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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Steve Wiebe is The Man!
Comment: I was told by a friend who's movie opinion I usually trust to watch this movie so I did, albeit reluctantly. I mean seriously a movie about Donkey Kong records? Who gives a monkey butt, right? Well, watching the delusion that some of these record holders have and the lengths sham officiating orgs like "Twin Galaxies" will go to to keep people they want on top and keep others down is enthralling. Let's just say that Steve Wiebe is the King of Kong and more. HE's cool. Twin Galaxies is a self-serving sham.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Pushes all the buttons
Comment: Admit it -- a film about two guys locked in a titanic stuggle to become the world champion of Donkey Kong just invites parody. This battle of the geekoids -- new against old, cocky champion against hopeful challenger -- is worthy of a smarmy Hollywood farce. But the charcters that director Seth Gordon has captured in "The King of Kong" are very real and very commited to their hobby. The craf involved in the story is a matter of smart editing, not of clever writing.
When it came to enjoying this film, it didn't hurt that my family lives within easy driving of Weirs Beach, NH, where some of the action in this film takes place. We visited Funspot just last weekend, and saw the very machines recorded in the film. The place is real, the competitors are real and the competition is real. It's hard to imagine a more fascinating battle, with more different competitors. Champion Bobby Mithell has held the Donkey Kong title since 1982. He has parlayed his notoriety into a successful hot sauce business. With his BeeGee's era beard and blow-dried do, he clearly thinks more than a little about himself. His competitor, Steve Wiebe, is a schlumpy Seattle dad and science teacher -- the kind of guy with lot of talent who has never quite hit the big time in spite of his enormous ambitions to succeed. He finally finds his niche in playing Donkey Kong. Buying his own game, he maps the game's dozens of screens, mastering moves that he hopes will give him the success that has always just barely eluded him. Though their sympathies are clearly with Wiebe, the filmmakers never let on how the contest will come out until the end.
Congratulations to the makers of "The King of Kong" for letting this small, strange demimonde of players, wannabes and self-styled referees speak for itself. A wonderful achievement of the documentary form, with a little help from some very out-there characters. Bravo. Ding! Flash! Bonk!
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Summary: Steve Wiebe Rocks!
Comment: I first caught this doc on G-4 with my husband (who thought it was one of the best doc's he had ever seen), which caused me to purchase a copy of the dvd for him. He's watched it several more times and enjoys it each time. He's even considering a trip to Billy Mitchell's restaurant just to make a Steve Wiebe proclamation. I have to admit it was a very entertaining movie. It just boggles my mind that people are so intense on arcade games. And if you don't walk away hating Billy Mitchell for being the biggest a** and then laughing hysterically at how you just route for Steve Wiebe until the very end! A must watch!
Customer Rating:
Summary: The unseen world of video gaming
Comment: King of Kong is a documentary about an average Joe from Washington who really loves Donkey Kong. When he is laid off from his job, he decides to break the all time Donkey Kong record, which has been in place since 1982. Being unemployed isn't nearly so bad if you have a full-sized video game machine in your house that you play constantly. His wife is amazingly supportive (at least on the documentary), while his kids show their displeasure more readily.
The ensuing story is absolutely hilarious. Prepare to delve into the realm of high-intensity video gamers, which is not a realm you ever want to personally visit. The politics, the back and forth, the broken records - it's all a wild ride. It really is like the Rocky of video games, if that is possible.
Even though the theme is video games, kids will probably not enjoy it. However, I think most adults will enjoy it. Thanks to Judd for the great recommendation.
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Summary: A great study of reverse snobbery
Comment: This movie should be required viewing in any college level sociology class. The film documents a man who would struggle to actually be an outcast in any social group attempting to penetrate a clique of individuals who have likely been outcasts their entire lives.
Steve Wiebe is almost painfully average. He's a middle-class school teacher who'd been an above average athlete and he plays a couple of musical instruments. He has a good-looking wife and could be a poster boy for suburban America. He also has an almost preternatural ability to play Donkey Kong, and therein lies the trouble.
In order to have his record-breaking score recognized, Steve has to break through and enter into a world of people who probably weren't two-sport athletes and certainly couldn't mingle well at an office Christmas party. In getting his score validated, too, he will be bringing down their king.
Billy Mitchell is the undisputed monarch of these gamers. I'd first read about him in a 2006 article in the now-defunct Oxford American magazine. In that article, the author, David Ramsey, tried to convey Mitchell's cockiness but still be respectful. After this film, I have a new degree of respect for Mr. Ramsey's restraint.
Mitchell is, rightfully, recognized as Gamer of the Century. He's sort of law and order in this world in that he is uniquely qualified to challenge all high score claims. Mitchell is also a successful business man and he's married to a woman who you will not admit is hot in front of your wife, but men get it. Mitchell's success in business and marriage, though, does not tarnish or diminish his status among the gamers. In fact, they likely cheer him on. You expect your hero to do well in all endeavors.
When Weibe submits his score, it's obvious that the Twin Galaxies crowd is eager to close ranks and protect their hero. Weibe is left with no option but to demonstrate his skills in person. He has to physically play the game surrounded by these outcasts who are so galvanized they have actually become snobs in their own right. There seems to be several instances where they are trying to distract this interloper during his game-play, with Billy Mitchell himself doing a silent walk-by. The crux of it is, here's Weibe, a guy who could be anybody's best bud and fit in anywhere, being shunned by folks who've probably been kept at a distance all their lives.
The extra features, particularly the extended interviews, are almost better than the movie itself. The players describing Burger Time are the greatest thing I've seen on film in a while. Interesting commentaries, too.
Anyone old enough to remember arcades needs to watch this film. Beware, though, you'll find yourself with an almost uncontrollable urge to prowl e-bay for old games.
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