Hey guys, it’s me again.

This one’s going to be short so let’s get right into it!

So I recently saw the super hyped Ready Player One film…

I’m one of those people who read the books before seeing the movie, but I read Ready Player One quite a couple of years ago and didn’t see the point of reading it again so my knowledge is a bit rusty, but for those of you unfamiliar with the plot, here’s the blurb:

In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

Sounds awesome right?

Depending on your liking of ‘gamer’ books like Ready Player One, you may of hated or loved the novel. Author Ernest Cline really encapsulated old video-game terminology mixed with modern/future technology that pleased me immensely. I for one liked the concept and plot, but some chapters were dull as information gets dumped in massive piles everywhere. However, in my younger years I found Ready Player One enjoyable and used it as a go-to recommendation for my friends. It’s a great light-weight read for youth.

Now on to the movie…

I was so excited for this movie. A childhood favourite on the big screen? Yes please!

The graphics were great, the actors were great, but it was missing that extra sense of ‘oomph’ associated with the type of genre Ready Player One embodies. Some scenes could have been strengthened with some loud bass music or sound effects (like Challenge 1: The Race was super boring the first time around….). Surprisingly, they didn’t leave much out, explanations were quite well done and the plot flowed easily. The problem? The love interest.

We all know how much us bookish kids love our OTPs, so I was more than disappointed about the relationship portrayal between Samantha and Wade. I don’t know if it was the actors or just how the scenes were directed, but there were no feels, no love, no chemistry. There was a stronger relationship between H and Parzival!

Recommendation: If you love Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson, The Maze Runner by James Dashner or True Names by Vernor Vinge, take a look at Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One.

Overall, I’d say the book trumped the movie big time.

What were your thoughts?

‘Til next time,

-E