People have complained, rightfully so, over the vast amount of fandom inspired references shown in the trailers so far for “Ready Player One,” particularly from Amblin products. After all, I don’t how much more of the 1980s being shoved down our throats by movies and televisions we, as a society can take. Yet, Ernest Cline, the author of the book on which the movie is based, lists Steven Spielberg and his storytelling craft as an inspiration for writing his novel, so it almost comes full circle that Spielberg would in turn direct the film. Here’s the official synopsis:
From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon.
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 created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.
It’s an interesting concept, one that holds similarities with “Tron” and “Future Man” and one that’s especially prescient today with virtual reality becoming more available for common households. With this notion in mind, Spielberg said that “this movie is going to show why it’s interesting not living in the real world, but what we’re missing by not.”
“Ready Player One” looks like a hodgepodge of different ideas, mixed together into an epic, visually arresting, nostaliga-induced wet dream. At least I hope it will be like that.
Starring Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Simon Pegg, Letitia Wright, Hannah John-Kamen, Ben Mendelsohn, and Mark Rylance. “Ready Player One” will be released on March 30th.