Review of Ready Player One (2018) by Jess_Hill — 29 Mar 2018
Pehaps one of the most anticipated blockbusters of the year, with Spielberg at the helm, this is a film which had a very high bar. In all fairness, it could never have fully lived up to the hype as the novel on which it is based is far too difficult to fully realise on screen.
Therefore, my expectations were tempered by the knowledge that it would be unreasonable to expect the film to cover everything. What I wasn't expecting was a film that failed to cover virtually any aspect of the novel with anything more than a thin veneer of respect for the source material.
There is spectacle to be enjoyed here, though it is often visually cluttered, and the lighting fast pace holds the audiences interest. However, the script of merely sufficient, the soundtrack isn't as iconic as needs to be, the plot lacks all depth, and this fails to address any of the myriad social, gender, class, and economic commentary that made the novel so engaging.
The basic concept of the novel is there, but the lack of complexity and thematic interest means this is never elevated above the superficial, making for a hollow and unsatisfying experience. 4.
This review of Ready Player One (2018) was written by Jess_Hill on 29 Mar 2018.
Ready Player One has generally received positive reviews.
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