About 25 years into the future, the real world is taken over by the virtual world. Specifically, a virtual reality world named Oasis where people can live vicariously through the characters they wish they can be and do things they wish they can do. Before his passing, the creator of Oasis, James Halliday, hid three keys in the game. The first player to retrieve them all will own the rights to Oasis. Wade Watts, whose avatar’s name is Parzival, takes the challenge to find the keys before IOI, a company ran by CEO Nolan Sorrento, who plans to use the winnings for their Loyalty Centers.
The movie begins in the year 2045, where Wade Watts resides, in Columbus, Ohio. The world looks post-apocalyptic with very little nature and broken houses staked on top of each other. Wade goes to his gaming place that is walking distance from his house to play. He meets his online best friend Aech (pronounced “H”) and other players Art3mis, Sho & Diato. At this point in the movie, Parzival (Wade’s avatar name) and the other players know the location of the first key. To collect the key, they must race a New York-themed track filled with obstacles and danger at every turn; moreover, no one has made it alive to the end until Parzival found a trick.
The younger characters in this movie are well developed. The younger generation will know more than the previous and it plays well in the movie. The High-Five play their cards strategically, take their time to plan, and deconstruct their clues well to stay ahead of IOI. Throughout the movie, Sorrento and his team are only following them rather than getting the keys themselves. It shows how kids know more than what adults credit them to be; in fact, games are made for children and teenagers.
The movie does well with blending reality with virtual reality. As the game gets harder for Parzival, Wade’s life gets harder as well. Sorrento bargains with Wade to give up his key with money that can help him and his Aunt Alice, his current guardian. After Wade rejecting his offer, Sorrento then threatens to kill Aunt Alice. Every decision Wade makes in Oasis has an effect in his real life as well. Also, Wade meets the player behind Art3mis, Samantha, in real life. After a long talk with each other but are stopped to realize where a key could be hidden. While many players quit interacting in real life, Wade and Samantha took time away from the game to understand a clue that leads them closer to the goal.
References from the 1980s are scattered everywhere in the movie. From video games to music to fashion, the movie makes the audience feel that they traveled to the 80s. While characters are clubbing or just for the musical score, a tune from Hall and Oates, New Order & the Bee Gees (to name a few) plays in the background. Also, when Aech helps Parzival get ready to meet with Art3mis, he puts on outfits from Michael Jackson’s Thriller outfit, Duran Duran & Buckaroo Bonzai. The references do not stop there. There’s a cameo by Freddy Kreuger from A Nightmare on Elm Street, Marvin Martian from LooneyTunes, Godzilla & the list goes on for those who love to look for references.
This movie is fit for all ages and for many sorts of people. From the youth who game all day long to the elders who love 80s culture, the entire family will enjoy the movie as they escape reality to take a trip down memory lane. Audiences will leave their seats satisfied with the ending and its message behind it (no spoilers).
Release Date: March 29, 2018
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke & Ben Mendelsohn
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi
Audience: All Ages
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 140 minutes
Official Website: www.ReadyPlayerOneMovie.com
Official Social Media Pages:
- Facebook: @ReadyPlayerOne
- Twitter: @ReadyPlayerOne
- Instagram: @ReadyPlayerOne
IMDB: @Ready Player One
Wiki: @Ready Player One
Alan Santellanes | Writing Contributor
B.A | Communications | Cal State University, LA
Alan Santellanes is a California State University, Los Angeles graduate and cannot wait to hit the ground running in the media making industry. His goal is to become a showrunner for kids & to promote diversity and equity in the shows he creates. He has a strong interest in development production; more specifically, creative writing; organizing and planning. Aside from pursing a career in the media making industry, Alan enjoys playing videogames with his brother and nephews, watching television with his family, going to the movie theaters with his friends & baking desserts for his loved ones. Alan brings positivity to any new friendship or challenge that crosses on his path. Find him on Instagram @AlanSantellanes and Twitter | View My Blogs
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