REVIEW-READY PLAYER ONE (2018)
READY PLAYER ONE (2018)
Ready Player One, released in 2018, stands as one of the most ambitious films to merge virtual worlds with classic pop culture in a futuristic tale. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film is an adaptation of Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, which is essentially a love letter to 80s and 90s pop culture. With Spielberg’s brilliant vision, Ready Player One takes the audience on a visually thrilling ride filled with action, references to beloved cultural icons, and thought-provoking themes about technology and human life in the future.
Ready Player One is set in the year 2045, where the world is facing severe environmental and social crises. Major cities are plagued with poverty, and people live in grim conditions. To escape this harsh reality, most of the population spends their time in the OASIS, a virtual reality world where they can be whoever they want, go wherever they desire, and do anything they can imagine. The OASIS, created by James Halliday, offers a limitless escape from the harshness of the real world. The story follows Wade Watts , an orphaned teenager living in the slums of Columbus, Ohio. In the real world, Wade leads an unremarkable life, but in the OASIS, he is Parzival, an avatar determined to find the greatest treasure within OASIS—an Easter Egg left behind by Halliday before his death. Whoever finds this Easter Egg will inherit full control of OASIS and Halliday’s immense fortune.Wade isn’t the only one searching for the Egg. Several others, including the evil corporation Innovative Online Industries (IOI), led by Nolan Sorrento , are also hunting for it in order to gain control of OASIS for profit.
%20-%20Gabriel%20Punsalang.jfif)
pict by: Pinterest
One of the greatest strengths of Ready Player One lies in its stunning visual effects and the creation of the breathtaking virtual world of OASIS. Spielberg truly showcases his mastery as a director, transporting viewers to a vast, colorful, and wildly imaginative virtual reality. The OASIS allows characters to explore different worlds inspired by films, video games, and comics, each designed with meticulous detail. In one scene, viewers may spot characters from Street Fighter, while in another, The Iron Giant appears, alongside a race featuring iconic vehicles like the DeLorean from Back to the Future. Every frame is filled with nostalgia, providing a feast for the eyes of pop culture lovers. The racing sequence early in the film, for instance, is one of the most impressive. Featuring iconic vehicles from various media, the race through the OASIS feels thrilling, filled with explosions, giant obstacles, and clever tactics. Spielberg masterfully blends virtual action with real-world stakes, creating an immersive visual experience.
However, while the film’s visual effects are spectacular, there is criticism that, at times, the OASIS world feels overly cluttered. Every inch of the screen is packed with pop culture references, and it can occasionally be hard to focus on the main action. This presents a paradox, where the very elements of nostalgia that make the film so appealing can also become distracting, especially for viewers less familiar with those references.
Beyond its eye-popping visuals, Ready Player One offers a narrative that explores relevant and thought-provoking themes. At its core, the film reflects on humanity’s relationship with technology and how the virtual world can become an alluring escape from harsh realities. The OASIS offers total freedom to its users, allowing them to be whoever they wish and do whatever they please—a fantasy that is particularly tempting in a real world filled with limitations and inequalities. But the film also raises questions about the negative impacts of such escapism. Wade, as the protagonist, demonstrates that while virtual worlds like OASIS offer an enticing escape, reality cannot be avoided forever. There is a danger in becoming too consumed by the virtual world and ignoring the real one, a message that feels especially relevant in today’s technology-dominated society.
Additionally, the film touches on the theme of corporate power over technology. IOI, with its vast resources, illustrates how large corporations can exploit technology for profit, disregarding the freedom and creativity that something like OASIS offers. Sorrento, as the film’s antagonist, represents corporate greed and the desire for control at the expense of the common good.
Ready Player One is a visually exhilarating adventure filled with nostalgia and action-packed sequences. While the film has some shortcomings in its character development and storyline, it still provides an entertaining and thought-provoking cinematic experience, especially for those who grew up immersed in classic pop culture. Spielberg masterfully crafts a film that not only celebrates the past but also offers a reflective look at a future where technology and virtual reality play an ever-growing role in our lives. I really like this movie because of its interesting plot so I will rate it 9/10.
Komentar
Posting Komentar