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Movies / On DVD / The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

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The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)

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Reviews Counted:93

Fresh:90

Rotten:3

Average Rating:8.1/10

Consensus: The King of Kong is funny and compelling with more than a few poignant insights into human behavior. Director Seth Gordon presents the dueling King Kong players in all their obsessive complexity and with perfectly al dente observations.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for a brief sexual reference.

Runtime: 90 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Theatrical Release:Aug 17, 2007 Limited

Box Office: $519,005

Synopsis: There's more drama in this small documentary than in most serious Oscar contenders. A marriage is on the line, integrity is tested, and friendships falter--all in the name of a video game called... There's more drama in this small documentary than in most serious Oscar contenders. A marriage is on the line, integrity is tested, and friendships falter--all in the name of a video game called DONKEY KONG. THE KING OF KONG may inspire both tears and frustrated sighs, but it's most remarkable for its humor. In the same vein as WORDPLAY and SPELLBOUND, this is a hilarious documentary that enlightens as it entertains. Billy Mitchell is a towering figure in the world of classic video games such as DONKEY KONG and PAC-MAN. He has held records in several games, and his high score in DONKEY KONG (considered the toughest of the old titans) has been unbeaten for decades. But newcomer Steve Wiebe finds purpose in the game after losing his job, and discovers his natural aptitude at the game. The amiable Steve is just as likely to win the "nice guy of the year" award as he is to best Billy's record, and this film casts him as a classic hero that viewers love to root for. While Steve is an audience favorite, Billy is a Machiavellian mastermind that rivals any villain from a narrative film. Even though some might argue that the Super Bowl or NCAA tournament is more important, the competition in THE KING OF KONG rivals the most exciting in sports. Thanks to the film's wonderful characters, it's easy to get involved in the drama. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and the people who populate THE KING OF KONG are as fascinating as any screenwriter's creation. [More]

Director: Seth Gordon

Director: Seth Gordon
Producer: Ed Cunningham
Composer: Craig Richey
Studio: Picturehouse

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Release:

Jan 29, 2008

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Reviews for The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

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41 - 60 (sorted by date)
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Like some of the players it showcases, earns a nearly perfect score...funny, poignant, surprising and satisfying from beginning to end.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
09/01/07
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Tthe best underdog story in years.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
08/31/07
Peter Paras
Peter Paras
E! Online

It's almost embarrassing how compelling this film becomes...

Full Review Source: Miami Herald | comment Comment
08/31/07
Connie Ogle
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald

Kong has more humor, more drama and more humanity than all of the summer's top 10 movies combined and even delivers some sly commentary on how out of whack American priorities have become.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
08/31/07
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

One of the smartest documentaries of the year, and easily the funniest.

Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | comment Comment
08/31/07
Sean Means
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune

One of the most fascinating films of the year, and it deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
08/27/07
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's Over the Top via Nintendo, and it is stunning to behold.

Full Review Source: Oregonian | comment Comment
08/24/07
Mike Russell
Mike Russell
Oregonian

A documentary that is beyond strange.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
08/24/07
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A pretty great trip down memory lane, even if you were one of the cool kids who managed to avoid the arcade scene.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
08/24/07
Peter Hartlaub
Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle

The film magnificently, and almost inadvertently, captures the story of the American Dream.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
08/23/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

A stupendously entertaining nonfiction film concerning the cutthroat battle for world records on coin-operated arcade games.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
08/23/07
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

These two go after the record like they're Cal Ripken, and in the competitive community that surrounds the gaming world, no one would call them 'losers.' Just heroes.

Full Review Source: Metromix.com | comment Comment
08/23/07
Matt Pais
Matt Pais
Metromix.com

The King of Kong is a twisty, wildly entertaining film, and this comes to you from a guy who cares so little about Kong that he had to Google it to make sure it's correct to refer to it as a video game.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
08/23/07
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Take maniacal classic video game champion Billy Mitchell, questionable video game world-record organization Twin Galaxies and unemployed dad Steve Wiebe vying to usurp the champ and you've got a great story.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
08/23/07
Scott Schueller
Scott Schueller
Chicago Tribune

Like all great documentaries, this one transcends its subject matter, so that in the end, it's not just about two guys who play videogames, but about the nature of competition, how we cope with winning and losing and what that tells us about ourselves.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
08/22/07
Cindy White
Cindy White
IGN Movies

When a gamer tears up over a loss or a records auditor declares the significance of his role in the process ("I see world records set in my room every day"), the film creates characters out of clips, asks viewers to participate in story arcs.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
08/22/07
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

Not since 300 have I seen such manly mano-a-manoing as the iron clash of wills in the documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
08/20/07
Kyle Smith
Kyle Smith
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

About ethics and personal character as much as it is about the weird world of die-hard arcade gaming.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
08/19/07
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

...a fascinating portrait of polar opposites driven by different needs within a freakish world of nerdy obsessives. One not need give a hoot about video games to enjoy this taught, tense and thoroughly entertaining documentary.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
08/19/07
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Seth Gordon's portrait of obsessive classic arcade game players finds high drama and murky intrigue in the competition for the Donkey Kong world record.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
08/17/07
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
 
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Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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Latest News for The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

November 28, 2008: UK Critics Consensus: Local Critics Warm To Changeling; De Niro Delights But What Just Happened Doesn't
It's Friday, there's a new raft of movies in the UK cinemas this week, but are any of them any good? This week the UK film hacks give us their opinions on Clint Eastwood's... More...

November 17, 2008: Seth Gordon Talks King of Kong Remake Opens in new window
"King of Kong" director Seth Gordon has moved into the big time with "Four Christmases" -- but, as he tells Collider, he isn't done with "Kong" just yet. More...

August 07, 2008: Further Reading: Celebrating the Brilliance of The King of Kong
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... More...

January 28, 2008: RT on DVD: King of Kong, The Invasion Top Week's New Releases
There's a veritable buffet of new releases for the discerning cinematic connoisseur this week, ranging from a highly acclaimed battle for joystick supremacy (The King of Kong: A... More...

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