Ready Player One Movie Review

[@DavidSchwegler]

As a hardcore video gamer, this feels like a love letter to me. I have never felt like a video game movie so genuinely loved video games, and the constructive criticism was something I didn't take any offense to at all, it was very constructive and not condescending.

[@emm1h]

No please don't paint gamers as people who just don't like watching movies because most movie adaptations of video games are garbage.

[@SaptarshiDutta_batasha]

i am glad at least someone said this... it is the non-gamers who kind of try to alienate us gamers on some baseless grounds

[@emm1h]

Saptarshi Dutta Yup, I for example watch a crap ton of movies from various genres. Only ones that I try to avoid are horror movies because those creep into my dreams :D

[@SaptarshiDutta_batasha]

exactly. I watch football, go to watch movies, follow tv shows and do my day to day work and even then i am quite a nerd at gaming... People with orthodox ideas dont try to understand that gaming can be a part of life.

[@asi-princess]

E.H same here, I honestly hate horror movies. I’m pretty much scared of everything.

[@adavidtoremember]

Well if the real world was as exciting as the Oasis then no one would want to go into the Oasis

[@seankelley155]

I think depicting reality and the people in it as bland is kind of the point of the OASIS. People escape to the OASIS because reality is a shithole. People in the OASIS are maybe more interesting within the game because they feel as though they can be their true selves.

[@janstankiewicz9816]

...And the heightened status of their avatars gives them more confidence to do interesting things. Grace barely scratched the surface of the psychological and social commentary one needs to take into account when alluding to Ready Player One. Creativity vs consumerism, vigilance vs escapism, nostalgia vs going forward...

[@Anon-qp3kt]

It's not that gamers don't go to movies, it's just that movies based on video games or inspired by games tend to suck thus discouraging non-gamers from playing some of the best games.

[@Beatness121]

Yeah most video game movies aren't made for gamers, but for a wider audience. Which I guess is fair, but it doesn't really entice gamers into seeing those movies.

[@takeshimasaki2033]

The sad part is that they don't take the 2hrs of Cut Scenes to turn into a 2hr movie. If they did that then, they would do better. The scenes that are more like cut scenes end up being better than the new cinematic additions for the most part. Take the AC movie.. They reinvented the Animus to be cooler on film, but it ends up being one of the weakest points in the movie. Way to much time spent on something that wasn't really needed.

[@officialpartychannel]

Spielberg is a gamer and bioshock is one of his favourite games. That's why he was in the running of directing a bioshock movie.

[@TimBurVlogs]

officialpartychannel yeah! Its been well documented since at least the filming of Jaws that Spielberg was a gamer! Whats up with that, Grace?

[@mishoa1]

please no, Bioshock does not work at all as a movie.

[@brucebanana4486]

officialpartychannel wait what Speilberg plays video games. That's cool.

[@TimBurVlogs]

WarGod Venersis thus why it is not a movie. Yet

[@janstankiewicz9816]

Would you kindly direct this?

[@tjedwards2585]

um.. I'm a gamer and I love going to the movies.

[@RonMar]

Spielberg is a long-time gamer ever since the original Doom game came out (early-mid 90s). I remember reading stories where Robin Williams and he used to love to play Doom matches together.

[@datacorz]

Your opinion about gamers is so out of touch it sad. I m a gamer and i go to the movies on a regular basis , concerts, theater etc you name it. And if you think that the book was just about "a game" , well you missed the point.

[@evaschubmehl6]

will zmith yeah I argree in the book it's described as a place to escape to and was a lifestyle.

[@arcevans7324]

will zmith *It's sad* And stop being sensitive.

[@datacorz]

I m not that sensitive lol. But to judge all ppl that play games as socially challanged to put it lightly it seems a bit ... dunno , wrong?

[@TimBurVlogs]

Grace is out of touch with everything in this review, it makes me sad.

[@arcevans7324]

will zmith Gamers love to explore worlds without actually doing any field work, or getting hurt. So any a way they are socially challenged. My sibling is a perfact example.

[@Lag22987]

3:38 we actually do go to the movies we just want a good video game adaptation of the movie. No video game movie brought the same vision and feeling of the stories from the original adaptation.

