

“A better reality awaits.”
When the creator of a popular video game system dies, a virtual contest is created to compete for his fortune.


Tye Sheridan
Parzival / Wade

Olivia Cooke
Art3mis / Samantha

Ben Mendelsohn
Sorrento

Lena Waithe
Aech / Helen

T.J. Miller
I-R0k (voice)

Simon Pegg
Curator / Ogden Morrow

Mark Rylance
Anorak / Halliday

Philip Zhao
Sho

Win Morisaki
Daito

Hannah John-Kamen
F'Nale Zandor

Ralph Ineson
Rick

Susan Lynch
Alice
There's a moment in this movie when the central character says "I love her". His friend hastily replies, "Slow down bro... she could be a 300 lb man living in his mom's basement." In the very brief beat between the two lines, I thought FINALLY a movie about falling in love completely independent of what a person's genetics may be. And then the crushing cynicism in a dystopian world where there is little to live for and even less to hope for: even in a nightmare, a fat man is undateable. Don't worry though. If you have the skills you may end up on top. Just like Ben Mendelsohn's slave-owning antagonist almost did. Because in this story, it's not a world where anyone feels compassion or empathy. It's a world where everyone only thinks of themselves. A sociopath's dream. And that's what earns the top prize. I love looking at Tye Sheridan. But not enough to sit through this again.
Read full reviewI watched this movie because I was once working in the VR industry and really curious what it could tell us (even though I am not really interested after watching the trailer). Anyway, the experience is not bad (in 4DX). But not recommended for a second watch since there is little to dig and feel except for the numerous, eye-dazzling amount of Easter eggs. Sorry.
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