Trailerblazing -- READY PLAYER ONE

Ready Player One --March 30, 2018 -- directed by Steven Spielberg -- starring Olivia Cooke, Hannah John-Kamen, Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller, Simon Pegg, Tye Sheridan, Julia Nickson, Mark Rylance

  

Please excuse me while I recover from the awesomeness. One of the most exciting 2018 releases is undoubtedly this Steven Spielberg extravaganza, which only needs a trailer to blow your mind. Based on Ernest Cline's 2011 novel, the film takes place in a future revolving around virtual reality and the rivalry between companies directing people's online lives. What makes this tale unique is that Cline weaves numerous pop culture references into the characters' virtual existence, creating a world that seems like a natural extension of our own app-obsessed, device-toting, TV and film buff lifestyle. For all of us pop culture nerds, this is going to be silver screen heaven and part of the fun will surely be spotting all the references as we watch. Spielberg is the perfect director for any film, but especially a saga like Ready Player One, a story that seamlessly blends futurism with childhood nostalgia. The cast is intriguing and well chosen. Sheridan's 2018 will also include X-Men: Dark Phoenix and Cooke is slated to be the lead in the upcoming "Vanity Fair" TV adaptation. Mendelsohn is currently reaping praise for his portrayal of King George VI in Darkest Hour and is one of the most versatile actors working today, while Rylance is a character actor whose work includes Anonymous and Spielberg's Bridge of Spies. The action sequences and effects are gorgeous, which means that seeing the film in anything other than IMAX 3D is not an option. It looks action-packed, it will look beautiful on the big screen and it has a first-rate cast and director. Talk about cinema magic.