[@JustinBocci]

What about Jumanji 2?

[@Lag22987]

Owen Santana it's not based on an actual game but Jumanji 2 was more authentic than the new Tomb Raider

[@bartholumew7483]

jumanji 2 was never an actual video game ... they mean movies based on actual video games.

[@adamdust2511]

Lui s 100%

[@brucebanana4486]

Lui s well problem with video games movie is that try to be videogame but is completely different media.

[@gravity2218]

“Gamers don’t really go to the movies” 🤨

[@maniv2119]

Actually Grace, Spielberg is a gamer. Its been well documented. He even helped develope one for the wii.

[@Tebigong101]

I don't think that gamers don't go to the movies and more they know studios won't adapt these games properly and have no respect for gaming, justified or not. A game like Mass Effect would make a fantastic movie, but they would pull a Last Airbender. What should be two movies condensed into one stripping away the best elements and/ or the casting directors seeming to go out of their way to improperly cast a beloved character or cast a Johnny Depp.

[@bigdurk4115]

Tebigong101 mass effect is the best except andromeda that game sucked.

[@sarath431]

Tebigooong101 i believe halo makes a good movie series

[@megamegaO]

The METROID franchise would be great too...if they adapted the manga

[@xxrabbitsnipezxx5794]

sarath431 well they have made quite a few but they're mostly low budget and short films

[@movieswithmatticus5469]

sarath431 it's funny you say that because Steven Spielberg was attached to develop and direct a Halo movie for a while.

[@ManaWarGaming]

Gamers do go to the movies, just happens that the movies that are based on previous gaming Franchises have been very bad.....Fool me once!....

[@vapoet]

Just remember that there is no franchise this time. The OASIS is its own animal.

[@ManaWarGaming]

Franchise or not, as a gamer and movie lover, I will check it out in the theaters, just remains to see of the average movie lover will do the same. :)

[@bobsaget8791]

Gamers most definitely go to the movies, how out of touch can you be.

[@josuegutierrez2774]

I’ve read other reviews for the film, which agree with your’s in saying that the real world is very bland, especially in comparison to the OASIS. But, having only read the book as of now, that that is really the point of the OASIS, and the story as a whole. The real world sucks so much, and bores you, even saddens you, so much to the point that you understand why humans have been flocking to the OASIS, and are happy spending all of their time in it. From what I gather from your review, it sounded like you thought that it hurt the film, but I would just like to add that perhaps looking at it from a different perspective might help your enjoyment of this sequence, especially in seeing the contrast of the worlds, and the perspectives of the people in those worlds.

[@cjlynn3411]

Wish you didn’t tell us about the horror part...

[@mponder486]

Yeah I would have spoiler warning'ed that. It is the best part of the movie for me.

[@vapoet]

But a review helps you decide when or whether you will see a film. Is it a theater movie? Is it video movie? Or is it a movie that you never see at all?

[@mponder486]

You should just see movies on your own personally feelings and not listen to critics, least of all some white woman that never has any idea what she is talking about. This movie is amazing. If it looks good to you, go see it in a theater. You won't be sad you did. Make up your own mind and make your own choices.

[@vapoet]

I've only recently heard about it, but for me, a movie is still quite a commitment. I'm an hour from the theaters.

[@jaysilentphasma1819]

The movie was BRILLIANT. Release the 4K already. The gaming experience was not weak at all. It was awesome!! The whole movie from start to finish was brilliant and that isn't something we seem to get anymore when going to the cinema. BRILLIANT!!

[@SylviusTheMad]

The changes were inevitable. The movie might be a valentine to pop culture lovers, but the book was a valentine to nerd culture lovers. A mass market film was never going to be so thoroughly nerdy as the book. The book's use of classic D&D modules, text adventures, and a prog-rock album based on the work of Ayn Rand (!) would just alienate movie audiences. If you want this movie to be an exact recreation of the book, it was never going to be that.

[@rolledoats407]

I believe this is a movie from a book about video games, not movie about or taken from video games. Don't get that confused. So, I believe this film can fare well on box office, especially with the many many many many pop culture stuffs going on in it. There are many characters in Oasis that doesn't shown in the trailer and this movie need to be watched for more than 4-5 times to clock them all or most of them, at least. I want to watch it again and have it in home video because I feel that this movie will be great in the long run.

