Ready Player One - The Movie

[Starbuck66]

So this dropped at SDCC last weekend:

 

https://youtu.be/znavw4akfoY

 

Even with Ernie Cline giving us warning that the movie wouldn't follow the book, I still get a sour taste in my mouth watching this trailer. I knew they would stray from the book, but I didn't think they'd go this far. Even reading this article didn't help me much:

 

http://screenrant.com/ready-player-one-movie-spielberg-book-differences/

 

I get some of the challenges the book poses with all of the pop culture references; they couldn't get rights to everything, and I could see why Spielberg would be uncomfortable singing his own praises, but why does this have to be its own "original" story? The characters also look way too pretty, which we know is a must for Hollywood, but it kills a major life lesson/plot point from the book.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'll go see this in the theater when it comes out for sure, but its like we're getting a Diet Coke version of the book on the big screen, when we deserve and KNOW that Spielberg could give us something much closer to the real thing.

 

I'm curious what everyone else's thoughts are on this... are you excited for this movie, or slightly disappointed by the trailer?

[Rowsdower70]

Not familiar with the book, to be honest.  

Having said that, the trailer looked interesting but VERY busy.  I'm not sure what was going on, but it looked pretty.   Spielberg doesn't generally do bad stuff though, so I'm sure I'll eventually watch this even if its a Netflix viewing.

There was a TON of trailers this weekend.   Some were great, and some looked silly.   (I'm looking at you, Thor.)

[nosweargamer]

Not familiar with the book, to be honest.  

 

Having said that, the trailer looked interesting but VERY busy.  I'm not sure what was going on, but it looked pretty.   Spielberg doesn't generally do bad stuff though, so I'm sure I'll eventually watch this even if its a Netflix viewing.

 

There was a TON of trailers this weekend.   Some were great, and some looked silly.   (I'm looking at you, Thor.)

 

From what I remember from reading the book, it is basically a mix of Willy Wonka, The Matrix and World of Warcraft.

 

In the future, most people live most of their lives in a massive VR program called Oasis, including going to school and doing work. When the creator of the program died, he hid an Easter Egg in the program and whoever finds it will inherit it, but it's been years and no one has come close. Now young whipper snapper, who lives in the stacks (a poor, trailer park area, where the trailers are stacked vertically) is using his massive knowledge of 80's pop culture to try to find the EE, but there is a big corporation, and since it's big, it must be evil, and they will do anything to find it first.

 

The author crammed a ton of pop culture references in the book, to the point that the story was almost used as an excuse to include them. The trailer shows the Iron Giant and Freddy, but I don't recall either in the book. Hopefully he will leave Atari 2600 Adventure in the movie and not replace it.

[RickR]

I'm glad to see they made this a BIG budget movie.  And who better that Spielberg for an 80's-themed movie? 

 

Having read the book, I never thought it would make much of a movie.  Does anyone enjoy watching someone else play Pac Man, for example?  Or for every single happy-ending to occur? 

 

Frankly, the nerd-culture's bad habit of tearing everything to shreds because some minute detail is different or wrong is tiring.  I say give it a chance.  If it's good, enjoy the heck out of it.  If not....meh.  Remember what happened to "Ender's Game"?  Stink pot of a movie.  But life goes on.  We still have the book to enjoy. 

 

And I'm totally on-board with NSG -- the one "must" item from the book is Atari Adventure. 

And another NSG mention---Willy Wonka -- perfect case of a movie changing the story up enough to make an absolute classic  (I'm talking the Gene Wilder version with orange Oompa Loompas).  The newer Johnny Depp version was more true to the book...but which movie is more memorable? 

Edited July 25, 2017 by RickR

[StormSurge]

I'm going in with an open mind. I LOVED the book, but I've forgotten most of the finer details, so the movie will feel "fresh" to me. I'll re-read the book after seeing the movie.

[Sabertooth]

Has anyone else seen this? I love the book but I appreciate the film adaptation. They made a lot of changes, condensed the story and toned down some of what I'll call the "deep nerd" elements that make the book so special to many of us. That said, the broad themes of the book are intact and there is a goodly amount of retro fun. I think that this just the cost of making a big budget, mass-appeal movie. If it was all D&D, Joust and Zork, it just wouldn't be as fun to watch. As it is, they've done a great job in turning a great book into a very fun, popcorn popping movie. Also, our favorite woodgrain has a starring role.

[Starbuck66]

I’m laughing at my initial apprehension now because I LOVED this movie! I’ve seen it twice and will probably see it a third time as well. It felt like classic Spielberg, and was really a treat to watch. Yes a lot of the book is missing, but a lot of the book wouldn’t have worked for a movie or drawn the mainstream crowd in, which is what you need for a movie to succeed.

 

It’s also jacked up the market for Adventure carts so that’s something...

[TrekMD]

I haven't seen this yet.  Plan on going this weekend. 

[TrekMD]

I just got back from watching this and I really enjoyed.  I have not read the book (I bought it on Google Play to read) so I can't compare right now but, if the book is better, I know I'm in for a treat.  It was great seeing the 2600 in there and even a ColecoVision!

[leolinden]

Heck yeah, this movie is epic. It’s weird how eerily close we are to being there tech-wise. We kind of are there technically, but not practically. Most of the tech in the movie exists now, just not consumer ready, which it could be in the 2020s and beyond.

[Arenafoot]

Just saw it yesterday - its was awesome! It is very action packed. I did expect to see more Adventure in it than what was shown.

[RickR]

A quote from one of my all-time favorite sci-fi authors via facebook:

Is it just me, or is Ready Player One the cyber version of Willy Wonka?

[Starbuck66]

A quote from one of my all-time favorite sci-fi authors via facebook:

 

Is it just me, or is Ready Player One the cyber version of Willy Wonka?

The previews and main score had “Pure Imagination” mixed into the music; they know it does and own it!

[RickR]

OK, probably a good time to revisit this.  I saw the movie at home a couple of weeks ago....totally forgettable IMO.  It was fine.  Just "Meh".  I honestly am having trouble remembering much of anything about it.  And that's not good.

[TrekMD]

 I honestly am having trouble remembering much of anything about it.  And that's not good.

 

You're right.  That's not good at all.  Maybe dementia is starting to set in.  You may need to see a neuropsychiatrist!  

[RickR]

:lol:   You got me!

 

Maybe it was the lack of big-name stars.  But the movie felt lifeless to me.