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GirlzRevil (7 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Mar 2, 2018
A little bit action and a whole lot of nostalgia
Very possible future society. Full story that ends with twists and turns, with a completely relatable protagonist. Wade's behavior and perspectives are realistic and attainable - he reminds me of my 18 year old in many ways. Also, if you do the audiobook, Wil Wheaton narrates, and he's a wonderful narrator.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Nov 14, 2018
GirlzRevil (7 KP) rated Armada in Books
Mar 2, 2018
Set in Oregon, but way cooler to visit than Portland
Full story that ends nicely, with a nerd champion who's behavior and perspectives are realistic and attainable. Makes you question modern games in ways Enders Game or similar stories have not. Also, if you do the audiobook, Wil Wheaton narrates, and he's a wonderful narrator.
Dai Samuel (29 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2018
As I’ve said before, I’m obsessed with Ready Player One. That said the movie isn’t the greatest piece. It also fails to muster the same nostalgic feeling I got when reading the book (no debate on book over movie please, I’ve had that conversation) so I am less vested in the on screen characters. That said, the characterisation of some key characters is good enough to keep me coming back for more, shame some of the key scenes never got shot. FYI Wil Wheaton reads the audiobook and that’s always a good deal.
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Rent-A-Pal (2020) in Movies
Oct 29, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
Rent-A-Pal certainly has that 90s vibe to it as lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) is looking for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his ageing mother (Kathleen Brady). His only escape is the chance to find a partner through a video dating service but he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal.
Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton – Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me), the tape offers him what he yearns for, some much-needed friendship. But finding a Pal comes at a cost.
Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton – Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Big Bang Theory, Stand By Me), the tape offers him what he yearns for, some much-needed friendship. But finding a Pal comes at a cost.
Logan (76 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Jan 14, 2019
This rating is of the audio book narrated by Wil Wheaton.
I only played one MMORPG seriously (Guild Wars, I'm looking at you!), and it consumed my life for a good year or so. This is important - all sorts of games are mentioned in Ready Player One, but it takes place within an MMO, and I'd wager that experience with MMOs will vastly increase your enjoyment of this book. It brought back all my fondest memories of gaming culture. It wasn't the most complex story of all time, but it did constantly manage to remind me of how much I loved hanging out with friends, arguing about games, and competing to see who truly had the best grasp of combat mechanics in super smash bros.
I only played one MMORPG seriously (Guild Wars, I'm looking at you!), and it consumed my life for a good year or so. This is important - all sorts of games are mentioned in Ready Player One, but it takes place within an MMO, and I'd wager that experience with MMOs will vastly increase your enjoyment of this book. It brought back all my fondest memories of gaming culture. It wasn't the most complex story of all time, but it did constantly manage to remind me of how much I loved hanging out with friends, arguing about games, and competing to see who truly had the best grasp of combat mechanics in super smash bros.
Liliannar (58 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
May 29, 2018
This was an incredibly fun and nostalgic read. Though I wasn't born in the 80's, I did (and still do) enjoy a great deal of the material discussed in this book. I listened on Audible and it was narrated by Wil Wheaton which significantly added to the enjoyment factor. I would absolutely recommend that anyone interested in this book listen to it aloud. Each character is clearly identifiable through the voice acting.
The biggest difficulty for me in this book was getting into the mindset of a teenage boy. There were chunks of time where I just didn't care about the main character and really wished someone else was giving their perspective. Given that this is my only complaint, it was a fantastic book and one I would certainly enjoy again another time.
The biggest difficulty for me in this book was getting into the mindset of a teenage boy. There were chunks of time where I just didn't care about the main character and really wished someone else was giving their perspective. Given that this is my only complaint, it was a fantastic book and one I would certainly enjoy again another time.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Stand by Me (1986) in Movies
Sep 5, 2019
The Loser's Club
Stand By Me- is one of only three films stephen King himself likes based off of his novels. That is saying a lot because most of his adaptions are bad.
The Plot: After learning that a stranger has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
What a perfect cast of people.
Stand By Me- has drama, adventure, kids being kids, bullies and more.
I would highly reccordmend it.
The Plot: After learning that a stranger has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton), Vern Tessio (Jerry O'Connell), Chris Chambers (River Phoenix) and Teddy Duchamp (Corey Feldman) encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.
What a perfect cast of people.
Stand By Me- has drama, adventure, kids being kids, bullies and more.
I would highly reccordmend it.
The Marinated Meeple (1848 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Mar 23, 2018
Writing (2 more)
Character development
80's references
This is one of the most fun reads I've ever had.
I kinda love this book, and the Audio Book is read by Wil Wheaton which is kinda perfect. I even love the dystopian future aspect, where everyone spends all the time online, plugged in to the Oasis. And here within it in a big mystery, with shades of willy wonka. Here is this everyday geek, who through hard work, determination and cunning deciphering of the codes and clues makes a run at the greatest prize of his time. Once agai on fo the most fun books I've ever read, and I really hope the movie coming out soon lives up to the feel, I already know it won't have everything as no movie is ever a complete version, but I feel that steven spielberg at least has the chops to take it on and do it justice. I hope I'm not wrong.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Stand by Me (1986) in Movies
Jun 15, 2018
A Modern Classic
Remember the days of your youth, when Summer was just one long vacation - where you and your buddies would take off and let the day unfold as it presents itself - no schedules, no meetings and the only clock was the rising and setting of the sun?
Such, nostalgic, feelings and remembrances is at the heart of the 1986 Rob Reiner film, STAND BY ME, a "coming of age" tale of boys on the cusp of leaving boyhood behind.
