5 Best nostalgic moments in Ready Player One
By Sandy C.
Come for the game, stay for the nostalgia feels. Ready Player One expectations are high, and after watching it twice, I can confirm Steven Spielberg’s latest movie more than delivers.
We first caught Ready Player One at its SXSW premiere earlier this month, but when the advanced screening in Dallas for the film arrived, we weren’t going to pass up watching it again! Ready Player One is based on Ernest Cline’s book of the same name.
The movie, which picks up in the year 2045, shows a dystopian world where citizens would rather live in a virtual reality called the Oasis. If you thought there was hope for the future, you’d be wrong, at least based on what we see in Ready Player One.
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In the movie, and in the words of Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan), everyone has given up trying to fix what’s wrong with the world, and instead they’ve chosen to escape to the Oasis, where you can be anything and anyone. Wade, for example, transforms into Parzival. He and pretty much everyone else who enters the game are in search of three keys left by Oasis’ creator James Halliday (Mark Rylance), who has passed away. The finder of all three keys gets the Easter egg of all Easter eggs — money (a lot) and ownership rights to the Oasis.
Ready Player One is fun, touching, and action-packed. But more than anything, it’s loaded with nostalgic moments. Here are our top 5 in random order so events are not spoiled (too much) for you…
The soundtrack
The entire Ready Player One soundtrack is an 80s dance party, and it let’s you know this right away, kicking off with Van Halen’s “Jump.” Other songs featured are “You Should Be Dancing,” by the Bee Gees, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” by Twisted Sister, “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and more. If you’re a fan of 80s music this is a soundtrack you’ll want to purchase.
Avatars
As previously mentioned, Wade’s avatar in the game is Parzival, but there are other avatars and Oasis characters you’ll spot and remember. Keep an eye out for these, it’s like a little game of I Spy. Characters you will find range from old video game favorites to comic book superheroes. Some of the one’s we caught are Marvin the Martian, Batman, King Kong, Halo, Ninja Turtles, the toy robot from Lost in Space, and many, many more.
Chucky
Speaking of old favorites, there’s a scene featuring Chucky (Child’s Play) that’ll remind you how scared you were of the evil doll as a child.
Iron Giant
Who doesn’t love the Iron Giant? And I’m not talking about the reboot, the Iron Giant in Ready Player One is the one from the 1999 classic! Even in this movie, the friendly giant robot saves the day and doesn’t fail us.
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The Shining
The 1980 horror film was creepy then and it still is! In one scene, our heroes travel into the world of The Shining in search of a clue. While most of the characters (we won’t spoil who) have seen the movie and have no problem navigating through the scares, one of them isn’t a fan of horror and is clueless, which is pretty fun to watch.
Have you seen the movie in theaters yet? What did you think? Which scene is your favorite?
Ready Player One is in theaters now.