The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007)
97 %
Reviews Counted: 91 Fresh: 88 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.
Runtime: 79 mins
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 DONKEY KONG. THE KING OF KONG may inspire both tears and frustrated sighs, but it's most remarkable... [More]
Genre: Sports/Recreation
Director: Seth Gordon
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
A great little documentary, full of laughs, drama and tension. It's like Rocky, but with a joystick. And an opponent who isn't actually seen stepping into the ring.
Comment
06/06/08
You could hardly call it a paragon of impartial filmmaking, but this is still a compelling and immersive glance into the nature of competitiveness and the corrupting aspects of fame.
06/05/08
An engrossing story that plucks at the heartstrings just as hard as it pummels the fire buttons.
06/05/08
Gordon invites us to snicker at his cast of hardcore gamers, for whom 'Donkey Kong' tournaments are as vital as Super Bowls and as divisive as the war on abortion. But once embedded in their strange world, he finds a compelling story to tell.
04/10/08
If it weren't for swirling currents of humanity, the film would bore me Gongless. But it turns out to be character thriller with a big finish.
02/22/08
Unquestionably the most engaging and flat-out entertaining documentary since Murderball...
01/31/08
an oddly entertaining and exciting documentary that at times looks like a mockumentary
01/07/08
You could say it's sort of like Murderball, only these guys' disabilities are of the social variety. At any rate, it's a great film
12/18/07
As tremendous an act in empathy as anything Werner Herzog has ever committed to the documentary screen.
12/08/07
Benefits immeasurably from a cast of colorful supporting players, as well as a taut narrative that builds to a surprisingly tense climax.
12/07/07
Is there anything more tiresome than watching people play video games? Seth Gordon's documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters answers that question with a decisive yes: watching a movie about people playing video games.
12/07/07
Top Critic
The King of Kong is as winning, sweet, and occasionally disturbing a documentary about people for whom time has stopped somewhere around 1982 as you'd ever want to see.
12/07/07
Top Critic
Top Critic
The film paints a strange portrait of a subculture that I found to be a drag.
11/19/07
A compelling, weird, and often times touching spin on video gamers doing what they do best...
11/03/07
Mitchell is a ringer for Ben Stiller's pompous villain in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.
10/18/07
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Review: Film is 'tour de force for arcade dweebs'
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• The King Of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters at Rotten Tomatoes
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