Based on a Stephen King novella, STAND BY ME follows the adventures of Gordie LaChance and his pals Vern, Teddy and Chris as they set off to find the body of a young man who has been missing - and presumed dead.
But it is not the destination that is at the heart of this story, it is the journey - and what a journey, filled with heart, it is. We join in with these 4 boys as the walk towards the unknown - both physically and (more importantly) metaphorically, growing and developing in front of our eyes.
Credit for this film has to start with Director Rob Reiner - mainly known before this film as "Meathead" on the classic TV Series ALL IN THE FAMILY. This was Reiner's 5th film as a Director and, I believe, announced his "arrival" as a signature Director. Look at the run Reiner had. In order, he directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE SURE THING, STAND BY ME, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, MISERY and A FEW GOOD MEN. I would also include THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI in this list, but they come after the misfire NORTH. But, 9 out of 10 good films is quite the track record.
What struck me in this showing of the film (seen on the big screen for the first time by me since 1986) is the contrast between intimacy and enormity. When the boys are on their trek, Reiner shoots a good deal of these scenes from a distance - showing how small these boys are in comparison to the world around them. But, when the scene is an intimate, dialogue, character-driven scene, he tightens his shots right into the faces of the 4 leads, creating an intimacy that draws us into these characters.
The other credit has to go to whomever cast this film - for the 4 unknown boys that were cast in the leads were well cast, indeed.
Start with Wil Wheaton as Gordie. Gordie has spent his whole life in the shadow of his over-achieving "All American" brother, trying to be noticed for who - and what - he is, an author, not an athlete. Wheaton brings the right combination of determination, intelligence and vulnerability to Gordie, giving us a protagonist we can root for. Jerry O'Connell was funnier than I remembered as the "fat kid", Vern, who just wants to play by the rules, but always goes along with his friends, despite his better judgement. Corey Feldman has never been better than he is here as Teddy Duchamp - a young boy with a troubled home life - and a troubled life - that is trying to control, and understand, the rage inside of him.
But it is the work of the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, the "leader" of this group that really shines. He is the glue that keeps this foursome together, strong but showing a vulnerability and a "realistic" view of what it is to be a misunderstood youth - the hurt that comes with that and the walls that one puts up to combat that. Phoenix commands the screen in every scene that he is in and when the scene is just Phoenix and Wheaton, you are drawn into a real friendship.
I was surprised, at this viewing, at how serious this film is - and the topics that this film addresses - but those moments are wisely balanced by scenes of action/adventure (like the train tressel scene), comedy (like the the "lard-ass" pie eating scene) and "other" moments (the leaches!).
This is one of those films that is getting better with time - it is aging well - and, rightfully, fits in the category of "Modern Classic".
Letter Grade: A
Such, nostalgic, feelings and remembrances is at the heart of the 1986 Rob Reiner film, STAND BY ME, a "coming of age" tale of boys on the cusp of leaving boyhood behind.
Based on a Stephen King novella, STAND BY ME follows the adventures of Gordie LaChance and his pals Vern, Teddy and Chris as they set off to find the body of a young man who has been missing - and presumed dead.
But it is not the destination that is at the heart of this story, it is the journey - and what a journey, filled with heart, it is. We join in with these 4 boys as the walk towards the unknown - both physically and (more importantly) metaphorically, growing and developing in front of our eyes.
Credit for this film has to start with Director Rob Reiner - mainly known before this film as "Meathead" on the classic TV Series ALL IN THE FAMILY. This was Reiner's 5th film as a Director and, I believe, announced his "arrival" as a signature Director. Look at the run Reiner had. In order, he directed THIS IS SPINAL TAP, THE SURE THING, STAND BY ME, THE PRINCESS BRIDE, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, MISERY and A FEW GOOD MEN. I would also include THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT and GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI in this list, but they come after the misfire NORTH. But, 9 out of 10 good films is quite the track record.
What struck me in this showing of the film (seen on the big screen for the first time by me since 1986) is the contrast between intimacy and enormity. When the boys are on their trek, Reiner shoots a good deal of these scenes from a distance - showing how small these boys are in comparison to the world around them. But, when the scene is an intimate, dialogue, character-driven scene, he tightens his shots right into the faces of the 4 leads, creating an intimacy that draws us into these characters.
The other credit has to go to whomever cast this film - for the 4 unknown boys that were cast in the leads were well cast, indeed.
Start with Wil Wheaton as Gordie. Gordie has spent his whole life in the shadow of his over-achieving "All American" brother, trying to be noticed for who - and what - he is, an author, not an athlete. Wheaton brings the right combination of determination, intelligence and vulnerability to Gordie, giving us a protagonist we can root for. Jerry O'Connell was funnier than I remembered as the "fat kid", Vern, who just wants to play by the rules, but always goes along with his friends, despite his better judgement. Corey Feldman has never been better than he is here as Teddy Duchamp - a young boy with a troubled home life - and a troubled life - that is trying to control, and understand, the rage inside of him.
But it is the work of the late River Phoenix as Chris Chambers, the "leader" of this group that really shines. He is the glue that keeps this foursome together, strong but showing a vulnerability and a "realistic" view of what it is to be a misunderstood youth - the hurt that comes with that and the walls that one puts up to combat that. Phoenix commands the screen in every scene that he is in and when the scene is just Phoenix and Wheaton, you are drawn into a real friendship.
I was surprised, at this viewing, at how serious this film is - and the topics that this film addresses - but those moments are wisely balanced by scenes of action/adventure (like the train tressel scene), comedy (like the the "lard-ass" pie eating scene) and "other" moments (the leaches!).
This is one of those films that is getting better with time - it is aging well - and, rightfully, fits in the category of "Modern Classic".
Letter Grade: A