Ready Player One’s Early Reviews Are Looking Promising

If there’s anything the internet loves more than dog photos, it’s hating stuff — it seems to be a hobby for a lot of people to dunk on anything before they’ve even seen the finished product. With only a couple of trailers and promos, people seem to have already made their mind up on Ready Player One: Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ernest Cline’s popular book.

It’s easy to see where the disdain comes from — it’s effectively Fan Service The Movie. The long and short of it is that it’s set in a dystopian world where its inhabitants escape reality by diving into OASIS: a place where you can be anyone you want. VR Chat has already shown what kind of nightmare this would be, but Ready Player One’s family-friendly nature means that we get nerd references aplenty instead. Could you imagine watching an hour and a half of tiny memes spitting at Elsa from Frozen?

With its wide release coming soon, Ready Player One premiered at SXSW and seemed to blow plenty of people in attendance away. The general consensus seems to be that, yeah, it panders like nobody’s business to its audience, but it’s a damn good time nonetheless.

Ready Player One: Legit great. This is why we love movies…why we need pop culture. Major Spielberg

— Sean Cordy (@sean_cordy) March 12, 2018

#ReadyPlayerOne is classic Steven Spielberg. It’s got the references, the ferocious effects and the great ‘80s soundtrack, sure, but also the charm, the heart, the humor and a fantastic Alan Silvestri score. I loved it & so did this #SXSW crowd. Be excited for it! pic.twitter.com/xwPOGwXDxd

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) March 12, 2018

Ready Player One is a pop culture extravaganza. A truly one of a kind film that combines video games, tv, movies, music, & action figures into one huge crowd pleasing film. Prepare to be wowed & see this on the biggest screen with the best sound system possible. #ReadyPlayerOne pic.twitter.com/Tj6QuqI9oF

— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE: So so so much movie. Sometimes too much but what I kept thinking over and over again was “my kids are gonna LOVE THIS.” It is joyous and thrilling for the people who it’s designed to joy and thrill.

— Brian Tallerico (@Brian_Tallerico) March 12, 2018

If this doesn’t answer whether people loved #ReadyPlayerOne, I don’t know what will. pic.twitter.com/2uXGYCAck7

— Beatrice Verhoeven (@bverhoev) March 12, 2018

So yeah, I LOVED Ready Player One. It’s perhaps the geekiest movie ever made. So so so happy right now!

— Eric Vespe (@EricVespe) March 12, 2018

Ready Player One is a whole lot of fun. Those who are stuck in pre-release hate mode better prepare to be disappointed. #sxsw

— Scott Weinberg (@scottEmovienerd) March 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/graedrake/status/973067082148601857

Ready Player One was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences I've ever had watching a movie. Thank you Steven Spielberg for this masterpiece!!

— Rach (@heythererachy) March 12, 2018

What a fantastic love letter to games and pop culture from Mr. Spielberg! An awesome book is now an awesome film! Every gamer should see Ready Player One. Super fun, extremely satisfying and offers a ton of new things even for book readers! #AJsBadAssSealOfApproval

— Joe Vargas (@AngryJoeShow) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE: Good lord I was wrong about this one. It’s oodles of fun and kind of the antithesis of Cline’s novel in terms of its quality. References weren’t too cloying for me, but I was so close I couldn’t pick out too much. #sxsw

— nick johnston (@onlysaysficus) March 12, 2018

AHHHH READY PLAYER ONE!!!!! Haven’t felt that sense of childlike wonder since JURASSIC PARK. This film lacks the terror of that film but the sense of joy is overwhelming. This film is love. #sxsw #sxfilm #sxswfilm #ReadyPlayerOne

— Alex has “The Feels” (@LSUgymtiger) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE is full of giant, dorky heart. I both want to hug it and give it a noogie #sxsw

— Meredith Borders (@xymarla) March 12, 2018

Of course, as with almost everything ever created, there were some negative opinions about the movie:

#ReadyPlayerOne posits a corporate big wig who exploits fan culture for profit as its villain. The irony of that is giving me a headache. This is no love letter to pop culture. It’s a crass play to nostalgia; it offers nothing new or exciting.

— Kristy Puchko (@KristyPuchko) March 12, 2018

literally my face during every second of Ready Player One. pic.twitter.com/dqZTNeN81r

— britt hayes (@MissBrittHayes) March 12, 2018

There's no scene or story element in Ready Player One with which I don't have a bone to pick

— Jenny Nicholson (@JennyENicholson) March 12, 2018

If you’re curious about Ready Player One and want to find out for yourself, it opens worldwide on March 29th. Personally, as a fan of the book (while also being fully aware of its faults), I’m cautiously optimistic. I appreciate the need for deviations from the source material, so here’s hoping it delivers.