Steven Spielberg is one of the most famous filmmakers in the history of cinema. He's known for his 80s hits, as well as his more recent films, which also happen to be set in a similar fashion, connecting to the 80s through references or simply being set during the period. He's also known as one of the highest-paid directors in history, but that's another story.
With Ready Player One being Spielberg's latest film, it almost feels as the film of all his films; the one that takes his style and nostalgia to a whole other level. Set in the near future, Ready Player One displays a dystopia so strong that it's resulted in the population escaping it almost entirely through the means of a virtual reality world -- one where your bills can be paid via the same in-game currency.
Upon the death of the game's creator, speculation arises within the game after it's revealed that the game is riddled with puzzles that must be solved, and the first person to do so will receive full control of the game, alongside his entire assets. It's not the best narrative, but I believe it's probably one of the few things that could make sense within a film set in virtual reality without appearing too silly or unrealistic.
While it still remains rather cheesy in particular scenes and dialogue, Ready Player One manages to be an interesting concept that's pulled off rather well, despite the fact that it's riddled with pop-culture references and product placement -- it manages to include everything in a way that's connected to the story: you can be anything or anyone within the game. There's no limits.
As expected, this isn't a film attempting to break boundaries in terms of how artistic it can be, there's not much creativity to the directing or the writing, it's really a typical fun-and-happy-all-out-chaos action flick wanting to keep you entertained for a few hours. And I must admit, there are moments within the film that feel cinematic enough to impress, and chances are, you will enjoy it.
Despite its relatively long runtime, Ready Player One follows the traditional 'call to action' method of storytelling. The protagonist receives his task and is set on an adventure, and new characters are introduced in order to help progress the story and help the protagonist achieve his goal in times of need. This method is typically rather flawless if done with prior thought, and I believe that's what makes the film so likeable despite it overall being rather mediocre. There's an ongoing sense of adventure with various hoops that the protagonist must jump through, and it's enough to keep you engaged.
