Have you heard about the documentary about the video game Donkey Kong?

[Xevious]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/king_of_kong_a_fistful_of_quarters/

Here is the synopsis:

SYNOPSIS
http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/clear_dot.gif
NEW YORK PREMIERE AT TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2007
IN THEATRES AUGUST 17, 2007 (Limited)

There’s more drama in this small documentary than in most serious Oscar contenders. A marriage is on the line, integrity is tested, and friendships falter--all in the name of a video game called DONKEY KONG. THE KING OF KONG may inspire both tears and frustrated sighs, but it’s most remarkable for its humor. In the same vein as WORDPLAY and SPELLBOUND, this is a hilarious documentary that enlightens as it entertains. Billy Mitchell is a towering figure in the world of classic video games such as DONKEY KONG and PAC-MAN. He has held records in several games, and his high score in DONKEY KONG (considered the toughest of the old titans) has been unbeaten for decades. But newcomer Steve Wiebe finds purpose in the game after losing his job, and discovers his natural aptitude at the game. The amiable Steve is just as likely to win the "nice guy of the year" award as he is to best Billy’s record, and this film casts him as a classic hero that viewers love to root for.

While Steve is an audience favorite, Billy is a Machiavellian mastermind that rivals any villain from a narrative film. Even though some might argue that the Super Bowl or NCAA tournament is more important, the competition in THE KING OF KONG rivals the most exciting in sports. Thanks to the film’s wonderful characters, it's easy to get involved in the drama. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and the people who populate THE KING OF KONG are as fascinating as any screenwriter’s creation.

[Apossum]

That sounds great. Billy Mitchell is nuts. His segment in True Life: I'm a Gamer is kinda sad, but he redeemed himself by making good buffalo wing sauce.

he actually said something like "People used come up to me and say 'Hey Pac-Man!' and I'd say 'That's MR. Pac-man to you!' " he was dead serious. :lol:

[zewone]

That sounds great. Billy Mitchell is nuts. His segment in True Life: I'm a Gamer is kinda sad, but he redeemed himself by making good buffalo wing sauce.

he actually said something like "People used come up to me and say 'Hey Pac-Man!' and I'd say 'That's MR. Pac-man to you!' " he was dead serious. :lol:
Yeah, white people are corny.

[Graystone]

I've seen a ad for it in a mag. I would like to see it.

[A Happy Panda]

I've been waiting to see this movie for awhile now...hope it comes to my city during it's run in the theaters.

[troll_tracka]

i think it should be a horror movie cmon did you see billy's mullet that thing scares me

[Jon Rose]

That last line in the blurb is cute, given the lengths this director went to prove that fiction is stranger than truth. King of Kong is a documentary in the same sense as Pumping Iron.

[LiK]

i saw the trailer, looks funny, i'll check it out soon

[Puffa469]

Ive seen the trailer playing on the TVs in EB/GS stores. Looks interesting. I may have to wander down to Tribeca and see it.

I really, really, reeeeally wish they would put 'Bang the Machine' out on dvd already. Ive been dying to see that one for years now.

[mykevermin]

I'll wait for the $1.99 Wal-Mart bin.

[jer7583]

Looks quality. I'm not afraid to admit this kind of stuff fascinates me. Probably won't come to my area, though, unfortunately.

[Xevious]

This movie has a 97% rating on rottentomatoes.

Its must of been hard to finance this movie. Imagine what the film producers said to their potential investors:

"Hey guys...I got a great movie for you to spend your money for"

"Yeah...whats it about?"

"Its about a couple of dudes who play Donkey Kong!!"

[Jon Rose]

Probably why he had to milk the whole "Big arrogant Billy vs. down-on-his-luck loser Steve" angle for all it was worth.

The thing to remember with this movie is that it's really easy to take Mitchell the wrong way. How much he got played by this director is up for debate, but his persona is such that it's often hard to tell if he's really full of himself, or if he just doesn't give enough of a shit to act humble over something as trivial as videogame records. If you watch this, it's probably best to take it as a cute "little guy tries to overcome The Man" story by someone who couldn't afford to write a real movie and was too stupid to pick a subject that wasn't inherently boring.

[Apossum]

Yeah, white people are corny.



OMG racist.

nah, this is one white guy who is firmly planted in his glory days back in the early 1980s :lol:

http://spyhunter007.com/Images/billy_mitchell_pacman_champion.jpg

[yukine]

Probably why he had to milk the whole "Big arrogant Billy vs. down-on-his-luck loser Steve" angle for all it was worth.

