BOOK: Ready Player One (2011)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Ready Player OneYear: 2011Author: Ernest ClineLength: 480 pages When Ready Player One came out over a decade ago, I couldn’t wait to read it. A book full of pop culture references was right up my alley, and I enjoyed the connections and clues that fueled the Willy Wonka-style Easter egg hunt. I didn’t think they’d ever be able to make a movie out of it because of all the licenses they’d have to work with, but Steven Spielberg pulled it off in 2018. I’ve long held that this is one of my favorite books, so I decided to re-read it so I’d have a better memory of its events when I jumped into its sequel. My only qualm that arose with this read-through was with the main character. There is some empathy for Wade’s situation, but he often comes across as arrogant and obnoxious. When the consequences of his actions come around to affect his life, it’s difficult to feel sorry for...
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MOVIE: Wonka (2023)

by benmweilertNo Comments
WonkaYear: 2023Rating: PGLength: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours Wonka (2023) was one of those movies that I had low expectations for. A prequel to a well-known IP, there's only so much that can be done that's not just straight call-outs to the source material—and this includes knowing how things will end to set up films like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971). Still, with these low expectations, I had quite a bit of fun watching Wonka. It's not extraordinary, but it delivers on most of its nostalgia factors in ways that are modern and entertaining. With the real world crumbling all around us, it was encouraging to see a movie like Wonka that embraced the grit needed to survive and thrive. The hope gained through forming a community and the endless optimism of Wonka (Timothee Chalamet) were contagious and uplifting. The creativity of the different candies and the funny running gags (like the bribed Chief of Police (Keegan-Michael Key)) helped with...
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