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    Movie Review

    Spielberg's Ready Player One goes back to the future with '80s nostalgia

    Alex Bentley
    Mar 29, 2018 | 1:21 pm
    Spielberg's Ready Player One goes back to the future with '80s nostalgia
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    How you feel about Steven Spielberg’s latest movie, Ready Player One, will likely depend on when you grew up. With a heavy focus on pop culture of a certain era and the recent trend toward all-encompassing video games, the film will be enjoyed greatly by particular generations, but perhaps leave others befuddled and cold.

    Set in a semi-dystopian 2045, the world has apparently turned so dire that nearly everybody spends their days in the virtual reality world called the OASIS. Wade (Tye Sheridan) — known as Parzival in the OASIS — has discovered that anything is possible in that world, as long you have the skills to continue without “zeroing out,” aka losing all your digital currency.

    The recently deceased creator of the OASIS, Halliday (Mark Rylance), has hidden a series of Easter eggs that will give the person who discovers all of them power over the virtual world. Parzival is one of many gamers in search of the hidden prizes, along with Aech/Helen (Lena Waithe) and Art3mis/Samantha (Olivia Cooke). Trying to get there before them is corporate overlord Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn), who utilizes his own virtual army in the pursuit.

    Based on the book by Ernest Cline (who also serves as co-writer of the film), the movie is unabashed in its love of almost anything that entered pop culture between 1978 and 1991. In the context on screen, that admiration makes sense as Halliday grew up in that time period and thus filled the OASIS with things from his childhood. Parzival, who reveres Halliday, has taken a shine to many of the same things despite having grown up 50 years later.

    The level of detail the film uses to indicate this devotion is staggering. There are so many references that it would be impossible to catch them all without the benefit of a pause button. You could call it nostalgia overkill, except that, for the most part, the film doesn’t get bogged down in the references. Yes, they are ever-present and there are certain sequences where they play an integral part of the plot, but they also usually feel organic to the story at hand.

    That’s because the film also immerses itself in the gamer culture that has popped up in the last 10 years or so, one that is nothing but self-referential. If you can do anything in the OASIS, it makes perfect sense that players would want to use or build certain pop culture items that they loved or that they think would impress other players.

    Still, the onslaught can get a bit wearing, as can the sheer amount of exposition that Wade and others must impart to make the story intelligible. Surprisingly, what doesn’t wear out its welcome is the computer-generated imagery, which easily comprises 70 percent of the film. Spielberg and his crew seamlessly transition in and out of the virtual world, making the characters’ avatars and everything else in the OASIS feel as natural as anything in the real world.

    The performances are somewhat hit-and-miss. Sheridan and Cooke are the only actors who get to act close to the same both in and out of the OASIS, so they come off the best. Rylance plays the socially awkward Halliday well, but a little of him goes a long way. Mendelsohn is naturally intimidating, so why he or someone else chose to saddle him with unsightly and speech-impeding fake teeth is beyond me.

    Unlike many of his recent films, Spielberg clearly set out to make Ready Player One as purely an entertaining experience. As long as you don’t try to overanalyze the innumerable references and just go with the flow, it’s a blast to watch.

    Tye Sheridan in Ready Player One.

    Tye Sheridan in Ready Player One
      
    Photo by Jaap Buttendijk
    Tye Sheridan in Ready Player One.
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    Games News

    Launch amusement center with restaurant-bar lands in Lewisville

    Raven Jordan
    Jun 11, 2025 | 6:13 pm
    Launch Family Entertainment
    Launch
    Launch Family Entertainment

    A new trampoline park and amusement center has landed in Lewisville: Called Launch Family Entertainment, it's a concept from Rhode Island opening at 2460 S. Stemmons Fwy. at Lakepointe Crossing in a space that was previously home to Balaxi party center and before that Glow Zone.

    According to a release, it opens June 14.

    Launch was founded in Warwick, Rhode Island in 2012, has since expanded to 30 locations in 15 states. Lewisville is the company's first center in Texas; there's a Houston location in the works, as well.

    It started out as a trampoline park but over the years has expanded with more games and attractions, as well as a premium restaurant and bar to attract customers of all ages.

    The facility features indoor trampolines, a ninja course, rock climbing, ropes course, arcade with 40 games including ski-ball and Halo, virtual reality, and bowling.

    The Lewisville location spans 47,000 square feet — 4,000 feet of which comprises a safe area for younger kids called Joey Town, featuring slides, giant jungle gym, mini grocery store, mini ice cream shop, and mini airplane.

    The restaurant is called Krave Restaurant and Bar, and serves American fare, with pizzas made from scratch, chicken tenders, nachos, salads, buffalo wings, and giant pretzels. It has a full bar with cocktails plus local and seasonal beers. An ice cream bar with craft sundaes and shakes features ice cream from Denton's acclaimed Beth Marie's.

    Introducing the concept to Texas is co-owner and operator John Day, his wife Lindsey, and three other families, who say they are passionate about bringing exciting, community-focused entertainment to the area.

    The location was in the works for a year. According to Day, they chose Lewisville because there weren't many options that could keep both parents and kids entertained in one place.

    "There’s stuff for toddlers, teenagers, and adults," John says. "Parents forever have been sitting in the old school trampoline park counting down the minutes until they could go, and now mom and dad can have date night in our restaurant and bar."

    Ticket prices vary depending on time and duration, but start at $25 to $40 for an hour, which includes access to trampolines, dodgeball, and other attractions. Some locations also offer summer passes.

    “We’re incredibly excited to introduce the Launch brand to the great state of Texas,” says Craig Erlich, CEO of Launch Entertainment, in a statement. “Lewisville is a vibrant, family-oriented community and the perfect place for our first park in the region. We look forward to creating a space where families can come together, celebrate, and enjoy unforgettable experiences.”

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