The thing to remember with this movie is that it's really easy to take Mitchell the wrong way. How much he got played by this director is up for debate, but his persona is such that it's often hard to tell if he's really full of himself, or if he just doesn't give enough of a shit to act humble over something as trivial as videogame records. If you watch this, it's probably best to take it as a cute "little guy tries to overcome The Man" story by someone who couldn't afford to write a real movie and was too stupid to pick a subject that wasn't inherently boring.
Glad to have you on the forums, Billy. :lol:

In all seriousness, I've been interested in seeing this. I don't think Billy Mitchell is evil, per say... but you can't deny how much of a cocky ass he is (which I find entertaining.)

[Apossum]

Probably why he had to milk the whole "Big arrogant Billy vs. down-on-his-luck loser Steve" angle for all it was worth.

The thing to remember with this movie is that it's really easy to take Mitchell the wrong way. How much he got played by this director is up for debate, but his persona is such that it's often hard to tell if he's really full of himself, or if he just doesn't give enough of a shit to act humble over something as trivial as videogame records. If you watch this, it's probably best to take it as a cute "little guy tries to overcome The Man" story by someone who couldn't afford to write a real movie and was too stupid to pick a subject that wasn't inherently boring.


weird...you're talking like you're above watching something like this, yet seem familiar with the intricacies of Billy Mitchell's personality. :-k :lol:

I'm pretty sure he's just confident. the way he talked in the True Life show about gamers lead me to believe he's a determined guy when it comes to anything. his next big accomplishment was his award winning buffalo wing sauce, so it's not like the guy has much bigger fish to fry and is just doing interviews about pac-man as a joke. his years as the pac-man champ are clearly not far from his mind.

he's really good at these "trivial" things and proud of it, which is cool in its self. not everyone can be president, ya know...

[Jon Rose]

I'm not above seeing it, really. I am, however, a little tired about every media effort involving gaming being so unnecessarily fucked with. Especially anything purporting to be a documentary, and especially one that the director is hoping to have made into an even bigger dramatization.

And my point about Mitchell is that he's basically the easiest target for something like this. I get the same sense that he's just determined to be the best he can at whatever he find himself doing, but then he'll say something like the creator of Pac Man had "no further insights" to give him. He very much seems like the kind of guy who, without proper context, can very easily be made to sound... off. And in documentaries like this, the boring context of everyday circumstances is the first thing to go out the window.

[MarkMan]

I don't know about ya'll.

But when that dude Billy went into the supermarket and pushed aside the competition's hot sauce... that was pure television genius.

I lol'd for weeks.

[ryanbph]

the 1up, egm and all games interactive podcasts have been talking about this movie a fair amount. It is supposed to be very good.

[Apossum]

I don't know about ya'll.

But when that dude Billy went into the supermarket and pushed aside the competition's hot sauce... that was pure television genius.

I lol'd for weeks.


fuck, I forgot about that :lol:


I'm not above seeing it, really. I am, however, a little tired about every media effort involving gaming being so unnecessarily fucked with. Especially anything purporting to be a documentary, and especially one that the director is hoping to have made into an even bigger dramatization.


And my point about Mitchell is that he's basically the easiest target for something like this. I get the same sense that he's just determined to be the best he can at whatever he find himself doing, but then he'll say something like the creator of Pac Man had "no further insights" to give him. He very much seems like the kind of guy who, without proper context, can very easily be made to sound... off. And in documentaries like this, the boring context of everyday circumstances is the first thing to go out the window.


Good point. One thing I liked about the True Life episode is that it wasn't a mockumentary. Sure, there was the gaming "opium den" crew of guys who worked at FedEx (including that one guy who completely ditched work to play DoA:XBV for like 12 hours straight), but then the parts about Mitchell, Fata1ity, and the guy who played Golden Tee were pretty well done. the FedEx guys weren't totally made fun of either, just shown for who they are...

I will still see this, but I hope it isn't a complete joke.

[RelentlessRolento]

I love documentary movie types so i've had my thumb on this thing's pulse for a while or whatever you want me to say.

[pinebarrens]

I saw it this weekend and it was freakin awesome. I recommend it to everyone.

[drfunk85]

I've seen this movie and I loved it. Up there with Superbad as my favorite movie of the year. Probably a bit better. This one will get a ton of rewatches. Everyone, especially everyone on this site, needs to see this movie.

[Strell]

All of the prominent gamers (and the Twin Galaxies ref) in King of Kong look like porn stars.

Or like people who just watch porn all day.

Good documentary. Would be fun to show this to some friends and MST3K it up a bit.

Could not believe my theater actually showed this. I kind of wanted to steal the little poster for it. I imagine they are going to throw it out by next weekend anyway...

[yukine]

I want to see this!

No theaters around me are playing it, I would resort to torrenting it but I think it's a bit too low key.