The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (DVD, 2008)

This documentary on retro video games will take you back to the 80s when video games were new, simple and cutting edge. Revolving around a Donkey Kong world high score chase, the plot follows the quest for two individuals to obtain the highest score in Nintendo's masterpiece game. For gamers and non gamers alike, this film proves to be a nail biter for all. This is a well made film that will inform new comers to the gaming world, educate today's youth on the roots of retro gaming and entertain everyone who sees it. Highly recommended by Andy DeBenedet!

As you are watching the documentary on one man's quest for fame, you become engrossed. Not in his almost single-minded quest to be the best in something that many people consider trivial, but in his travel to accomplish something for once in his life, that gives him meaning.

Steve Wiebe is the most likeable of protagonists in this piece, a quiet, somewhat fragile sort, whose obsession with shattering Billy Mitchell's Donkey Kong takes back seat to gaining the respect of a very closed community, the classic arcade high score club. While Steve gets to wear the white cowboy hat in this film, while Billy Mitchell gets to play the cynical, equally as fragile, bad guy.

The thought of not being the best in this very elite group obviously wears on Billy to the point of hypocrisy, where he expects the community to accept his high score (on videotape), while trashing the same kind of proof submitted by Steve. He is seen ducking and dodging Steve throughout the whole movie, obviously concerned. I think, not so much about losing to Steve, but that his mythical persona would be crumbled in front of his disciples. I think that Billy is a good guy, but he has the most difficult time dealing with his own mortality. Does he think he is a god? No. But he knows that he appears as such amongst his peers. And exposing himself would mean shattering their perceptions, possibly forever. A heavy price to pay for any kind of immortality.

Real people define this movie, from the cast of supporting characters that walk in Billy's tall shadow, to Steve's down-to-earth family which doesn't initially understand the fervor of Steve's accomplishment. The documentary does a wonderful job of showing that goals in ones life, no matter how they are perceived, are the most satisfying victory of all.

A very good documentary, and a very pleasing lesson of life. King of Kong shows us what it means to be truly great, and human, outside of the spotlight.

Yes, this is a likeable, well-made and touching documentary about video games. Yes, I found myself hissing at Billy Mitchell and routing for the outsider under dog, Steve Wiebe. Oh, and yes, I let out a "whoop" when Wiebe ultimately reclaims the title that was "rightfully" his. But, please, what we are watching is soooooo pathetic! To compare what these men do to true athletic competition or to a legitimate career is absurd! While the movie attempts to show "balance" in the life of Wiebe with clips of his time with his family, this guy is tragically OCD in addition to having an intense inadequacy complex. Billy Mitchell is King of the Geeks. The fact that he is passably good-looking in a vintage 80's way, makes him even more of a star among these overweight, nerdy game players. But for heaven's sake, the guy is stuck in the 80's. He won some video game competitions in his teens when these games actually meant something to more than those with the Twin Galaxies website as their homepage and hasn't moved past it. From his 80's hairstyle, clothes and demeanor, the guy is like John Travolta meets Napoleon Dynamite. The fact that the "fix" seems to be in in protecting Billy and his records is just a distraction from the overarching question: Who cares?!