[@gordo__932]

Steven Spielberg created the medal of honor game so i dont know how you could say he dosnt understand gamers

[@Goufunaki]

"Gamers don't really go to the movies." "Gamers want that interactive experience." Well, no. When we go to see a movie, we want to watch a good movie. The reason why films based on games do poorly is because they have a history of always being bad adaptations. People aren't looking for an interactive movie. It was really odd to hear you to say that.

[@ryantodd4924]

I just loved how the film basically said "GET OUT MORE" which made me giggle

[@JesusSavedJoshua]

Ready player one was a giant smile and showed that Spielberg is back it is element even as he ages.

[@sarahoskins1888]

This movie isn’t just meant for the gamer audience! It’s meant for the readers who want to see the book come to life. I haven’t seen the movie yet but in the book it’s not just video game references it’s 80’s references.

[@montelinm]

He painted it as bland so people would understand why people wanted to escape to the oasis

[@kar7u]

As a gamer or at least someone that has spent a massive amount of time in a dark room playing games I loved this movie and all the references. Even the non-gaming references were amazing like the bike from akira and a couple robots that are in the last fight (I won’t spoil but it’s awesome)

[@bowlsem7]

The Oasis wasn't a game. It was a virtual world used by everyone to do all kinds of things. It is closer to what the internet is today and it is not a gamer centric thing as well. It is a conduit for a multitude of very diverse things.

[@Quezacotlish]

As someone who loved the book so much, i listened to the audio book read by will wheaton at least 4 or 5 times last year, I really enjoyed the movie too, and I liked how much they changed around so that i wasn't just sitting there going "i know the answer to this puzzle" the whole way through. I felt like it was different enough to be a new experience for me, but not so different that it felt like it wasn't the same story.

[@TreborSantos]

Not only is Spielberg a gamer, he has helped produce some, including one of my favourites: Medal of Honor!

[@RubidiumMoon]

I personally loved Ready Player One because as a gamer, I can appreciate all of the “easter eggs” that were put into the movie. Gamers do go to movies. I went to see it. We don’t just play games, we do other stuff too.

[@RubidiumMoon]

Most video game to movie adaptations are flat out trash, but this movie was actually good because it didn’t focus on one game, but every gamer could appreciate and understand the references that they made.

[@newguy203]

I think the IRL depiction of the two leads being “bland” as opposed to how they are in the game may be a representation of how many people who do play video games, more specifically MMORPG’s, seem to find more confidence or take on another personality due to the anonymity of hiding behind a player avatar.

[@bitca222]

Do all the outside pop culture characters that make an appearance actually impact the story? Or are they just 'oh look that's so&So from whatever' blink and you'll miss it cameos??

[@Loki-sk7bi]

More like Cameos.

[@Designandrew]

They DID make the game.. its called VR Chat. Thats what I don't really get about this movie, I think it came too late. I spend time on my weekends getting drunk and singing karaoke as an anime girl at a pub in VR Chat. I once had everyone in the pub come and watch me sing, around 30 characters all from various pop culture backgrounds, all standing in a crowd watching me give this impromptu concert. The future this movie portrays already exists, now.

[@reddir]

The first 3 minutes of this are great. A nuanced critique, in my opinion as someone who grew up in the 80's. "Gamer" is more than special effects and I think you actually get this. Thank you for your clear expression of some of my thoughts.

[@battlejayroyale2811]

Spielberg is very much a gamer. He even produced the first Medal of honor games.

[@elmoblatch9787]

The change from War Games was brilliant.

[@ukod]

I watched it tonight at a screening event and I absolutely LOVED it. So much nostalgia I constantly smiled.

[@alittleofeverything4190]

Grace, nice to be here. You nailed it! Trying to connect gamer and non-gamer is the goal. Some things will disappoint. However, it was a great movie, just as good as Wreck It Ralph and Speed Racer.

[@jamcalx]

But was the RX-78-02 Gundam portrayed well?

