This afternoon, Missy & I saw the documentary "The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters" at the Co-Ed theater here in Fairfield, IA. It's about 2 very different men who vie for the world record high score in Donkey Kong. And damn it's good.
The film features Walter Day, who has lived in Fairfield for almost 30 years. Over 25 years ago, he founded Twin Galaxies, which is recognized internationally as THE keeper/verifier of world record high scores in all video games. Walter appears & speaks often in the movie (usually wearing a referee shirt) & he figures very prominently in the story. (He's also on the movie poster--wearing his trademark referee shirt.)
This past weekend, "The King Of Kong" had its Iowa premiere at the Fairfield theater (& also at the Bijou theater in Iowa City) due to Walter's huge involvement in the story & movie. (As you may know, such independent movies usually have their Iowa premiere in Des Moines.)
Walter has been publicly introducing each showing here in Fairfield (wearing his referee shirt, of course), & has been doing a Q&A with the audience after the film. Missy & I asked him some questions during the Q&A, & we also spoke with him before & after the film. (Also, he signed our movie poster, & I took a cell phone pic of him & Missy.)
Walter is a very interesting, warm & gentle man. He told us about a few things that were not shown in the movie--things which made the story more dramatic but less truthful. I won't reveal those things here, as they are spoilers (they are discussed in the articles linked below if you're interested). We really enjoyed meeting & listening to him.
According to Walter, the story in the documentary has already been picked up for a based-on-a-true-story Hollywood remake, and Johnny Depp and Nathan Fillion ("Desperate Housewives", the Keri Russell film "Waitress") are rumored to be chosen to play the two video game stars. And Walter will be played by Paul Giamatti.
This year, Walter is coincidentally featured in another documentary about video games--called "Chasing Ghosts: Beyond The Arcade". (FYI: It's about all video games of the 80s--not just Pac-Man.)
The Onion gave "The King Of Kong" an A-. On "At The Movies With Ebert & Roeper" guest critic (& Village Voice film critic) Robert Wilonsky said it's his "favorite movie of the year". Richard Roeper said it's "one of the most fascinating films of the year...I love this film."
UPDATE: "The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters" was released on DVD on 1/28/08
--------------------------------------------------
Links
"The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters" Official Movie Site
Review of "The King Of Kong" in The Onion
"The King Of Kong" at IMDB.com
Des Moines Register article re: Walter & "The King Of Kong"
"Chasing Ghosts: Beyond The Arcade" Official Movie Site
--------------------------------------------------
"The King Of Kong: A Fistful Of Quarters" Trailer
Some of the below clips contain scenes deleted from the final film
The King Of Kong - Clip 1
The King Of Kong - Clip 2
The King Of Kong - Clip 3
The King Of Kong - Clip 4
The King Of Kong - Clip 5
The King Of Kong - Clip 6
The King Of Kong - Hardest Game
The King Of Kong - Relationships
The King Of Kong - Record Breaker
The King Of Kong - Killscreen
Chasing Ghosts - Trailer
No comments:
Post a Comment