VR Troopers

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2018)

The world of reality and imagination can sometimes be a razors edge line we walk on. Everyday as we go out to reality we always find ways to escape reality for mere moments from putting on a VR set or just simply daydreaming. However, in those times as we imagine or experience ourselves doing something else and being someone else, it tends to corollate with our dreams of what we want in our reality and somehow finding the way to one day make our dreams come true. Steven Spielberg another one of my favorite movie directors (no surprise) believe it or not this is my forth favorite film from but also one of my favorite movies in general. Anyway, down to business this film just like the book to me is a dream come true, it is both a love letter to Gamers and fans of pop culture but also a story from all it's visual icing has a heart.
The visual effects are just fantastic, I really love the look of the Oasis it is just a visual feast for the eyes, the whole place is sort of the ultimate open world video game. From the amount of color, character animation, structures, you name it, it really is a place the blurs the line as it looks both real and unreal. It's the kind of place I'd love to one day visit as you can pretty much do, go anywhere, and be anything you want; I could make my own avatar or even use the avatar image of "Robocop" or "Judge Dredd" and I could go shoot down some evil yoma with Sailor Mars and the Sailor Senchi; well you get the drift of it anything you want to do, do it.
I also like the dystopian futuristic world that is conceived which I feel is plausible, as we see the real world is practically a scrapyard of itself. There is defiantly an overpopulation problem which has caused a spacing issue as we see most people whom have not much money are forced to live in this trailer park called the Stacks which are literally stacks of trailers on top of each other much like with the mega blocks in "Judge Dredd" only no one is living in a super-sized condo. But what makes the world even more dreary is how a corporation can literally become a tyrannical force, the corporation in this film is much like "OCP" in "Robocop" as it literally has a stranglehold over most of the worlds resources and functions, including the technology we possess and livelihood. However, the most disturbing aspect to me of this corporation is how they have this VR cube structures where they imprison people that owe the company some dealt and make them work it out, which they never will because the company keeps increasing it just, so we make less to no money and they make more; it's literally Slavery. It just shows how evil this corporation is as it's flushed all it's sense of morality and humanity down the toilet, just to continue making fast profits while feeding on people's misery.
There are tons of references, this film is just jammed full of them it would take more than one watch just to get them all. For anyone that is expensed in pop culture you will easily spot and get them which is endearing. Though the film is also kind of educational for rookies to pop culture that never heard about films like "Back to the Future" or video games like "Adventure", seeing those things in this film will cause them to research or simply try them out.
The action and adventure are great, it goes at a good pace. From that race which is cool, where you get to drive any car of your choice or creation. With Percival it was the DeLorean from "Back to the Future", me if I was ever in that game it would be the Batmobile from the 1989 film. The final battle sequence is awesome, it's probably my honorable mention of favorite battles of all time. It's literally like a live action "Where's Waldo" art illustration as there are so many colorful avatars, some you would easily recognize, even certain weapons like one which got the big cheer, I won't say what it is but if you know your fantasy films from the 80's you know what weapon is referred to.
The scavenger hunt which is thought provoking, each of the challenges are a riddle. The riddles are tricky as they contain hidden meanings in the words and red herrings to throw players off. But like most riddles the solution is simple it just doesn't seem that way at first, and you can solve them yourself if you know your nostalgia history and relics but also listened to most of Halliday's history carefully.
The characters are solid, from the villains Sorrento (Ben Mendelsoln) he's a good villain, he's pretty much a unlikable corporate scumbag that doesn't give a toss about anyone except his own money and power which he has more than enough of. But like all greedy bastards more just isn't enough, this guy wants absolute power and he'll do anything to get it and maintain his stranglehold over the world.
One thing about him is how he tries real hard at passing himself off as cool but isn't. Despite all the luxury he has like that big chair, in a big office space he really is nothing but the suit he puts on everyday. One scene that was interesting was when he was trying to get Perceval/Wade to work for him, as he's doing this he is trying to make references but it's not his own words it's the words of one of his sell out nerds that work for him. It just shows this guy is a real poser he's probably never even seen a John Hughes movie or played the video game "Robotron". Let alone intellectually bankrupt as he must have a whole division of nerds and geeks solve the riddles and play the game for him, which isn't fair.
The subordinate villainess F'Nale Zandor is also good. The actress Hannah John-Karmen is hot, she is pretty much is the living embodiment of corporate b.... She is kind of his muscle/go two person as she wants to win at all costs even if it means breaking the law.
And of course, we have the good guys the VR Troopers. The supporting heroes Acha/Helen, Sho, Daito are decent, we get a bit of a good feel for them they have unique personas, a good back and forth but they really help.
But the two characters that really stand out are Perceval/Wade and Artimis/Samantha. Both are cool characters they have good personas from Perceval/Wade whom I can relate to because he's a bit like myself as he's a causal geek that loves gaming and pop culture from the past to present. He's sort of on the shy side as he not one of the popular people not even in the VR world and is attracted to girls that seem unattainable, but despite that fact he does try anyway if not successful at first.
Olivia Cookie as Artimis/Samantha I think is lovely inside and out, as she really has some fire and feistiness. But I really like her sense of maturity and selflessness as she is determined to win the game for a noble cause. But also helps slowly but surely open Wade's eyes to not just reality but herself.
I really like the chemistry between both as there are sparks flying that is starting to build a small fire. The back and forth between them is fun and touching. I really liked that dance sequence in that hover dance club which was fun, but it was really when both meet up and interact in the real world is where this chemistry really crackles. The Achilles heel both had were that they we both insecure about their looks and what the other would think of once they saw each other in real life. But once both do they aren't disappointed by what they see, sure they may not look oh so perfect the avatars they run but when they see each other it's at least real. Wade sees one physical feature that sort of makes Samantha an outcast and it's the birthmark on her face, but it doesn't bother Wade in fact he doesn't even care about it because he had feelings for her for who she is on the inside, it didn't matter what she looked like to him, she really looks lovely all the same; likewise, for Samantha as she sees Wade looks like any ordinary teen. But also, both along with their supporting characters are all underdogs, all of them have had pretty much been crapped on by the corporation and life. The corporation has had more then they need while all of them bare have much to anything, which more makes me want this team to win because they deserve it and their motives are genuine they want to not just make their own lives better but the existence they inhabit.
The film does have some good messages, from the importance of fandom and pop culture but also not to let video games and technology be your whole life, their ok occasionally, but you also got to know when to unplug and tune into reality. But also, that we really do have the power to make our existence better we just have to believe in ourselves enough to do it and things will get better.
If you're a gamer or even a rookie in it, fan of nostalgia, a person from the 80 or any decade, or even just a fan of sci-fi, like any good game it's worth a try.
Ready Player One scores.
Rating: 4 stars