The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
starring: Billy Mitchell, Steve Wiebe
directed by: Seth Gordon
directed by: Seth Gordon
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Product Description:
Movie DVD
Amazon.com:
The stuff of gladiatorial battle is here:good versus evil, right versus wrong, nerd versus... super-nerd? At any rate, it's a more entertaining showdown than most fictional movies can muster. The King of Kong is the saga of Steve Wiebe, a Redmond, Washington dweeb who sets a new record in the video game Donkey Kong, only to see his accomplishment challenged by the grand poobahs of the gaming establishment. And if you don't know how pernickety the grand poobahs of the gaming establishment can be, well, one of the pleasures of this movie is finding out about this collection of oddballs. It seems Wiebe has toppled a score that has stood since 1982, when eminent "Gamer of the Century" Billy Mitchell set it, and Mitchell isn't too happy about being overthrown. A black-mulleted showboat, Mitchell provides the perfect counterpoint to Wiebe's mild-mannered family man, and the smaller fish around him are no less colorful. This is one of those movies you watch in delighted disbelief, marveling that such people exist--and that they gladly allowed themselves to be filmed. Director Seth Gordon does an important thing in presenting this world of eccentrics:he doesn't mock them, or provide editorial nudging; he simply lets them be. The result is an ingratiating classic. --Robert Horton
Movie DVD
Amazon.com:
The stuff of gladiatorial battle is here:good versus evil, right versus wrong, nerd versus... super-nerd? At any rate, it's a more entertaining showdown than most fictional movies can muster. The King of Kong is the saga of Steve Wiebe, a Redmond, Washington dweeb who sets a new record in the video game Donkey Kong, only to see his accomplishment challenged by the grand poobahs of the gaming establishment. And if you don't know how pernickety the grand poobahs of the gaming establishment can be, well, one of the pleasures of this movie is finding out about this collection of oddballs. It seems Wiebe has toppled a score that has stood since 1982, when eminent "Gamer of the Century" Billy Mitchell set it, and Mitchell isn't too happy about being overthrown. A black-mulleted showboat, Mitchell provides the perfect counterpoint to Wiebe's mild-mannered family man, and the smaller fish around him are no less colorful. This is one of those movies you watch in delighted disbelief, marveling that such people exist--and that they gladly allowed themselves to be filmed. Director Seth Gordon does an important thing in presenting this world of eccentrics:he doesn't mock them, or provide editorial nudging; he simply lets them be. The result is an ingratiating classic. --Robert Horton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Very entertaining, BUT...
This is a hugely enjoyable movie, a classic underdog story with far more drama and intrigue to offer than you might expect, based on the subject matter. It's the characters that make it- an ensemble cast of weirdos, the inner circle of competitive gaming- who are easily as compelling as any dreamed up by an author or screenwriter. Billy Mitchell, portrayed as the conniving villain, comes off as having all the vile cynicism and self-worshiping arrogance of a bad guy from Marvel comics. Even his dark ... Read More
Rating: 
- Great Fun!... if you see CHASING GHOSTS first.
Hi there. Alissa here. Born when my father was working at Atari in the early 80's- the only game console I ever owned.
I was lucky enough to see Chasing Ghosts at the LA film festival a couple years ago, prior to seeing King of Kong. I may have given King of Kong 2 stars had I not seen the awesome doc (Chasing Ghosts) detailing the lives of all the guys that made the cover of Time Life and played at the Twin Galaxies arcade in Ottumwa, Iowa- fighting for bragging rights at the 1982 Video ... Read More
Rating: - Not Just for Gamers
Like most good documentaries, this is more a story about people and principles than about the topic it explores. So you could have absolutely no interest in (and even an aversion to) video games and still become completely engrossed in this, particularly from the midway point on. That's what happened to me. If it was about Donkey Kong, it would have been ludicrous to me, but instead the game playing was a metaphor for achievement, fairness, justice, and common decency.
Rating: - Good Doc
Ok, pretty doc to show people so into video games, classic gaming. So, what's up with Billy Mitchell's hair???Is this doc taped in the 80's?? I believe Steve addressed any doubts anyone had on his record breaking score and was done in person.No matter what, Billy Mitchell was given the title because he submitted a video tape. ..something which Billy Mitchell didn't believe in and he said nothing is official if not done live at Twin Galaxies.
Doc...4 stars
Billy Mitchell's hair. ... Read More
Rating: - Don't believe everything that you see on T.V.
On one end, this was an excellent movie which really made a good effort to bring the legendary status back to retro arcade games. Over the decades there is no doubt about the fact that games like Donkey Kong, Pac Man, etc. are more than just video games, they are a vital part of our culture. Simple to learn and impossible (for most) to master. Much of the coverage given to many of the enthusiasts, pros and record holders was long overdue. This movie was also able to capture some of the quirky, dorky, ... Read More
- Very entertaining, BUT...This is a hugely enjoyable movie, a classic underdog story with far more drama and intrigue to offer than you might expect, based on the subject matter. It's the characters that make it- an ensemble cast of weirdos, the inner circle of competitive gaming- who are easily as compelling as any dreamed up by an author or screenwriter. Billy Mitchell, portrayed as the conniving villain, comes off as having all the vile cynicism and self-worshiping arrogance of a bad guy from Marvel comics. Even his dark ... Read More
- Great Fun!... if you see CHASING GHOSTS first.Hi there. Alissa here. Born when my father was working at Atari in the early 80's- the only game console I ever owned.
I was lucky enough to see Chasing Ghosts at the LA film festival a couple years ago, prior to seeing King of Kong. I may have given King of Kong 2 stars had I not seen the awesome doc (Chasing Ghosts) detailing the lives of all the guys that made the cover of Time Life and played at the Twin Galaxies arcade in Ottumwa, Iowa- fighting for bragging rights at the 1982 Video ... Read More
- Not Just for GamersLike most good documentaries, this is more a story about people and principles than about the topic it explores. So you could have absolutely no interest in (and even an aversion to) video games and still become completely engrossed in this, particularly from the midway point on. That's what happened to me. If it was about Donkey Kong, it would have been ludicrous to me, but instead the game playing was a metaphor for achievement, fairness, justice, and common decency.
- Good DocOk, pretty doc to show people so into video games, classic gaming. So, what's up with Billy Mitchell's hair???Is this doc taped in the 80's?? I believe Steve addressed any doubts anyone had on his record breaking score and was done in person.No matter what, Billy Mitchell was given the title because he submitted a video tape. ..something which Billy Mitchell didn't believe in and he said nothing is official if not done live at Twin Galaxies.
Doc...4 stars
Billy Mitchell's hair. ... Read More
- Don't believe everything that you see on T.V.On one end, this was an excellent movie which really made a good effort to bring the legendary status back to retro arcade games. Over the decades there is no doubt about the fact that games like Donkey Kong, Pac Man, etc. are more than just video games, they are a vital part of our culture. Simple to learn and impossible (for most) to master. Much of the coverage given to many of the enthusiasts, pros and record holders was long overdue. This movie was also able to capture some of the quirky, dorky, ... Read More
