5 scenes we loved from Ready Player One

Ready Player One provides messages relevant for the modern day without sacrificing the retro references. Spielberg directs this movie perfectly, delivering another memorable pop culture movie.

 Ready Player One is a gold mine of pop culture references and Easter eggs. It’s beautifully nostalgic as you see a glimpse into our past entertainment mediums and their famed icons. With all the throwbacks mixed in with modern day references, it provides a roadmap to how we’ve simultaneously advanced in both technology and entertainment.

With bountiful selection, here are 5 scenes we loved from Ready Player One:

“She’s hacking your heart to get to your head”

When Aech learns that Parzival had told Art3mis the answer to the second clue, Aech isn’t happy about it, warning Parzival that he doesn’t truly know Art3mis and he shouldn’t trust her for that very reason. However, Parzival doesn’t listen as he doesn’t seem any harm in falling for Art3mis — especially when both him and Aech met online. It’s not until Aech implies to Parzival that he could be getting catfished, exclaiming that Art3mis could be a guy in his mother’s basement with the name of Chuck.

This scene reminds the audience as well as Parzival of anonymity online and possible dangers of not knowing who others truly are.

Parzival’s date with Art3mis

Even though Aech warns Parzival of Art3mis, Parzival still goes on his virtual date and meets Art3mis at a night club. As they dance, Art3mis flirts with Parzival, and he gives out his real name in hope they could meet in real life. Art3mis doesn’t take what Parzival is saying seriously as she explains that her avatar in OASIS is not who she is in real life and that Parzival doesn’t know who she truly is.

This is another reminder of anonymity online, with an added layer of being careful when revealing your real identity. Both these scenes are reminding the audience that not everyone is who they say they are. These messages are particularly great for the younger audience, who might be unaware of the possible dangers online.

Futhermore, this scene is the beginning of Parzival’s undoing. Once he announces his real name, IOI is able to track him down by cross referencing his real name, Wade. From here things start getting messy for Wade as he tries to defeat IOI and find Halliday’s egg.

Aech is in trouble in room 237

The Shining sequence in Ready Player One is unforgettable, and this list would not be complete without a mention. The sequence in itself is hilariously great, even for viewers who haven’t seen the horror flick.

Specifically though, the scene when Aech is in the bathroom with the naked lady and then is transported into the maze is a favourite for the beautifully intense cinematography and direction. It really leaves you on the edge of your seat as Aech goes through major plot points in The Shining through the skin of his teeth.

The big battle

The large battle sequence is truly magnificent with its outstanding CGI and cinematography. A notable scene from the battle is when the camera pans in passing along the front line. As this happens you see contact between the Sixers and the Oasis army, and for a small moment it draws away from Parzival to allow a glimpse into this open world full of diverse characters and their fight for Oasis.

Spotting the different pop culture characters is also a lot of fun throughout the battle.

Another notable scene in this sequence is when Daito skydives off Serenity and becomes a Gundam to defeat Mechagodzilla. This scene is just purely awesome. Even if you don’t fully understand the references, the fight itself is exciting to watch.

Adventure

Although this is one of the quieter scenes in the film, this scene showed exactly the heart of entertainment.

Back when gaming was in 8-bit graphics with basic goals like eating all the pellets without getting tagged by ghosts or preventing the aliens from invading by shooting them, the purpose was to have fun.

This brief pause in Ready Player One allows the audience to relive the nostalgia one last time and reflect on how far both gaming and film has come. As Perzival plays Adventure in a live broadcast to everyone in the real world, he explains the history behind the game and the answer to the last clue.  He clarifies that it’s not about winning the game to get the last key, but rather enjoying the game itself. It’s a sweet moment to reflect on how it all started.

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Overall, Ready Player One is a lot of fun to watch as you see many, many pop culture references since the 80s. With hidden messages to be careful while online and to check into reality every now and then, Ready Player One brings back a simplistic story with a lot of heart.

Are there any scenes in Ready Player One that you enjoyed? Would you watch a Ready Player One sequel?