Game on!

Rating: 7/10 (2 April 2018)

In spite of the hype, I walked into "Ready Player One" with a certain level of apprehension. Given the source material (likable in its own right), it's easy to expect a movie adaptation to crumble under the weight of its own references. But what Spielberg does here (and it's to his immense credit) is tap into the adventure movie escapism that's really at the core of this thing.
Don't get me wrong, you have to work for it. The first act is pretty much all setup and cumbersome world-building, sweetened by dazzling effects. And I'm pretty sure the wealth of easter eggs are there to ensure repeat business (or at least give the pause button a workout). But it's actually what goes on in the real world - the interactions between the characters - that makes this so fun. The effects in this movie are impressive, but I found myself taken with the little touches here and there. It's when Spielberg and Alan Silvestri riff on themselves that calls to the movie fan in me. And there's an unexpected heart to these characters and this world that'll have me coming back.
It's a rare example of a movie living up to the book and standing on its own.

7/10