Fistful Of Payback

This years E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) is fast approaching and is highly anticipated. We expect great announcements from the three major console developers regarding new exclusive titles and hotly anticipated sequels to some of the greatest games of the past few years…COD anyone?…

But that’s not why I am particularly excited about this years E3 expo. What I’m really looking forward to is a rematch to determine the true King of Kong. Steve Wiebe is headed to Los Angeles to take back his crown. What am I talking about you ask?

King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters, a very impressive documentary about arcade-dwelling video game lovers after the “Donkey Kong” world record. The doc follows Billy Mitchell and his out-of-nowhere challenger Steve Wiebe, who is attempting to top Mitchell’s all time high score in DK. This record is the video game equivalent of Joe DiMaggio’s “unbeatable” consecutive games hitting streak. It all sounds very nerdy and you might be put off by this, but skipping this documentary would be an epic fail.

The battle for DK supremacy is only the story behind the story. What is really entertaining about the documentary is the fierce competition among these classic video game players captured in a comedic epic. The doc captures fear and heroism, tears and jeers, all in a running time of apx 80 mins. The truth is if you don’t play at all, you may find yourself enjoying the film more than any gamer. You will get all the laughs minus the cringing self-recognition.

The battle between these two gaming giants is put together is a “Rocky” formula, where you can’t help but root for the underdog and hate the antagonist. The doc is a reminder of how we all have to prove ourselves to others, and the extent to which the odds are stacked against newbs and outsiders. Seth Gordon put together a documentary that will infuriate and exhilarate you at the same time.

Go watch this masterpiece, then join me in rooting for Wee-bee!