I guess that title makes sense because it is a film about a video game... an online video game... with billions of players... but ah nostalgia or something

Rating: 2/10 (17 April 2018)

So. Apparently there are a lot of people quite unhappy about the way the book was adapted. Now, I haven't read it, so I'm willing to give it the benefit of a doubt and perhaps it might contain something resembling at least a half decent story. Be it as it may, it seems that Spielberg chose to settle with the most crass and cliched aspects and run with them. The film is littered with menial 80s references. Seems like in the 2050s time is on a standstill and nothing relevant has happened for about half a century. However, even the more numerous than the references, are the plot holes, but I'll let that slide because otherwise I'd never finish writing this. Suffice to say the film is held together by the swarm of plot holes and convenient coincidences.
Acting is forgettable but that's understandable. All things considered. Situations and dialogue do not lend themselves to great moments. So once again. Would mainly blame poor writing on this one, than the actors and actresses themselves.
Visually it's alright, I guess. Though there are a lot of questionable decisions. The future does not really seem like the future. The OASIS does not really seem like an advanced VR computer program. And the people running around in the streets, in the real life, while wearing VR headsets is straight out moronic, but the bright colours, flashing lights and empty action scenes should keep the kids in their seats, chewing their popcorn.
The overall film direction, moods, "plot twists" and characters are all just so bland, generic and manufactured, that it's tough to care about the characters and their "problems". It makes me question how much Spielberg really spent time on the project. Especially considering that 'The Post' came out a few months earlier. Which wasn't all that great either but should definitely have higher score on IMDb than 'Ready Player One'. At least it seems that Metacritic agrees with that as well.
Bottom line is that the film has nothing to offer. Nothing good anyway. It's mindless and did I mention that it's full of story breaking plot holes? But what does it matter right? There's a good guy who likes a girl and he does some action stuff and beats the evil dude because there's always the unnecessarily evil dude and in the end he gets the girl and everyone lives happily ever after and that's all what what you really want so you just don't care how badly it's all presented.