ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Ready Player One

Max Cloud: The Importance of Teamwork

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“Max Cloud will shoot first and ask pointed questions later.”

One of the unique aspects of growing up in the 1980s (besides being able to roam free in the neighborhood after school) was the advent of video games.  Sure, you could go to the arcade in the mall or the local pizza parlor and pump quarters into Pole Position, Donkey Kong, or Ms. Pac Man (my personal nemesis), but we longed for something more.  

I have received a number of game systems over the years thanks to my father’s job (Pong; Bally; Odyssey2; Texas Instruments-even learning to code in BASIC), but it was the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986 that jolted me into a world I never knew existed.  Suddenly there was a connection among friends, all of us attempting to accomplish the same task – defeat games without the use of the Internet, email, chat, or online play. Yes, we called each other on the phone.  Yes, we spent the night at each other’s houses and played until the sun rose. Yes, we drew highly sophisticated maps and conjectured ways of defeating Ganondorf or the Mother Brain. Yes, we did eat highly caloric snacks and played quintessential 1980’s tunes.  Yes, we celebrated the takedown of a game like we won the NBA Championship.

I think that’s why the new film Max Cloud brought back memories for me in a flood of music, icons, and 1980’s-era graphics.  I wanted it to be a film that would evoke the geekiness and excitement of Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One while adding a new layer to the world I grew up in.  Sadly, it does neither.   

The story itself is fairly straightforward in nature. Sarah (Isabelle Allen, Les Misérables) is a fan of the Max Cloud videogame series.  While playing one day, she finds an easter egg (code for a secret item) that sends her from playing in her bedroom to being an active part of the game as Jake (Elliot Langridge), Max Cloud’s cook. Her friend Cowboy (Franz Drameh, Hereafter) looks for her and suddenly realizes that in order for Sarah to return to the land of the early 1990’s, he’s going to have to beat the game—or bye bye Sarah/Jake. Sarah’s comrades in the game consist of Rexy (Sally Collett), a somewhat shy and gregarious commander, and Max Cloud himself (Scott Adkins, Zero Dark Thirty; Doctor Strange), a vainly pretentious fighter in the vein of Buzz Lightyear, complete with references to himself in third person.

Every teenager’s bedroom, circa 1990

This sounds awesome! Where does the film go wrong?, you might wonder.  I think it begins with the screenplay itself. There are a number of opportunities for fleshing out the characters and having the viewer connect with Sarah and Max.  However, these are all brushed aside, leaving a bare-bones structure that simply cannot overcome the lack of detail.  The characters simply aren’t given enough to do. I do appreciate the concept, but in this case, less is not necessarily more.

Another area of concern is the unevenness of the graphics and set quality.  The video game Sarah gets pulled into is 16-bit (a la Double Dragon) and would be pretty respectable if it existed in real life. That might explain why the actual video game sets look like something one might find on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Some of the props look wonky as well, such as Rexy’s backpack blaster (it looks better in the actual game than in real life) and the helmets the characters have in case of going out into space. At the end, the final battle is of significantly higher quality, but it’s a bit jarring to see such differing graphics on the screen (think early Nintendo versus a PS5).

Even though there are some definite issues with the film, I did notice that the concept of teamwork is on grand display for the viewer.  The Cowboy realizes that if he doesn’t beat the game (which he has never done), his friend dies. He can hear Sarah, so the two partner to make sure he does the best he can—even resorting to her calling out button presses so the characters will get out of a tight jam. Even her father jumps in to make a critical save of the game at the end.  I’m reminded of a passage in the Bible that says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Life is challenging enough as it is right now (Covid or not), so to have people around to help when the going gets tough-or even to talk to about all types of things-is important. Let us take a lesson from the Bible and video game players—we need each other.

Max Cloud is available on VOD now.

Ready Player One: Real Life

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I have completely forgotten the title of the story. I have forgotten what magazine I read it in. I have even forgotten most of its plot.

All I remember is the protagonist visiting another character she met online, only to discover her initial thoughts were completely incorrect.  The other person lived in a very small studio apartment and spent nearly his entire waking existence ‘living’ inside virtual worlds via cartridges he inserted into a head mounted device he wore. What was a reality to him was a virtual existence to others.*

Every time I think about virtual reality and the possibilities it can hold for our quickly deteriorating planet, I come back to the story I don’t fully remember. Simply put, life isn’t meant to be lived that way.

As the strains of Van Halen’s hit song ‘Jump’ welcome viewers to the world of Ready Player One, a camera snakes through an apartment complex created out of trailers crudely stacked like Jenga blocks (see picture above).  It focuses on the top trailer before panning down to reveal individuals playing tennis, shadow boxing, and pole dancing while wearing virtual reality goggles. The dystopian nightmare revealed in the last paragraphs of the story I can’t fully remember is on full display.

But is there hope?

Ernest Cline’s book Ready Player One, a massively geeky love letter about the 1980s wrapped in virtuality, sold so well that Steven Spielberg chose to direct a big-budget film based on it.  The end result is a movie that is noticeably different from the book yet somehow works well enough that people will come in droves to watch.

