Ready Player One released on March 29, 2018, and is the latest movie from filmmaker Steven Spielberg; a science fiction action adventure based on the novel of the same name. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe. The story follows the protagonist, Wade Watts, who joins a competition set up by the deceased creator of the OASIS. He is then launched into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery, and danger.

The movie went beyond my expectations for it and had much more substance than I thought it would. The movie’s plot was compelling and chocked full of pop culture references just like the novel. One thing I found impressive about the movie is that most of the scenes were computer generated but they still felt natural and real. The acting in the movie was also really good. The characters felt real and relatable, and Mark Rylance (who portrayed the creator of the OASIS, Halliday) really captured the eccentrics and personality of his character. The only real criticisms I had with the movie are at times the story seemed a little flat and at times it relies heavily on pop culture references to elevate it. But outside of that, it was a solid movie and I’d give it a 7.5/10.