There's a moment in this movie when the central character says "I love her". His friend hastily replies, "Slow down bro... she could be a 300 lb man living in his mom's basement." In the very brief beat between the two lines, I thought FINALLY a movie about falling in love completely independent of what a person's genetics may be. And then the crushing cynicism in a dystopian world where there is little to live for and even less to hope for: even in a nightmare, a fat man is undateable. Don't worry though. If you have the skills you may end up on top. Just like Ben Mendelsohn's slave-owning antagonist almost did. Because in this story, it's not a world where anyone feels compassion or empathy. It's a world where everyone only thinks of themselves. A sociopath's dream. And that's what earns the top prize. I love looking at Tye Sheridan. But not enough to sit through this again.

Can you imagine watching this if you didn't give a fuck about the '80s? Like there's nothing that happens in _Ready Player One_ that isn't a reference to **something** at least, but almost all of them are '80s references. I mean I worship at the altar of 1980s' references on a daily basis, and even for me this was only so-so, I fear to imagine what _Ready Player One_ might be like for someone who actually demands originality. Honestly, it was better than I was expecting, I'll front to that. The promotional campaign for this had the barometer for my excitement on this at a firm zero, and by the time I had finished watching it I was surprised to find I had actually enjoyed multiple things about it, but _Ready Player One_ is an exercise in lack of subtlety, and really tries your limits on suspension of disbelief. Not because of the fantastical endless virtual world inhabited by near every creation since the dawn of pop-culture, but because of the character interactions in their "real world". _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._

"Wild trip down memory lane... in a DeLorean" In 2045 people escape their harsh reality by going to a virtual world called the OASIS. After the creator dies, he challenges all users to go on a hunt for an Easter egg which gives them control over the OASIS. 'Ready Player One' isn’t a movie you’d expect from a 71 year old filmmaker but Spielberg once again shows his range. It's an incredibly fun ride that’ll have you cracking up more than once (“It’s f***ing Chucky!”). While Spielberg switches seamlessly between real life and the virtual reality it’s rather difficult to get emotionally invested in the movie. Nonetheless most characters are fun and the love story between Parzival/Wade and Art3mis/Samantha gives it some depth. Ben Mendelsohn is delightful as the villain and Mark Rylance is excellent once again. The biggest treat of course is the nostalgia. You’ll have a blast simply by counting the pop culture references(Iron Giant’s thumbs up and the Shining among my personal favorites). The movie features a killer 80’s soundtrack and Alan Silvestri provides the finishing touch with a wonderful score. Ready Player One is a visual feast. See it on the biggest screen you can find. Preferably in Imax. Especially during the race you’ll be blown away.

Wait, I didn't review this yet? How did I forget? What we have here is honest Nostalgia Candy, not the forced rebranding rebooting and reimaging that we are seeing in Hollywood today. It doesn't rely on a familiar brand to sell tickets to a movie that has nothing to do with the brand and really, ultimately trashes it. Rather, it relies on nostalgia to tell a fun, dynamic, and entertaining story that features all the glorious creations that we loved back when, well, back when Hollywood was still making glorious creations. And, because of that, you walk away totally satisfied.

**Ready Player One is the pinnacle of video game films with extremely high replay value!** Ready Player One puts Steven Spielberg right in his sweet spot with a nostalgic adventure love letter to movie fans, 80s kids, and gaming enthusiasts. This movie drips with Easter eggs to all kinds of pop culture, making every moment a fun scavenger hunt to see how much you recognize. Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke were delightful in their lead roles with classic bad guy Ben Mendelsohn in hot pursuit. Ready Player One felt like a familiar classic, even in its first viewing. Even with a unique plot and a fresh story, all the references to iconic franchises, both new and old, give the film nostalgic vibes that transport me back to find memories and the fun of my childhood. Spielberg creates a childlike sense of innocence, awe, and wonder while simultaneously creating adventure and peril. Even though this movie has high ratings, it’s still underrated! One of the most fun, feel-good adventure films I have seen and one of Spielberg’s most charming and thrilling movies.

Call me when the script is finished.