[@Beatness121]

Asking the real questions (also RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was in Pacific Rim Uprising and it was amazing)

[@servitudenations]

no spoiler~ ore wa gundam!!

[@jamcalx]

Beatness I KNOW, RIGHT?!😄

[@harleyqueen3824]

I am looking forward to see it this weekend.

[@rolledoats407]

Yes, just wait for it.

[@DaneofHalves]

Well considering ready player one is not just about gaming. The books was about 80s culture which included gaming but was not just about gaming.

[@manicms]

Grace, I have to disagree about your comment re: not capturing the game. VR, which RPO is about, isn't like traditional games where it's all about getting that levelup or prize, although it can involve that. VR is often just about presence, about being there, in the experience. There's a line in the movie about this too: "players come for what they can do, but stay for who they can be".

[@beniwestside]

Grace! You should know, they have an interactive RPO Challenge in Hollywood. I haven’t had a chance to check it out and I don’t know how it enhances the moviegoing experience but it is a multistory temporary structure on a parking lot and it looks like the “dystopian” environment I saw in the trailer. I hope to check out the challenge after I’ve seen the movie this weekend

[@MostlyAwesome]

Went to first showing at my local IMAX, about 75% full, lots of fans, good crowd reaction and good comments overheard walking out. Yeah the horror thing in the middle was good. Different from the book? Sure, a lot, in a way should have been a mini series on Netflix (like most movies based on a long story like this). Worth seeing? Yeah if you’re into these things. Mainstream audience? Sadly probably not. Graces review is on point here. Could’ve been better but solid adaptation, I give it a B-plus, see it twice?, mmmmmmm maybe on a rainy day

[@dev1n]

I thought it was pretty good, I also had no expectations going in

[@inspektical2393]

Gamers do like movies, one thing we love across all mediums is a good story, interactive or not.

[@maxpfaff9931]

I’m so hyped to see this tho!

[@vapoet]

How did Grace become the guardian of gamers? She doesn't recognize autism and thinks it's a bad depiction of gamers. She is so stuck on identity politics, she labels everyone in terms of a single identity, whether Asian or gamer, without noticing that people have a lot of facets.

[@kuhne]

The reason why games about movies or movies about games suck is because usually the first one to come out is the one that had heart, not expecting to become a monstrous success. Then the movie or game adaption of that IP is only made to cash in the popularity.

[@MyLifeJapanTV]

I really enjoyed that insightful review! Dig the comedic style and quirky inflection too.

[@darkdefender5759]

I have been waiting impatiently for your review Grace, In the UK we had a special preview screening on the 19th, and I have been waiting to share my thoughts with my friends, although I'm still gonna give them the silent treatment until they watch it, and I'm so glad we agreed, kind of. I loved it, and while I only know a little about the book, I had a sense of where it all came from. I can't wait for the Inevitable SPOILERS! review.

[@billkiller323]

RPO is a masterpiece. A modern classic. There's a sequence in the film where my jaw was on the ground and my brain was short circuiting, and it wasn't an action sequence. (you know what I'm talking about).

[@FERNANDOFLORES-wk8ju]

You know I have been a fan of your videos for years now, and this is the firts time you give me the feeling that you are dangerous close to be talking about something you really don't know about, I don't why.

[@futuramayeah]

I liked the live action segments compared to the animated video game segments, I didn't think the live action was bland in any way, I thought they could have used different animation styles for the video game world

[@babyyaoo8916]

The Oasis isn’t a game Grace, it’s another life.

[@pamzaluikham3916]

"Gamers don't go to the movies" - Grace. Love the one liners.

[@rayrix2016]

The thing is the source material also incorporates paper base gaming as well. The jarring thing a lot of the story has been changed to the point where I think they have lost the core of some of the characters.

[@Nettingyournetworth]

Grace is so adorable when she makes her voice all squeaky (^___^)

[@SteveBrant55]

Spielberg has been a gamer for decades.

[@markkamphausen43]

I haven’t seen the movie yet, only read the book. I’m not sure why Grace keeps referring to the Oasis as a game. To me it was a VR environment in which you can do many things including play games.

[@hershelkatz6189]

my friend convinced me to read the book and I had a fun time reading it, so I hope to see it with him.

