I'm adding "*" to prevent any sort of spoilers. Just go rent the damn movie. Now. Seriously.
Ever played a video game? Ever competed in anything?
This film is required viewing. It's multiple awards prove this isn't just one man's opinion.
The King of Kong A Fistful of Quarters is a documentary about the world of competitive video games. In this case it focuses on the reigning champion of Donkey Kong, Billy Mitchell, and his out-of-nowhere rival, Steve Wiebe.
First, let me just say that there is controversy behind this film. If you check out the wiki
, Walter Day claims the film was a bit dishonest in portraying the way ****** was treated by ****** and Twin Galaxies. If true, it would definitely take away most of the documentary's tension and story. My problem with Walter Day's claim is that a few things specifically pointed out during interviews in the film seem to prove the story they told was accurate.
We'll probably see soon as a follow up is rumored to be in the works showing how the first film affected these men.
Anyway, as you can probably guess ****** gets a major cold shoulder from Twin Galaxies and ******. In fact, I cannot see ****** EVER agreeing to so a sequel with this film crew if the facts were skewed by them because his portrayal would be described as "vicious" at best. Not only does he come off horribly in the film, but I could see people hating him or thinking him to be a coward and a fraud.
Despite being a documentary, humor is everywhere. It's just all so surreal. From the "world video game referee" to the fans to the get togethers to the boot licking sidekick, it's all just amazing to see.
Listen, just see the damn movie. I cannot think of anyone here on these forums who won't be, at the very least, entertained by it. FYI: I think it's quite possible for even non-gamers to enjoy this film.
Great film.
9 out of 10.
The King of Kong - A Fistful of Quarters
One of the most poignant horror flicks I've ever seen. Many of the major players in this film scared the hell out of me. The entire thing is summed up perfectly by Steve Wiebe's daughter during the scene where she's riding w\ him in the car & they're talking about the Guinness folk requesting records from Twin Galaxies.
There is some weird David Lynch-like zen in this film, except without any of the characteristic Lynchian profanity or fucked up, warped visuals. Which only makes it all the more zen. The control centre of my brain felt like it'd been flogged w\ a cat o' nine tails for the duration.
There is some weird David Lynch-like zen in this film, except without any of the characteristic Lynchian profanity or fucked up, warped visuals. Which only makes it all the more zen. The control centre of my brain felt like it'd been flogged w\ a cat o' nine tails for the duration.
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
***SPOILERS***
There are a few key scenes (Mitchell's wife saying she'd never seen him play anyone in live competition, Steve's interview outside the Guiness event, a few others) that make it clear that either the people they were interviewing were lying, or the alternate version of events described on wikipedia is bullshit.
Mostly this seems to be a documentary about how much of a pussy Billy Mitchell is.
There are a few key scenes (Mitchell's wife saying she'd never seen him play anyone in live competition, Steve's interview outside the Guiness event, a few others) that make it clear that either the people they were interviewing were lying, or the alternate version of events described on wikipedia is bullshit.
Mostly this seems to be a documentary about how much of a pussy Billy Mitchell is.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
The special features on the disc (interviews at movie showings, commentaries, etc) also seem to bolster the truth of the film, at least according to everyone but Billy Mitchell and Walter Day (even Billy's primary ass-kisser Steve Saunders stated that it was accurate, and also mentioned that the last live score registered by Billy was his Pac Man score in 1999).
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
The King of Kong - A Fistful of Quarters
Records invalidated and the former King of Kong has been banned.
Turns out his record runs took place on a MAME machine he passed off as an arcade version. Speculation is he had altered the program somehow to assist his run.
Turns out his record runs took place on a MAME machine he passed off as an arcade version. Speculation is he had altered the program somehow to assist his run.
“Every record been destroyed or falsified, books rewritten, pictures repainted, statues, street building renamed, every date altered. The process is continuing day by day. History stops. Nothing exists except endless present in which the Party is right.”
The King of Kong - A Fistful of Quarters
Fucker.Leisher wrote: Records invalidated and the former King of Kong has been banned.
Turns out his record runs took place on a MAME machine he passed off as an arcade version. Speculation is he had altered the program somehow to assist his run.
It's not me, it's someone else.