ROTTEN TOMATOES: Further Reading: Celebrating the Brilliance of The King of Kong Comments

Further Reading: Celebrating the Brilliance of The King of Kong

by Kim Newman | August 07, 2008

Summary

One documentary from the US last year spoke to avid videogamers more than any other, and in the process told a brilliantly human story about good, evil and Donkey Kong. In this week's Further Reading, Kim Newman celebrates The King of Kong. Back to Article

(1-15 of 15 posts) | Reply

reapermad writes:
on Aug 07 2008 08:49 AM

This freakin documentary was amazing. Anyone who is interested in documentaries should check it out!

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CFM writes:
on Aug 07 2008 09:00 AM

This was a great watch. I'm almost embarrassed at how much I enjoyed it.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Aug 07 2008 09:15 AM

I hope the former record holder gets sodomized by ogres.

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vanilla17 writes:
on Aug 07 2008 10:10 AM

I really love this documentary. It's funny, inspring and touching.

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Siebener writes:
on Aug 07 2008 10:26 AM

i loved it.

btw: you know, that billy got the record back playing publicly (july '07), right?

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Jack Waters writes:
on Aug 07 2008 10:44 AM

I was suprised how well sportsman- like and inspiring this documentary was. It's definately worth a look. Better than anything the fat guy Michael Moore does.

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arendr writes:
on Aug 07 2008 12:23 PM

I have no idea why I haven't watched this one yet. To the Netflix, robin!

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BjornFree writes:
on Aug 07 2008 12:37 PM

I got quite a kick out of this movie.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Aug 07 2008 12:39 PM

I think it's on instant viewing for Netflix.

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Mr. Blasty writes:
on Aug 07 2008 12:50 PM

Problem is, its not true. Many facts were change to make Mitchell look far worse than he really is. Like when he drives away from the resturaunt...he was actually parking on the other side of the building. Do a google search, you'd be surprised all the stuff the film changed for dramatic effect...who holds the record when you are watching any given scene (in one scene it shows Wiebe playing for the record but it doesn't tell you he was the current record holder at the time or that he held it for a year prior), Mitchell never playing Wiebe head to head (he does)...all BS.

Fun film but up there with Micheal Moore when it comes to twisting facts.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Aug 07 2008 01:23 PM

Mitchell is still an ***. No amount of editing can make someone nice look like such a bastard.

. . . and I hope he gets sodomized by Slothful-Smurfs (All to last longer)

Remember when Mitchell was at the restaurant, and being such a prick?

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reapermad writes:
on Aug 07 2008 02:20 PM

That scene with Mitchell at the restaurant was one of the best scenes of the years. As well as when he showed up with his wife at the contest and just walked away. What a freakin prick. You can't write fiction this awesome!

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Rabs writes:
on Aug 07 2008 06:26 PM

This movie is a great story, and I have yet to hit the cap on the number of times I can re-watch it and still enjoy it. :)

I've envisioned my own personal casting selections for the remake here:

http://keepingmycool.blogspot.com/2008/05/casting-king-of-kong-remake.html

Roberts Blossom is one of my suggestions for Walter Day (who is really sweet in person, and I do not think ill of him at all) as well.

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Gimy writes:
on Aug 08 2008 05:12 AM

TWO things. one, again the MPAA is retarded. this is rated pg13 because one of the people said "kick his 3ss". thats it, ONE word. wow, count the d3mn's and 2ss's in shrek. mpaa...you suck

two...this is one of the best documentaries i've ever seen. and i HATE documentaries because they're usually boring and unentertaining. i've recommended this a bunch of times...

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SpikesInMySkull writes:
on Aug 13 2008 09:00 AM

In reply to this comment (#1960392)
Yeah... the problem with this movie is that it only get's interesting when it starts flat out lying.

A) When Wiebe's record setting attempt is thrown do to concern over his machine, the reason is that the "Twin Galaxies" official rules don't allow for "Double-Donkey" machines, I.E. Donkey King/Donkey Kong Jr. combo machines (still a stupid rule, but the film distorts this).

B) Also at this time, Wiebe was already the current Donkey Kong record holder, this attempt was about being the first to break a million, Wiebe was in fact trying to break his own record which he'd already won from Mitchell months earlier.

C) Wiebe and Mitchell where friends, and played against each other in exhibition matches several times before and during the time period of the film.

D) Mitchell actually greeted everyone in the Restaraunt and apologized for having to leave to handle a business issue.

E) Mitchell's taped score was accepted on good faith that he was going provide better evidence, the score ended up being tossed 48 hours later.

I'm not trying to defend anyone or take sides. Frankly I had never heard of Steve Wiebe, Billy Mitchell, Twin Galaxies, or any of this before I saw this movie, and really couldn't care less.

Don't get me wrong, the story being a lie doesn't mean Twin Galaxie aren't a bunch of worthless dweebs who utterly failed at life and so created their little club and gathered around the super-loser who at least managed to acheive some success in the hot sauce industry and then set up the rules soe some outsider couldn't come along and make them less important. The problem is that that story is completely boring without all the fabricated, fictional drama and when you learn said drama is fiction, it goes back to be extremely boring.

On the other hand, I suppose if you take for what it is (a not-really true story) then I guess it's commendable that the filmaker can take what is presumably incredibly boring footage that noone would care about and cut it into something interesting and fun to watch.

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