. But we also see and understand that events in the OASIS can<\/em> and do<\/em> affect reality; we get that this isn\u2019t just an \u201cinsert coin, start over\u201d scenario \u2013 and that\u2019s sobering discovery.<\/p>\n

The story is a trip, and the eye-popping graphics and immersive visuals really help this flick level up; it\u2019s like actually being inside a video game.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s additional fun with the seemingly endless supply of pop culture references.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll notice winks toward, among many<\/em> others, John Cusack\u2019s patented pose from \u201cSay Anything\u201d; the technology and light cycles from \u201cTron\u201d; Hot Wheels track sets, with their crazy twists and turns; \u201cIron Giant,\u201d with an appearance from the title character.<\/p>\n

And because I\u2019ve seen \u201cBack to the Future\u201d a million times, I probably noticed more nods to that classic flick above most others \u2013 including everyone\u2019s favorite Delorean, with an added touch of K.I.T.T. from \u201cKnight Rider\u201d; the Zemeckis Cube and the genius capabilities it holds; the Goldie Wilson poster in a quick background scan of one scene.<\/p>\n

Whether intentional or not, I also found the look and mannerisms of some of these characters to be eerily reminiscent of well-known 80s and 90s players; \u201cdickweed\u201d Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) reminded me of Mr. Vernon from \u201cThe Breakfast Club\u201d; Halladay struck me as a combination of Garth Algar from \u201cWayne\u2019s World\u201d and James Langly, one of the Lone Gunmen, from \u201cX-Files\u201d; Aunt Alice and the loser boyfriend are almost clones of John Connor\u2019s pukey foster parents in \u201cTerminator 2: Judgment Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then when you factor in the amazing selection of songs \u2013 including tunes from Prince, Hall & Oates, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Tears for Fears, the Bee Gees, Twisted Sister and a whole mess of others \u2013 it\u2019s easy to understand why \u201cReady Player One strikes a chord with movie buffs and music fans alike.<\/p>\n

The outcome probably won\u2019t be a shock, but I promise you<\/em> there\u2019s plenty of action and nail-biting tension to keep you engrossed and entertained throughout.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady Player One\u201d scores big in presenting this grand, futuristic adventure while wisely blanketing viewers in all the things with which they\u2019re comfortable and familiar. It\u2019s one hell of an enjoyable ride.<\/p>\n

Are you ready?<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n