It’s the age old question asked by any film or print fan around the planet. I know how many times I’ve been asked, ‘why would you read that, they made a movie?’ Obviously it’s because the book is always better.
But is it really?
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.
My Thoughts
I’ve been so excited for Ready Player One; from the moment it was announced but especially after I heard Steven Spielberg would be the director. I just knew Ready Player One would make a fantastic movie, and I was mostly right.
Confession time: I read Ready Player One way back in 2012, and only once. I can’t tell you whether or not the movie was spot on, or how much was changed. I know things were changed, but for the most part I got a similar rush of excitement from the movie as I did when I read the book. Truthfully, I almost prefer to put some time between the book and the movie. If I read and watch too close together I focus on a side by side comparison rather than enjoying the movie for itself.
When I think of the Ready Player One movie on its own, I was highly entertained. The visuals were amazing! Again, I was transported into the Oasis and I wished it was real. Again, I know that wasn’t the takeaway of the book, but damn it is awesome. At the end, I kept thinking about how I’d design my avatar… and the same thing happened when I finished the book.
The casting was pretty decent, especially Aech. Actually, Aech, Daito and Sho. They were my favorites in the book, other than Wade, and they were my favorite in the movie too.
I also thought it was interesting how much my husband enjoyed the movie. I was curious how it would translate for viewers who weren’t already familiar with the world, so I was pleasantly surprised when my husband was able to invest just as much as I was. We both had a really good time.
Winner
As much as I did have a good time watching the movie, the book is definitely the clear winner.
I have a feeling watching the movie more than once could cause some of the jokes to tilt toward the cheesy. What was funny the first time, I think may just make me roll my eyes later.
Also, I know Parzival and Artemis fall for each other in the book, but it didn’t feel like the largest part of the story. I felt like Wade’s friendships were of larger importance, as was the overall theme of reality vs fantasy. However, in the movie the love story felt expanded and pushed. Normally I’m all for the romance, but it didn’t feel natural. The movie would have been better without it.
What the movie did accomplish was making me want to reread the book! I will be doing that ASAP.
Birdie Bookworm 
I am someone who likes the movie to follow the book as closely as possible, and if it doesn’t, it’s usually a bust for me. UNLESS I watch the movie first. I know that’s unfair and a really high expectation; you can’t accomplish in two hours what an author does with a seven or eight hour read. But, hey. That’s me. LOL And that’s why I try to stay away from books made into movies.
Great comparison!
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LOL, I agree with you completely. I do tend to tear movies apart. I think that’s why it works for me to have read the book years before I see the movie, because I remember the book, but I may not remember enough specifics for it to hinder my enjoyment of the movie adaptation.
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I completely agree! I thought the book was SO much better.
Also, I didn’t like how the character who infiltrates the Sixers was changed for the film. That part actually really annoyed me haha.
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Hands down, the book was better for sure. However, I did think that had there never been a book, the movie was still pretty darn good. 🙂
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I meant to read the book before I saw the movie, but that didn’t happen! I’m going to start the book tonight, and I had planned to do a similar post! I really enjoyed the movie, so now I’m anxious to get to the book.
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Ohhh, please let me know when you’re post is up. I don’t want to miss it. I’d love to get someone’s perspective who read the book after the movie!
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[…] No pressure to do the tag as always. I tag: Sophia, Angelica, Matthew, animegirlblogs, Ya Boy Jack, Birdie, Inside My Library Mind, LynLyn, […]
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Ohhhh nice comparison, I think I will restrain myself from watching the movie until I read the book first 🙂 hubby will never read the book so, it might be nice to compare our experiences as well 😀
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That’s how I like to do it too, by reading the book first. I can’t wait to see if your husband and you feel the same as we did.
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Well it’s good that the movie was entertaining, even if the book was the clear winner. Shame the movie had cheesy jokes and expanded on the romance a bit too much. Fantastic review!
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Thanks so much! Normally I’m all about the romance, but not so much in this story.
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[…] Birdie Bookworm […]
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I read the book about a month before I saw the movie, so I definitely did the comparison thing. As an adaptation it fell pretty short, but as a stand alone it was awesome, and it did capture the spirit of the book!
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See, that’s kind of what I thought (even though I didn’t remember as much). I thought, standing on it’s own, it was a pretty great movie!
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