[@MoonAtomic7]

I always love when Anton Ego makes an appearance.

[@captainhotpocket4303]

I have literally never met a gamer that hasn't gone to a movie lol

[@jonofpdx]

Spielberg actually is a gamer. Or at least, he's been involved with games and has spoken of them admiringly.

[@Mads97415]

I've read the book(and loved it) and I loved the movie to! I actually think they did a good job cramming in the important stuff that they couldn't flesh out as much as they did in the book. And I really enjoyed that they changed the challenges so that I didn't know what challenge would be next, but still kept the core of what the book was.

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Spielberg's best 'crowd-pleaser' film since "Last Crusade," IMO (yeah, that includes "Jurassic Park," which I've always considered a bit overrated).

[@danmiskimmon1844]

Grace question - do you think the debated Oscar snubbery of Wonder Woman and the mistreatment of the character, and not to mention the box office bombing, ofJustice League will hurt Wonder Woman's sequel box office haul. I am very interested to see if people will support not just her sequel, but black Panthers sequel. I fear many people may celebrate both movies as pop culture game-changers, but their pockets may dry up with the sequels - as the characters are already established, will people turn up for these less historic movies? Im not the best converser so hope you understand my point lol Thanks so much for all your great content - been watching for years!

[@sethwoods6349]

Spielberg has been a gamer since Jaws

[@harrisonedits]

It's not really the basic storyline at all, and I haven't read it, but from what I've heard about the book, it's really turned me off from this movie. Just the way it's written and how some of the things are said and the action of a main character. I'd hope all that controversial stuff is left out of this movie

[@Beatness121]

I pretty sure it is. Most of the reviews I've seen have said that the movie improved upon the bad stuff in the books.

[@SValens]

Yeah, what controversial stuff? I read the book and can't really remember anything that could be categorized as controversial. There was social exploration and criticism, which worked fine within the context of the film. EDIT: I just remember something that Wade says early in the book that is controversial, but that will definitely not be in the movie, cause it isn't even relevant or necessary to the story.

[@MrRibonu]

sanity wat

[@takeshimasaki2033]

It follows the main story from the book really well. The adjustment between book and story is more like Jaws than Starship Troopers.

[@noahsryan]

I was worried for your review but once I saw your smile in the thumbnail I knew it would be okay.

[@wyattjohnson6733]

I'm seeing this on Saturday and I'm super excited! I read the book twice, and by that I mean right after I finished I started it over again, and it is amazing. I know the movie won't be nearly as good, but I have high hopes for it and am excited to see how many references I can spot.

[@Voeris1]

If you are a casual gamer Grace, then again, you MUST play Nier:Automata if you have the chance. Certainly the best and most original game of last year, and already a classic. You won't regret it. It has a story that cannot be told in movie or book form. (which is pretty awesome, I think)

[@barbraseville8984]

At 1:10 I heard all I needed. Literally confirmed all of my doubts I'll pass.

[@erwinmatic5062]

How's the soundtrack of the film?

[@shelfenthusiast]

Steven Spielberg is a gamer, or at least was He said so during the premiere

[@itsagabe]

And btw, making the Oasis as a game is not impossible. The problem is finding a developer willing to put that many resources into an actual recreation of its scale (which is supposed to be absolutely massive). I don't think it would be interesting as a strictly linear experience, though, because part of the game's appeal in the book is how open-ended it is. Don't think they would have to recreate the entire Oasis either, but at least make the key areas open. Myself, I would be interested in seeing an actual MMO out of it, more as a sequel to the book rather than a retelling of its story. Unfortunately, as popular as it is, Ready Player One isn't a strong brand to warrant any of that. If it's a risk adapting a movie, it's an even bigger risk adapting anything into a game, especially considering how awful tie-in games have been for the longest time (I think The Mummy Demastered is the most recent example of a tie-in that's actually better than the film, but I can't think of any other good examples).

[@MrBharless1203]

Gabriel Cavalcanti oasis reminds me of Second Life. Its not VR but it's a world where you can build anything.

[@matheus5230]

Spielberg IS a gamer! Search about this before criticizing him, Grace!

