Okay, okay. Let’s all settle down, now! It’s time to talk about the RPO movie.
If you’ve been following my blog for more than a few hours, you probably already know that I’m a pretty obsessive massive RPO fan. I’ve read it multiple times, and listened to the audiobook a few times. Easily one of my faves, if not THE fav (who can choose, though?)
First, I have to say that they changed a lot. Too much, in my opinion. I’m not one to get stuck on small details, either. Small changes, here and there, to adhere to the shortened timeline are okay. Big changes don’t sit nearly as well with me, and there were some pretty big ones in the movie.
That being said, there were still a lot of things about this movie that I liked, and even some things that I absolutely LOVED!
The visuals are absolutely stunning. The world(s) inside the Oasis were great. Some were even better looking on screen than they were in my head. And the Stacks! Holy crap. Did they build a perfect replica of the Stacks? I say no. I say they cast some kind of magic spell on a copy of RPO (probably a hardcover) and the set rose directly out of the pages. They looked SO great!
Pop Culture references were still EVERYWHERE! Music, movies, games, characters. There were so many that there’s no way I caught them all. My wife and I were listing ones that we saw and kept saying, “Really? I didn’t see that! Cool!”
So. Should you go see Ready Player One if you love the book? Yes. If you love the world created in this book, you need to see this movie. Because even though the plot has had some pretty big alterations, this movie still takes place in the Ready Player One world.
It’ll help if you go into it thinking it’s more of a retelling than a direct adaptation. But seriously. Go see it.
I tried reading the book and didn’t get very far — it just wasn’t for me. That being said, I really enjoyed the movie. There are a couple of marvelous moments that I absolutely loved and the soundtrack was great!
There’s so much to love about that movie!
I can’t wait. This weekend, I swear I’m going! I’m curious now to see what’s been changed, although I read the book in 2011 so I don’t remember all the details.
I am so happy that you loved it because I know you love the book as much as I do! I am seeing it this weekend and I am so excited!!!
Totally agree with you!
I finished the book during the day on Saturday and went to see the movie on Saturday night. They changed A LOT. I’m still not sure what I think about the changes because some of them are major but the visuals are absolutely stunning.
I want to see this so badly!! Knowing how much you love this book and you approved of the movie makes it even more exciting!! Hopefully I’ll see it soon!
Just remember: Re-telling, not adaptation…
Good to know!
I agree! Sunning visuals and those stacks! 🙂
I think my jaw hit the floor when we got to the stacks. First the sweeping overall, that looked like it was directly off the cover of the book, and Wade’s whole climb down. That alone was worth the price of admission!
Exactly!
I am so eager to see this movie!! I’m hoping to get there next weekend. I’ve heard that there were changes to the movie, but I think maybe I won’t be so aware of them because it’s been a while since I read it.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed things about the movie, but I don’t care. I’m excited to go see it anyway!
You should be! Despite any beefs of book vs. movie, it’s a spectacle to see!!
I am really hoping to get to see it next week with some friends. I am glad you liked it though! I have heard much of the same, that it was very different from the book but still super enjoyable so I am exited :]
And that seems rare, doesn’t it? Usually, a movie/show is either really good because it’s stayed close to the book, or it went another direction and the book community hates its guts. This movie has found a way to go its own way and still remain enjoyable. Sure, I have a few beefs, but not enough to keep me from watching it over and over.
I feel like that book in particular had a slight advantage in that way because there were SO MANY references throughout the book, that they could get away with using different ones in the movie if they needed to (because of lack of time/rights etc.). Typical novels have a very specific recipe if you will, but with RPO, because it was so heavy on 80s nostalgia and references, I think it was easier to tweak and alter their “recipe” and still feel authentic to fans :]
Watching this on Friday. I’m not as in love with the book as you are, but I have high hopes for the movie!
The main thing I’m not a fan of is how focused they were on the love story part of the movie. It’s a brief mention in the book, and it shows up every now and then throughout, but it was just so blatantly in your face in the movie that I couldn’t deal with it.
Also, watched the second challenge through my fingers. #scaredycat
I understand why they changed some challenges (because is watching Joust really all that exciting? Maybe they couldn’t get the rights for the second challenge, etc.), but once you think of it as a retelling and not a copy, it turns out okay. I’d give it a solid 3.75/5 stars. Some things were skipped that needed to be in there (Wade being poor!), but for the most part, it was pretty decent. Saw it in IMAX 3D and the visuals were gorgeous.