Gamertell

The King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters is a rare achievement: a genuinely good videogame film. Directed by Seth Gordon, the documentary follows nice-guy Steve Wiebe as he challenges the ultimate Donkey Kong score (and ego) of Billy Mitchell, the self proclaimed king of classic arcade games.

The film is by turns hilarious and touching. Seth Gordon has a light touch with all the humor. Overly serious arcade gurus like Mr. Awesome and eccentric Twin Galaxies creator Walter Day get played for gentle laughs, while the real zingers are aimed at Mitchell’s inflated sense of self. At one point, he even exclaims, without a hint of irony, “When I talk, it brings controversy. It’s like the abortion issue.”

It’s clear that Gordon (and the audience) is on Wiebe’s side, showing him practicing the game as his young son accompanies him, interviewing his family and friends, and generally giving the sense that family man Wiebe is a good guy. Classic ‘80s tunes punctuate his play sessions right along with the drama that sparks once he becomes a serious contender for the world record.

There’s also a healthy dose of tension and drama. Mitchell contends that Wiebe’s score is phony, prompting the shy Wiebe to show up and play for a crowd at renowned arcade Funspot, where he promptly beats Mitchell’s 1982 world record and earns the “kill screen” at the end of the game. Never one to take things lying down, “World Record” Mitchell sends a tape with a million-plus score, ruining Wiebe’s buzz just as he was about to take the title.

More drama ensues until the very end. While this core rivalry drives the film well and is paced perfectly, it’s the little touches that truly make King of Kong shine. The ‘80s power pop, the nerdcore haircuts, the war cries and the little shots of Mario’s agonizing deaths all serve to make this wildly competitive world come alive.

If you’re a gamer in any sense of the word, you owe it to yourself to check this movie out. It’s got humor, heart, and massive amounts of geek-pride moments that’ll make you feel like thumping your chest Donkey Kong-style. Or it’ll make you want to give Steve Wiebe a hug. Possibly both.

Site [Billy vs Steve] Read [Destructoid]