Less than a handful of times has Steven Spielberg missed his intended mark when it comes to the movies he has directed over his illustrious career. Even when it came to movies that critics panned such as Hook, it would appear that audiences connected with them in a positive way. When it comes to orchestrating a successful production, few do it as consistently well as Spielberg does. Ready Player One brings with it a strong pedigree for success at a fortuitous time when its best chance of box office competition is a movie that’s already been out for six weeks.

The year is 2045, and after several unfortunate occurrences, the world is an empty shell of what we knew it to be. Where there was once a thriving society, that’s now replaced with a downtrodden society forced to live in squalor by no fault of their own. With the world having become such a desolate place, escaping reality is the best way to deal with the unpleasant conditions. The OASIS, a virtual world created by James Halliday (Mark Rylance), is the only thing that keeps the people’s sanity in check. Players spend more time exploring and living in this world than they do the real one.

Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) is just like everyone else until he discovers something that no one else has. The extra appeal to the OASIS is that to anyone skilled enough to solve the puzzles left by its creator, Halliday, said person would take complete ownership of this amazing place and retain all of the financial benefits that come with it. Because money is involved, corporations are out get richer, that’s where Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) comes into play. Corporate greed is just as cut-throat as it’s ever been and the race is on see who will finish first. Wade must use his problem solving skills, along with new friends he meets along his adventure, if he is to find the answers that he so desperately seeks. The key to victory will not come easily.

With epic sci-fi classics under his belt such as Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993), and A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). Steven Spielberg understands how to grab ahold of the attention of the masses and make them feel like there’s no better place to be than sitting down and enjoying one of his movies. Regardless of the decade, Spielberg has delivered and as we near the end of yet another decade, can we even pretend to be surprised that he’s back with another potential hit. Ready Player One combines a great story with spectacular special effects and a rockin’ soundtrack.

Tye Sheridan grabs the lead role with Olivia Cooke, Mark Rylance, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg and Ben Mendelsohn costarring. Lighthearted moments throughout helps cut through the long runtime by switching gears with laughter as this mysterious story unfolds. Staying true to the overall nature of video gaming, Ready Player One gives viewers the feel that they’re part of a game by leveling up, unlocking doors and chasing the ultimate prize. Keeping your attention at a high level will only benefit viewers. I’m guessing that seeing this movie on more than one occasion might be necessary to catch the plethora of hidden images, characters, and references scattered about.

Ready Player One is a step back in time to when we were in complete awe of what was being presented to us on that magical big screen. Steven Spielberg’s latest more of an experience than anything. And depending on where you stand on 80s pop culture, there are many extra ingredients to be stoked about. It’s hard for me to find anything negative about this movie…ALTHOUGH I will tell you all that there’s no reason to stay around for the excessively long rolling of the credits. One would think that if any movie was to have a hidden post-credits scene to reward loyal fans, it would be this one. And that would be an incorrect assumption. So if you’re fighting with your bladder at the conclusion, just pack up and get out. All joking aside, this is an amazing experience that should be enjoyed in theaters. Check it out today!