Directed By: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi
Release Date: August 13, 2021
My Rating:
Video game-themed movies are hit-or-miss, more often the latter. I can probably count on one hand the video game movies that were worth watching. Skepticism kept me from watching this movie but I kept hearing good things about it. I can honestly say, it’s much better than I expected and, definitely, worth watching.
For A Gamer Audience
There is one caveat though, it is for a niche audience. Some folks might enjoy it even if they are not familiar with the gaming world, but I suspect this is going to be more enjoyable for even a casual gamer. I think this is likely to appeal more to those who have played open-world games, MMOs, Grand Theft Auto, etc.
There are themes and nuances, often seen in the background, that only a seasoned gamer will understand. Some of those background nuances are pretty funny, some I have done and still do. If you are not familiar with noobs, tea bags, latency, lag, or general gamer shenanigans then you’re probably going to think this movie is a little weird.
There are some rather creative liberties taken from an IT perspective. There is a part at the end involving the game servers that might be a little beyond belief. However, given the, already, fantastical nature of the film, it’s something I can look past.
I’d watch it again.
“The screen is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.”
– Stanley Kubrick