From the tokenization-fest that is its source material to the laughable marketing, there’s been a good amount of skepticism leading up to the release of Ready Player One. But after a “surprise” screening at SXSW in Austin, Texas this weekend, our expectations have been raised, at least a tad.

Spielberg himself was in attendance to introduce the film, along with much of the cast and author Ernest Cline. Spielberg reportedly told the audience “This is not a film that we made. This is, I promise you, a movie.”

From the early reactions, much of the audience was very into Ready Player One as a “movie,” as an over-the-top blockbuster focused on fun and nostalgia.

TOTALLY engrossed in every second of @readyplayerone. It is one of the most technically brilliant things I have EVER seen. Spielberg is one of the few directors who could orchestrate this kind of visual symphony that SO many people will enjoy. Pretty amazing.🎮 — Grae Drake (@graedrake) March 12, 2018

#ReadyPlayerOne is nerdy as all hell but it’s hard to not leave the theater with a huge smile on your face. Pure Spielbergian joy. pic.twitter.com/7ToMQ7uIdL — Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) March 12, 2018

#ReadyPlayerOne is classic Spielberg fun! What a blast, can’t wait to see it again. Rewards repeat viewings. Tons of great references, visuals and heart. So kick ass it blew the speakers! — Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) March 12, 2018

I didn’t think I would like #ReadyPlayerOne, but I liked it a WHOLE LOT. I think people cheered and laughed every 2 mins and dang this film was entertaining. So many references, I can’t wait for everyone to see it so we can all talk about it! #sxsw — Beatrice Verhoeven (@bverhoev) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE is full of giant, dorky heart. I both want to hug it and give it a noogie #sxsw — Meredith Borders (@xymarla) March 12, 2018

I’m also really happy with the number of reactions that mention improvements over the book.

Went into READY PLAYER ONE skeptical as hell. Came out largely as a joyous convert. I have a handful of issues with the structure and characters, but it improves on the book in important ways, the action is riveting, and I really bought the humor. #readyplayerone — Tasha Robinson (@TashaRobinson) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE: Spielberg’s second Peter Pan picture. Practically an animated movie, replacing Cline’s clunky prose with a free-flowing amalgamation of decades of pop iconography. Dorky as hell and one of the ultimate “Big Kid” Beard movies. #SXSW2018 — Jacob Knight (@JacobQKnight) March 12, 2018

READY PLAYER ONE: Good lord I was wrong about this one. It’s oodles of fun and kind of the antithesis of Cline’s novel in terms of its quality. References weren’t too cloying for me, but I was so close I couldn’t pick out too much. #sxsw — Nick Johnston (@onlysaysficus) March 12, 2018

The decision to have this movie’s premiere at SXSW was a brilliant one. I can say from personal experience that the crowd at that festival is so happy to be there, so sleep-deprived, and is so full of barbeque and booze that the excitement at events like these is palpable.

I don’t know if I have ever seen a #SXSW crowd cheer on a movie the way they just cheered on #ReadyPlayerOne. We haven’t seen this Spielberg in a long time – it’s just pure entertainment and it’s hard not to watch it without a dorky smile on your face the whole time — ErikDavis (@ErikDavis) March 12, 2018

If this doesn’t answer whether people loved #ReadyPlayerOne, I don’t know what will. pic.twitter.com/2uXGYCAck7 — Beatrice Verhoeven (@bverhoev) March 12, 2018

However, not everyone was so enamored with the movie.

literally my face during every second of Ready Player One. pic.twitter.com/dqZTNeN81r — Britt Hayes (@MissBrittHayes) March 12, 2018

#ReadyPlayerOne hot take review: a fun, enjoyable film with some amazing set pieces and references (THAT scene). However, the film suffers from a script that has a LOT of convenient plot devices and never really manages to make you care about the characters… 7/10 #sxsw — love, maurizio (@marrythedarkk) March 12, 2018

#ReadyPlayerOne posits a corporate big wig who exploits fan culture for profit as its villain. The irony of that is giving me a headache. This is no love letter to pop culture. It’s a crass play to nostalgia; it offers nothing new or exciting. — Kristy Puchko ➡️ SXSW (@KristyPuchko) March 12, 2018

I don’t think it’s spoiling RP1 to tell you that at a tense moment between two characters one of them ominously utters the line “A fanboy knows a hater.” So, you know how you feel about this movie — Emily Yoshida (@emilyyoshida) March 12, 2018

So, all in all, I guess we’re right back where we were, in “wait and see” mode.

so is #ReadyPlayerOne good or not jesus christ Film Twitter what are you even good for if you can’t answer this one freaking question — Angie Han @ SXSW (@ajhan) March 12, 2018

(image: Warner Bros.)

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