Ready, Player One Review

“Ready Player One” has quickly become one of my favorite movies. If you’re into sci-fi, you’ll love it! Set in 2045, people escape their daily lives by diving into a virtual reality universe called the OASIS. The OASIS, which stands for Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation (quite a mouthful, right?), was created by James Halliday (Mark Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (Simon Pegg) of Gregarious Games.

From the get-go, you can see that people practically live in this virtual world. It even seems like some might be getting paid to work there, though it’s not explicitly stated. After Halliday’s death, his avatar, Anorak, leaves a pre-recorded message announcing a new game. The prize? Ownership of the OASIS. To win, players must find a golden Easter egg by obtaining three keys hidden throughout the game and completing various challenges. It’s an epic adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat!

The contest is no walk in the park. Like many games with multiple worlds, each has its own unique theme. The challenges are spread across three random worlds. One involves a thrilling race, another is an Easter egg hunt where players use clues from Halliday’s memories to decode, and the final challenge is about “winning” a vintage arcade game.

But winning these challenges isn’t the only hurdle. Players also have to compete against Gunters, or egg hunters, who work for Innovative Online Industries (IOI). This company is led by Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn), an over-eager, money-grubbing, egotistical CEO who will stop at nothing to win. He even rigs the game world to force people to work off their game debts as indentured slaves, known as the Sixers. The Sixers help the corporation find the keys so Sorrento can win the egg.

We meet Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), a teenage orphan who uses the avatar Parzival in the OASIS. He takes on the first challenge, an almost unbeatable race, alongside his best friend Aech. He also spots his online crush, Art3mis. After bailing out of the race, they all get together to discuss the challenge.

Parzival frequently visits the Halliday Journals, which are simulated archives of Halliday’s life and hobbies, managed by the Curator. He discovers a way to win the race and shares it with his friends. Parzival becomes the first person to win the Copper Key from Anorak. He and his four friends form a crew called the High-5 in the OASIS.

Winning the first key catches the attention of Nolan Sorrento, who sends his mercenary, i-R0k, to uncover Parzival’s true identity. They try everything from bribery to threats. IOI discovers Parzival’s identity when he confesses his love to Art3mis. Sorrento offers Wade a deal to lift him out of poverty, but Wade refuses. In retaliation, Sorrento bombs Wade’s home, killing his aunt Alice and her boyfriend Rick.

Wade warns his friends that they’re being hunted, and they band together to stop IOI from winning the competition. If Sorrento wins, he plans to create a monopoly, forcing people into debt by making them pay for every little thing in the OASIS. His goal is to control the world.

Parzival and his friends manage to win the second key. Soon after, they learn that IOI has discovered the location of the third and final game. Sorrento cheats to maintain control, using a shield to prevent anyone else from winning. Art3mis breaks through the shield while Wade rallies an army. Avatars from every world in the OASIS come together to stop Sorrento. This is the best part of the movie—full of action, drama, and even a funny moment with a Chucky doll. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it’s a fitting conclusion.

Even if you’re not a fan of this genre, you’ll appreciate the stunning graphics. The movie is incredibly creative with a great storyline. If you love an underdog story, this is the movie for you.

I give this movie 4 out of 5 acorns.