King Of Kong [DVD]

This has been on my 'to see' list for a while, and I'm glad I eventually made time to sit down and watch it. It was brilliant on many levels. You just couldn't make it up.

The film gives us a glimpse into the world of 'competitive gaming' in the niche area of arcade classics - mainly, as the title suggest Donkey Kong. Now don't worry if you're not into computer games or consoles, or if you've never heard of the game Donkey Kong before (although frankly, I find that unlikely for anyone who grew up in 80s, or who had kids growing up around that tim), that really doesn't matter. This is not a film for computer geeks and can be enjoyed - nay - WILL be enjoyed by everyone.

Speaking of geeks, King of Kong features a mixed cast of geeks, oddballs, nerds, a few (oddly) very normal people, an 'evil king' of sorts, his minions, and a humble hero who rises to challenge the dark lord's grip on gamin - the extremely likeable Steve Weibe.

It's seems classic gaming is a strange, close knit world, dominated (until now at least) by one Billy Mitchell - Kong champion since 1982 - who seems to control the other members of Twin Galaxies (the name of the organisation who keep the official scores and hold events) with some sort of, almost cult-like quality. It's spooky the way they follow him around and do his bidding... that is, until Steve Weibe appears.

Except it's not that simple. Nothing is that simple in the world of classic gaming and the Twin Galaxies it seems. A world where cheating and subterfuge are rife! A world where people have almost been brainwashed by an evil overlord! However, Steve Weibe, despite the evil Billy Mitchell and his minions' attempts to stop him, manages to shake the Twin Galaxies emporium to its core - but in the end though where the dust settled is still - to this day - uncertain.

All the same though, although the battle between the two - between good and evil - still rages, it's lovely to see the people in this documentary set free. Freed from the clutches of the arrogant Billy Mitchell to find themselves again. It's as if they've been released from some dark spell. And it's purely Steve Weibe's magnificent skill and pleasant, beautiful and unassuming nature that shines a light and allows it to happen.

The above description really doesn't do this DVD justice. It really is a must see for many, many reasons, and the documentary itself is very well shot and very well structured and put together. It makes for a riveting watch and you will find yourself really rooting for the hero and cursing the villain of the piece! In the end it feels like Steve really did 'set people free' from some form of invisible shackles. It's bizarre but brilliant and ultimately uplifting, because the great man clearly changes many peoples lives who had until he came along, been under the control of someone else.

The DVD is packed with extras too, which are all very interesting and really worth a watch. In my opinion, King of Kong, is King of documentaries. 10/10. You must order it now!!! Seriously!!!

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Living as we do in the age of Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, with their cutting edge graphics and movie-scale production values, it's easy to forget that the gaming landscape was once a much simpler place, where fancy 3D graphics were unheard of, where the arcade cabinet was king, and where Donkey Kong ruled the world.

Today, games like Donkey Kong, Pac Man and Space Invaders have almost faded from living memory, consigned to legend and that misty, almost forgotten decade known as the Eighties. But for small groups of hardcore gamers scattered around the world, these old classics are still very much alive. The King of Kong is a window into this strange sub-culture, the people who make it tick, and the competitive personalities who push themselves to win the title of the World's Greatest Donkey Kong Player.

In the early Eighties, a talented young gamer named Billy Mitchell set the world record for the highest ever score on Donkey Kong. Since then, he's used his minor celebrity status to build up an impressive business empire and a self-inflated public persona. It's been more than twenty years since he set the record, and no other gamer has come close to beating it. Until now.

Enter Steve Weibe; a soft-spoken school teacher, family man and retro gamer who spends hours of his day in his garage, playing on his old arcade cabinet, and gradually improving his scores until he's in a position to challenge Mitchell. The King of Kong follows these two men as they strive to outdo each other, and be recognised as the best player of all time.

It sounds ludicrous, and frankly, it is, but don't let that put you off this truly excellent documentary. There's something infinitely enjoyable about watching grown men cry over a computer game that's a quarter of a century old, and fight bitterly over a title that's essentially meaningless. The documentary makers know this, and yet by embracing the pettiness of the whole thing, they're able to both amuse and educate.

In many ways, it's a classic David vs Goliath story, with the cocky and arrogant Mitchell using various underhand ploys to get one over on Weibe, even exerting his influence in the retro-gaming community to have a potentially winning score invalidated. Weibe, the straight-shooting everyman, battles to reach the top and gain the recognition he'd always wanted, gradually winning people over.

Aside from providing a good overview of the retro-gaming scene, it's also a fascinating insight into the men who devote themselves so completely to something, determined to be the best in the entire world. The fact that their chosen battleground is a long-defunct arcade game doesn't really matter - what matters is the clash of personalities, the determination, the egos, the will to succeed and the fear of losing. These men are greatly skilled at what they do, but also flawed and human.

It would be easy for the film to demonize Mitchell, the flamboyant and self-assured champion who appears to be coasting on former glories. But strangely, it never does. With his entire public image founded on having the highest score of all time, he's a man with everything to lose and nothing to gain by openly competing. Weibe by contrast is the ultimate underdog. Talented but misunderstood, treated as an outsider by the gaming establishment, he has never quite lived up to his potential.

Overall then, I'd thoroughly recommend The King of Kong. For games enthusiasts who were too young to experience it first-hand, it provides an excellent history of the Golden Age of videogames, and for everyone else, it's a comprehensive and insightful look at the people who devote their lives to the perfection of their art.

When I was a kid in the 80s I'd go to Butlins with my family, be given £1 and make it last a day, playing Gorf, Centipede and all of the other classic games. I dreamt of being a pro gamer but didn't think it was a real job! This film charts the challenge to beat the Donkey Kong score. It is a real David vs Goliath story, made all the more interesting in the fact it's a documentary (I have to say a few times I wondered if it was a hoax). If you have any interest in 80s arcade games you will be hooked, it is fascinating to get an insight in to the lives of the people who are truly addicted to the games, even after 20 years. It will also make you realise why you couldn't beat Donkey Kong all those years ago! My fave moment is the guy telling epople there is a "Kill Screen" coming up - he has a passion which skirts on the psychotic!

Well worth watching, plenty of nostalgic moments. Just try to avoid shouting "Get a life" at the screen!