Here’s the basic premise: An eccentric video game programmer named James Halladay (Mark Rylance) created a virtual society called the Oasis, a place where anyone’s dreams could come true with a VR suit. Before he died, he hid three virtual keys that, when acquired, would lead one individual to an Easter egg and control of his company, valued at over a trillion dollars. For over a decade, nobody could find the first key.  But after Wade Watts (known in the Oasis as Parzival and played in the film by Tye Sheridan) is successful, it’s a race to complete the task before a company called IOI succeeds and takes Halladay’s company over for themselves. Along the way, Wade is helped by his online friends Aech (Lena Waithe), Sho (Philip Zhao), and Daito (Win Morisaki).  Then there’s Art3mis (Olivia Cooke), a wild but successful gunter (slang for egg hunter) who steals Wade’s heart. But are they who their unique avatars make them out to be?

Wade’s devoted most of his life to claiming the Easter egg, living the virtual life I read about in the story I opened this review with.  But when virtual blends with reality, real consequences happen. IOI discovers his real persona and attempts, through the wiles of Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn), to convince Wade to join their team (known as the Sixers).  When he refuses, Sorrento blows up his real house, killing his aunt—and potentially others—in the process.  It is only then that Wade realizes physical life and virtual life aren’t the same.

As for the main aspects of the film . . . The virtual world was typical Spielberg, that is to say: well-polished, well-designed, and well-executed.  It was chock full of 1980s references that will take multiple viewings (or somebody putting it in a YouTube video) to catch. In the first five minutes, I picked up on Marvin the Martian and Hello Kitty.  Halladay’s library was incredible, as was the race for the first key (although the book is completely different in this aspect).

The real world was a mixed bag. I loved Rylance’s portrayal of the eccentric, quirky, yet charming Halladay. Cook does a great job with Art3mis, blending passion with feistiness and hidden charm.  My one issue comes with Wade.  Sheridan feels wooden and forced playing the real-life version of Parzival, giving him an unrealistic quality. However, his blonde haired-avatar fits in perfectly as a leader to the virtual world, unfettered by size or power.  Give Spielberg credit there. Regardless, this is a film that deserves to be seen regardless of what generation you come from.

There are a number of themes that can be discussed here (Halladay’s attempt at playing God [Genesis 1]; escaping one’s past; games people play; being one’s real self; people will rally to the right cause), but I’ll go with one.  There is a reason we need to be connected with others in real life.  VR isn’t as good as the Oasis (and may never be), but that doesn’t mean we need to spend every minute of every day staring at a phone or other form of technology. It might be fun to chat and mingle with people virtually, but in the end, all that’s left are memories. We were not designed by God to live 24/7 by ourselves (after all; he made Eve because it wasn’t good for Adam to be alone).  We need real people around us to support, encourage, and enjoy life with.  No matter how good VR graphics get, it’s simply not the same experience. Living life can be quite fun and invigorating.

Besides, in online communication, we have the ability to be who we want to be, not what we are in real life.  It’s why I get so frustrated with people on Facebook who always seem to have it perfectly together with constant selfies and successes. Real life is messy and struggles are as common as the sunrise.  A community allows us to be real, be honest, be ourselves.

Real life, with all of its challenges, trumps a virtual life every time.  And you don’t have to read a story to know that.

* If you know what story I’m referring to, let me know in the comments.

The Warner Bros.’ Blu-ray Combo Pack contains special features that take us back to the ’80s (“The ’80’s: You’re the Inspiration”) as well as a series of featurettes going over ninety minutes into details about how Spielberg made the film, like “Game Changer: Cracking the Code,” “Effects for a Brave New World,”  “Level Up: Sound for the Future,” “High Score: Endgame,” and “Ernie & Tye’s Excellent Adventure.”

4.15 Finding your Oasis in READY PLAYER ONE

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Set in the year 2045, the global population seeks solace in the OASIS, a digital haven with limitless possibilities. However, when the creator dies, he challenges the world to unlock an Easter egg hidden somewhere in the game, giving them total control over the system itself.

Filled with pop culture references and stunning visual effects, READY PLAYER ONE heralds a return to the adventure genre for Steven Spielberg. Though one could argue the film is primarily a nostalgia bonanza, Spielberg imbeds his story with his own Easter eggs of truth. This week, Steve welcomes Jeff Baker and Benjamin Porter to discuss about the nature of identity in the digital world and the relationship between Creator and his creation.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

4.15 Ready Player One

Thanks Jeff and Benjamin for joining us!

READY PLAYER ONE Giveaway!

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Are you ready?

In the year 2045, much of Earth’s population centers have become slum-like cities due to overpopulation, pollution, corruption, and climate change. To escape their desolation, people engage in the virtual reality world of the OASIS (Ontologically Anthropocentric Sensory Immersive Simulation), where they can engage in numerous activities for work, education, and entertainment.

