There have been a lot of naysayers out there voicing their not-so-excited feelings over READY PLAYER ONE. Some believe it's purely a nostalgia cash grab that sports what could be wonky, ugly visuals. Well, some of those naysayers could end up eating those words for breakfast, lunch and dinner, because the movie screened at SXSW last night (to technical difficulties, including the sound cutting out) and word is the movie is a visually dazzling triumph that works as an ode both to cinema and geek culture. Plenty of critics and journalists (and director Robert Rodriguez) were on-hand to watch the movie, and many of the reactions are hailing director Steven Spielberg for crafting a movie that is pure entertainment of the best kind, saying that they, and the crowd, loved every minute. The movie received a standing ovation, as you will see in a tweeted video below.
Here are some of the reactions!
#ReadyPlayerOne is classic Spielberg fun! What a blast, can't wait to see it again. Rewards repeat viewings. Tons of great references, visuals and heart. So kick ass it blew the speakers!
— Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) March 12, 2018
TOTALLY engrossed in every second of @readyplayerone. It is one of the most technically brilliant things I have EVER seen. Spielberg is one of the few directors who could orchestrate this kind of visual symphony that SO many people will enjoy. Pretty amazing.🎮
— Grae Drake (@graedrake) 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
I don’t know if I have ever seen a #SXSW crowd cheer on a movie the way they just cheered on #ReadyPlayerOne. We haven’t seen this Spielberg in a long time – it’s just pure entertainment and it’s hard not to watch it without a dorky smile on your face the whole time
— ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) 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 feels like Spielberg watched a ton of Luc Besson movies and decided to outdo them. In terms of pure spectacle, it’s the most astonishing thing he’s done. Never underestimate Steve. #SXSW
— erickohn (@erickohn) 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 (@scottEweinberg) March 12, 2018
The biggest surprise for me is how good those wacky avatars look and feel, it’s maybe the most successful part of the film and I am shocked to report this
— Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) March 12, 2018
It is in fact not a STARSHIP TROOPERS-esque anti adaptation, thanks a lot to @GriffLightning and @davidlsims for even planting that idea in my head
— Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) 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
Mark Rylance can shine in literally anything. That I will say. #ReadyPlayerOne #SXSW
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) 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
However, not everyone was cheering during the standing ovation, and were not swayed by the colorful referecnes
#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 ➡️ SXSW (@KristyPuchko) March 12, 2018
You’ll also hear the crowd went wild throughout. Totally true. These opinions are mine. I don’t pretend I represent all of the premiere audience or even all critics. I hated this. If you’re excited about it, I genuinely hope you enjoy it.
— Kristy Puchko ➡️ SXSW (@KristyPuchko) March 12, 2018
literally my face during every second of Ready Player One. pic.twitter.com/dqZTNeN81r
— Britt Hayes (@MissBrittHayes) March 12, 2018
Like always, you should wait to see the movie yourself, but these early reactions are always great to see how the first batch of viewers liked/disliked a movie. Even simply serviceable Spielberg movies can provide thrills, heart and quality filmmaking, but it seems READY PLAYER ONE proves that when the director turns in something great it’s pure movie magic that dazzles like nothing else. Get ready to cough up all your money, geeks of the world!
READY PLAYER ONE arrives March 30.
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