An absolute nerdfest, especially for those of us who were teens in the 80's. The pop culture references come thick and fast in a film that threatens (though never does) to overload the senses. There are loads of articles and videos online going into depth, with checklists of 'every' Easter Egg in the film (am sure they missed a few, as did I), but many have overlooked the biggest cultural reference of them all. By this, I mean Spielberg himself. Here, he returns to his childlike sense of wonder and glee that has been missing from many of his films over this last few years. Yes, Bridge of Spies was great, and I enjoyed War Horse, but I missed the Spielberg of ET, Close Encounters, and the original Indiana Jones movie trilogy. Yet here he is, blasting us with pure nostalgia with filmmaking that only he is truly capable of, and it's that, in amongst every other reference in the film (one scene towards the middle will blow your mind) that made me truly enjoy this film.

Sadly, of course, there are critics who have come down hard on the film. Yet the film isn't made for them. If it had been packed with references to Andrei Tarkovsky and Ingmar Bergman, with 3D subtitles and film noir subtexts, they would have been in seventh heaven. Unfortunately, many of them don't know one end of a joypad from another, and the only type of Spielberg film in their blu-ray collections are Lincoln (yawn) and Schindler's List. THIS IS A FILM FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, those who enjoy childlike escapism, who played Dungeons and Dragons, and who still miss the much lamented sci-fi series Firefly. Ready Player One isn't a perfect film, there are times when it drags, but give it a chance (**overlook** it's occasional shortcoming) and enjoy it for the pure escapist fare it is. And don't forget the message at the end of the film.

It's doubtful there will be a sequel, but if Ernest Cline ever wants to write Ready Player Two, I hope Spielberg gets to make the movie. Game on!