Wade Watts (Sheridan) is a teenage Gunter (short for “egg hunter”) from Columbus, Ohio who frequents the OASIS and attempts to win “Anorak’s Quest”, a game created by the deceased creator of the OASIS, James Halliday (Rylance), by finding the Easter Eggs. The winner is to be granted full ownership of the OASIS, among other things.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: Tell us your favourite Steven Spielberg film and why!

The winner will receive a copy of the original book for Ready, Player One, written by Ernest Cline.

For a bonus entry, like or retweet this post on Twitter.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Thursday, March 29th, 2018.

 

Ready, Player One will be unleashed in theatres on March 29th, 2018

Take Two: Thoughts to Consider

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Some random thoughts and perspectives to consider . . .

I have been amazed at the amount of generational disconnect ensuing from Disney’s latest attempt at A Wrinkle in Time. It seems that kids and teenagers have enjoyed the film thoroughly, giving it an 89% rating on CinemaScore.  However, adults have been far less kind, granting Wrinkle a 61% rating.  I remember walking out of the screening a few weeks ago and commented to another member of the audience that it was probably going to have a split reaction.  I just didn’t realize how prescient my thoughts were. The difference in scores can be attributed to numerous factors, but I present three for you to consider:

  • Adults have a difficult time putting themselves in the shoes of a child when viewing a film expressly meant for kids. DuVernay mentioned that Wrinkle was meant for 8-12 year-olds, so that means that group will enjoy it the most. I noted in my review that adults have to put a new set of glasses on to enjoy it the same way.  Sadly, it seems many folks haven’t tried that option–yet.
  • Adults were expecting an adult film.  That simply wasn’t going to be the case, especially if you read the source material.  The disappointment is reflected in the critical reviews.  I thought that might be the case, actually hypothesizing that the final Rotten Tomatoes score would be 40%.  For the first time in my life, I was correct (it probably won’t happen again).
  • There has also been a rather large undercurrent of angst online toward screenwriter Jennifer Lee, who explained that she specifically took out Christian elements from the book in her script. I am perplexed as to why this is even an issue.  So what if Mindy Kaling doesn’t quote 1 Corinthians 1:25-28 when Meg visits Camazotz?  It would’ve been nice, but it’s not completely necessary. Regardless of what Ms. Lee tried, she was unable to get rid of L’Engle’s underlying themes.  This is where we have the opportunity to dialogue with others about light, darkness, love, hope, and the Christian faith.  Just because something’s not immediately obvious doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent.  It just makes us think more.

There’s been a lot of discussion regarding the surprising third-place box office finish of I Can Only Imagine. It scored a very respectable 62% on Rotten Tomatoes and earned $17 million in its first weekend. For many in the faith community, this isn’t surprising at all. But there may be a reason for the success that you may have not considered.

Back when Mel Gibson put The Passion of the Christ out for people to reflect upon, he employed a unique (for that
time) method of marketing.  He got pastors and members of the Christian community to see the film in advance, then encouraged them to bring their congregations to the cinema. As a result, theaters were packed and good word of mouth helped propel Passion to the largest ever box office tally for a faith-based film–$370 million. Today, many faith-based films use this method of promotion, which can perhaps be described as front-loading the box office.  In this case, pack out the theaters on Thursday and Friday via church groups and Christian radio stations, then hope people continue to flock to the theater in the following days.  Normally, this method fizzles unless the product on the screen is good (as it should be, honestly).  But it also produces a measure of caution when considering any revenue numbers from faith-based films in their opening week.  We’ll get to put this to the test in a week when God’s Not Dead 3 premieres (EDIT: the opening weekend was a very paltry $2.6 million).

I’m sure you had an opportunity to check out the latest trailer for Avengers: Infinity War. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s crammed with every last character from the Marvel universe (minus Hawkeye).  So many characters only means one thing: someone’s going to die. But who?  I have absolutely no clue, but my guess is Iron Man will be among the final casualties.  What do you think?  Post a comment and let me know!

Two other films piquing my interest are Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald and Ernest Cline’s magnum opus Ready Player One. We’ll have to wait until November for the former; the latter will make its way to theaters next week.  It’s going to be a feast for those of us who love the 1980s and will hopefully remind us of the lines between real life and virtual reality.  But for a few hours, I’m going into the Oasis.  A review will be coming—bank on it.

Finally, I recently had the privilege to serve as a judge for the Christian Youth Film Festival. The event, currently in its 24th year, is intended to celebrate the talents of high school and college students in the world of filmmaking. A feature-length film composed, designed, and written by high schoolers was premiered in addition to the festival entries.  After talking with a number of the entrants, I discovered there are some impressively talented students out there in the areas of cinematography, scriptwriting, acting, and graphic design.  A panel discussion was held with the judges where we talked about how to make and create impactful movies with lasting messages, how to tell timeless truths without beating them into the ground, and how serving and giving of oneself is the best way to make an Christ-like impression in Hollywood. 

If you’re interested in submitting for next year’s festival, visit their website at christianyouthfilmfestival.org.  (Thank you to Joe Brown [middle of picture above] for making the experience an incredible one)

To give you an idea of the students’ work, here’s the Best Picture winner for high school (in addition to three other awards).  You may want to grab a tissue or two.