Book to Movie Review: Ready Player One

FILM INFO FROM GOOGLE:

From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure “Ready Player One,” based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name, which has become a worldwide phenomenon. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS…

Release date: March 29, 2018 (USA)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Box office: 582.9 million USD
Budget: $155–175 million
Production companies: Village Roadshow Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Amblin Partners, Warner Bros. Pictures

My thoughts: What did I just watch? I was fortunate (or unfortunate, take your pick) to watch Ready Player One after reading the book. The book was fantastic and I really loved the 80's pop culture in it. I also loved the female characters in the book. So when I watched the movie, I could not help but get frustrated with the changes that were made. 

First off, they changed the three challenges. What was wrong with the Jousting challenge that Wade did in the book? I thought it was great because he (and the reader) got to meet and really know Artemis. In the movie, it was changed to a car racing game. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty cool to see the graphics and the pop culture icons throughout the scene (and the rest of the movie), but I felt cheated with Wade's encounter with Artemis. However, the challenge in the movie version with the Shinning was pretty neat. This change from the book I did not mind as much. 

Next, Artemis. I loved Artemis in the book. She was insecure but she was strong. She stood up to Wade and stayed focused on her task. In the movie, she was weaker. She did not hide the fact that she liked Wade and even tried to kiss him!! What was that all about? Also, the book said she was a little chunky, especially her avatar. It was sad to see that Hollywood refused to cast a full figured heroine or even have a full figured avatar. And...Don't get me started on the whole indentured servant part in the movie...

Pros: The computer graphics were very well made. The way the OASIS was portrayed in the movie was visually pleasing. I liked looking all over the place trying to identify every pop culture character and item that were placed in the OASIS. I was also amazed to see how detailed the avatars were and how it transitioned from the real world to the computer world. 

Overall, the movie was decent but it did not make it justice to the book. The graphics were awesome but the plot and characters were a little disappointing. If I saw the movie first, perhaps I would have appreciated it more, but I could not help keep comparing the movie to the book. The book is way better!