[@hallowshp5240]

Ready player one was great . it was visually appealing as well had a good solid plot . Something that some films these days miss . I'd rate ready player one has a 79% film .

[@orphanedhanyou]

I feel like the approach to the game or entry to the game wasn't as exciting or hyped because of how the oasis is more of people's real life than real life, as seen further in the movie.

[@davelee6002]

Grace, the problem with rp1 being an "actual game" is that it is a mishmash of many actual games, and has licensed many disparate existing game IPs.

[@mistermars9534]

Gamers don't go to the movies? You do realize how populair super heroes movies are right.

[@grahamjones4366]

When reading the early reviews, one of them with no warning spoiled the horror part of the film

[@GojiraRising]

Nothing like saving the World, like blasting the soundtrack of Say Anything on a Boom Box.

[@Littlepolarbear]

It's a good thing I didn't read the book then or I probably would be disappointed. Can't wait to see it! :)

[@MylesBrennen]

"gamers don't go to the movies"??? Gaming is popular culture now. The movie viewing audience has a LARGE overlap with the gaming audience. If you were referring to viewer support for movies based on games, just make a good adaptation and we'll go.

[@sherwinlui5758]

I feel like Spielberg just haven't play a game that he took seriously or was surprise at. He needs a life changing game in order for him to understand video game. He needs to answer: "Video Game can do that?" I don't think he ask himself this question: "Is that topics, issues, situations, motivations, themes limited to the medium or limited by the people who created them(self censorship)?" This goes for any medium. Also why he do so much research on Saving Private Ryan and Schindler's List and make sure he got it right but when it comes to video games or VR, the research was an after thought? And they are wondering why they get something so wrong or only know the surface level? The research shows in the end product. Even after all that, I'm still looking forward to watching the movie.

[@mrkennyboy8136]

are you advising Steven Spielberg.i think you not even respect Steven Spielberg.he is one of the greatest directer of all time. that man created so many memorable movies at least respect that man.

[@JustinBocci]

Why would you ruin that there was a horror sequence if you even said in the review that Warner Bros wanted to keep that under wraps?

[@kbg12ila]

Gamers do go to the movies, they just don't go to movies that look bad.

[@lawrencescales9864]

I feel like more reviewers want to like this movie more than they did because it’s Spielberg. Looks just okay to me, little bit of a misunderstanding of the basic game experience

[@EnragedTofu]

They should have waited till they could fully film the VR in actual VR. That’s my opinion.

[@peccatumDei]

Grace, I hope that after you watched the movie, you went out and read the book, or at LEAST listed to the audio book, narrated by the excellent Will Wheaton. The movie is good, but the book is ten times better.

[@loudestsilence5314]

As long as they keep the Monty python scene in there I'm happy

[@carinej8163]

I love this book and I am SUPER EXCITED to see the movie. I definitely think that a VR experience and creating the Oasis would NOT have been a great thing. One of the biggest points of the book is about how the Oasis Isolates everyone from reality. It's fine to step out of reality for a little while, but it's not fine if you only live in a VR world.

[@skip8490]

Honestly I was pretty disappointed. I love video games and pop culture but felt the acting was pretty flat, music score was out in at odd points, and it felt rushed so I didn't care about the main character's plight since he seemed so dull.

[@garrett1433]

I sadly disagree Grace, I absolutely LOVED and CHERISHED this film, it made me wish Oasis was real, because it felt better than real life imo

[@Nitaka12]

Gamers have high standards for movies. There are mad games with better immerse experience then the majority of mainstream movies.

[@johnbandadesigns4605]

Well if the author of the book is also the script writer....to what extent is really a change or more of delivery of another version of history

[@UserName-vv1ws]

Its definitely a movie grace, once you read or listen to the audiobook you’ll see. It’s made for a movie. If Spielberg can’t deliver on a modern classic then that’s on him. Can’t wait to see it. hopefully I’ll leave happy

[@savingplayer1613]

It breaks my heart, but I was deeply disappointed since so much of the story was changed. I wanted to like it, truly, but I just couldn't reconcile it.

[@Nightsinwhitesatin645]

Grace, you need to read. I don't like critics who don't read the books the movies are based on. Just seems like cheating to me.