Pop culture references abound in this wild arcade ride

Rating: 6/10 (22 December 2018)

In the nerd-iverse where comic books, arcade games and (apparently) the soundtrack of the 80s resides, there is 'Ready Player One.' Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Ernest Cline's best-selling futuristic fantasy thriller made a big splash at the box office in 2018, in large part due to a dedicated fanbase. General audiences could identify with the number of pop culture references littered throughout the film - everything from Batman climbing Mt. Everest to Stormtroopers and Freddy Krueger - and the dazzling CGI, of course.
As a movie, 'Ready' is a wild ride. The premise is simple enough: a young, downtrodden Columbus kid finds new life in a VR universe that has taken hold of the world - the Oasis. Played by Tye Sheridan, Wade, or "Parzival" as he's known in the Oasis, is your typical protagonist in this kind of story, as he's the perfect candidate to try to take on an ominous corporate conglomerate that's led by the intimidating Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn). We also see some noteworthy performances from Olivia Cooke (Art3mis / Samantha) and Lena Waithe (Aech / Helen), not to mention seeing a spaced-out Mark Rylance as the reclusive inventor of the Oasis, Halliday.
To be clear, 'Ready' does a great job with some key scenes, especially one that takes place in the notorious Overlook Hotel and another racing sequence in Manhattan. However, when comparing the film to the book, it's no contest. Of course, when is that ever not the case? Still, 'Ready' does run into the issue of feeling a bit rushed in certain instances - as if the actors are racing against the clock in order to finish the story.
While not perfect, 'Ready Player One' is simultaneously an exciting trip down memory lane...and the path to the future.