The King of Kong is a documentary about a legendary gamer and Rickey's Hot Sauce creator, Billy Mitchell and his new gaming foe Steve Wiebe. Both men are trying to get and keep the best scores possible for the classic Nintendo arcade game Donkey Kong. Billy Mitchell is the current champion in the movie. Billy has held top scores in many classic arcade games over the years; Donkey Kong being the last title he held onto. Steve Wiebe, currently a Science teacher, decides he has plenty of time to challenge for the highest score possible in Donkey Kong; after he finds him self laid off by Boeing. The movie almost seems to good to be true. Steve Wiebe, being the nicest of nice guys. The prototype of a good father and husband. Against the brash, and often times rude for no real reason, Billy Mitchell. The movie mainly follows Steve Wiebe, in his quest for the title. Billy Mitchell is featured in many segments, but mainly as a protagonist. Billy makes claims of being the best and makes a comment to the effect That To Be The Best, You Have To Play Live. Playing Live in front of a crowd being the only way to truly prove you are the best. This comment is the basis for the entire movie. Steve Wiebe flies all over the US showing off his skills, all in the hopes of being recognized as the best Gamer. While Billy tries his best to avoid him. In a deleted scene on the DVD, you get to see a comparisons of both men's game play. While Billy mainly uses hammers to destroy objects to gain maximum points, Steve uses tricks to adjective his best scores. Like jumping up and down on certain platform stages to get extra bonus points. These differences give some room for an argument on who is truly best, because while both men are adjectiving top scores, both men are doing it in different ways. So who is better? The game player, or the person that finds the loopholes? Both men are by far some of the best gamers on Earth, so respect has to go to given to both of them. As of 2008, Billy Mitchell holds the top scores for Donkey Kong, but Steve has not given up on reclaiming his top scores.
This movie is very enjoyable. I have seen it both on DVD and on G4. It is not a movie I can get bored of. So if you are into video games, even if you don't play the classics's, King of Kong is still right for you. I didn't want to write too much in the way of reviewing the core storyline, because I don't think I review should give away the entire movie. So I would suggest buying the DVD, because it is well worth the money. You get a nice guy to root for and a mean man to root against.

This movie has everything that a movie fan loves to see: the classic hero and villain story, action, suspense, drama, and comedy. Who would have thought all of this would come out of a documentary about Donkey Kong? A truly wonderful film about human beings, not just arcade games.
I just had to watch it again as soon as it was over!

I rented this movie after my cousin recommended it and bought it soon after. Any movie that can nearly bring you to tears about something as trivial as a video game high score has something that others don't. By the end of it you find yourself rooting so hard for poor Steve Wiebe and disgusted by Bill Mitchell, his nerd minions and their under-handed attempts to ruin Wiebe's attempts to break Mitchell's Donkey Kong record.
Hands down one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.

The best documentaries, it may be argued, present their stories as a narrative; the audience forgets they're watching a true story and instead become absorbed in the characters, some of whom are so unique they are indeed stranger than fiction.

This is the case with "King of Kong," perhaps one of the best documentaries to hit the scene in years. Forget for a moment that the film is about video games or one man's seeming insane quest to achieve the world record score for the arcade version of Donkey Kong. Instead, revel in a taut story of a underdog poised against a biased electronic empire and you'll realize why "King of Kong" is as good—or better than—anything heavyweight documentarians like Michael Moore can put out.

Simply an amazing film.

I love documentaries in general. Usually more than films based on the same subjects. This one though really stands apart as something special. The subject matter to most of us may at first seem ridiculous. How in the world can Donkey Kong score records deserve this attention. Only watching this film will make you understand that. I am NOT a gamer by nature. I played a few of the games in this film in the 80's. The lure of this picture is not its subject, but the people involved in it.
The film makers somehow take two people (and those around them) who may not ever be in the limelight (Though Mitchell may feel differently about his fame's deserving) and tell a story about them that makes us care about them. How do they do that? This is a testament both to the human interest side and to the incredible film making side of this form of film. The test that it is effective is that you will be talking about the subject matter when it's done. Yes, you will be talking about heroes and villains of Donkey Kong. I dare you to try not to.
We've watched this 5 or so times and never tire of it. Don't get chumpatized!

Great documentary about a nobody who is not given a fair chance. You have to go on the internet to read what has happened since the movie was filmed in 2006.

This movie is so funny because it is an actual documentary. I spent the 1st half of the movie convinced that is was a mockumentary because there is no way that anyone takes Donkey Kong this seriously!! This is the story of a man who tries to beat the Donkey Kong high score. It follows his quest to beat the current record and make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. The villan is the cocky man who holds the current high score. His hypocritical take on gaming, accompanied by his feathered mullet makes this movie a must see for anyone who has ever loved gaming.

The King of Kong DVD arrived fast and as described. Great purchase, and great seller!!! I would definitely do business with them again.

I just happen to scroll across this movie on my netflix on the 360. I watched it because I enjoy videos games, and this movie is pretty much about them. I must say I was blown away with what I saw. A true underdog story! A documentary that is really worth a watch! Also note that the dvd has TONS of special features with extended clips and interviews. Again a MUST own! =)

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