Put on your nostalgia goggles and see ‘Ready Player One’

Steven Spielberg, one of cinema’s most beloved masters, is back with another exciting entry to his long-running acclaimed filmography, “Ready Player One.” A story dealing with heavy pop culture references and an entire futuristic world to build, could this be a job even too ambitious for the god of film himself?

Based on the 2011 novel of the same name, the story focuses on Wade Watts, a teen living in the year 2045. In this future, people are allowed access into a virtual world called the OASIS, a place where ordinary people can be whoever they wish and explore different worlds. When the creator of the OASIS has creates a competition to take ownership of the world, Watts must team up with a crew of other players to try to win the competition while outrunning an evil organization trying to use it for bad.

A story like this must be handled with extreme care. With the amount of ’80s and ’90s pop culture characters appearing, in the wrong hands this film could become nothing but a fan service mess with little in the way of substance or style. Does Spielberg’s vision work? There are some major flaws.

Probably its biggest issue is that this film could have benefited from an emphasis on visual storytelling to envision its world. This is most notable within the first act and the very end of the movie, where there’s a heavy and rather unnecessary use of narration that dumbs down the dialogue. This is disappointing coming from Spielberg, especially given his masterful way of blocking and staging that helps his films remain narratively distinct.

Similarly, the side characters are underdeveloped and clichéd. The villain is especially bland, coming off as the same corporate business guy we’ve seen in many movies before.

Finally, the visuals are conflicting. In the OASIS world, the style is similar to a hyper realistic video game, which makes sense due to the fantasy vibe this film is trying to get across. However, there’s an uncanny valley feel to some of the characters and their movements that doesn’t feel as right in a movie. This issue doesn’t remain distracting throughout the entire experience, but is noticeable during the first half.

Despite these issues, this is still one blast of an experience. Spielberg’s direction elevates this story that, in the wrong hands, could have been disastrous. Thanks to his blending of high octane action, charming moments and riveting suspense, “Ready Player One” succeeds at feeling like one of the director’s classic films.

The story’s messages regarding our addiction to virtual worlds taking over our lives comes across nicely, albeit unsubtly. As we learn about the reasons behind the OASIS, we are able to learn more about the kind of world ours is becoming. This allows for the main characters to become much more vulnerable, relatable and ultimately human, which is something that is much needed in a far out reality such as this one.

The collection of pop culture references presented is where a lot of the film’s fun can be found. Whether it be the Iron Giant prominently in the action or Marvin the Martian scurrying around in the background, there are bound to be a few characters, gadgets and references from pop culture for film fans to spot. Thanks to Spielberg’s handling of the film, the addition of these icons manages to have warmth to it rather than feeling like cheap fan service.

Finally, it should be mentioned the musical score by famed composer Alan Silvestri is another reason why the film has such a classic feel. Whether it be music from an older movie when a pop culture character pops up or his original grand orchestration, the music helps give the film a lot of its charm. Ultimately making the score one of Silvestri’s best work in years.

While a bit rough around the edges, “Ready Player One” is another example of why Steven Spielberg is such a titan of the industry. For film buffs, Spielberg fans or those wanting to just have a fun time without feeling manipulated, this movie is sure to leave you with a massive overload of nostalgia.