Film Junk Poll: What is the Best Movie About Gamers?
It’s not too surprising that Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s Gamer hasn’t been getting particularly positive early reviews, but the one thing it does have going for it is the fact that it seems to harken back to a subgenre of science-fiction filmmaking that has been virtually non-existent for the past few years. I’m not sure why, but as video games have gone on to become full-fledged mainstream entertainment, the subject hasn’t been explored on screen nearly as often as you might think. What we’ve been getting instead is an explosion of movies based on specific video game properties… yawn. I thought this would be a good chance to look back at some of the best movies that broach the subject of gamers and the video games they play. Which one is your favourite? Cast your vote in this week’s poll, and then chime in with any others you can think of in the comments below.
Comments (14)
How the fuck is The Wizard beating The Last Starfighter?
Posted by Matt Gamble on September 4th, 2009Because The Wizard is awesome!
Posted by Baalachi on September 4th, 2009Great Poll… so hard to pick a winner -
If there is justice in the world, in no particular order – The Wizard, TRON, Starfighter, Cloak and Dagger, and King of Kong – should round out the Top 5.
All terrific, terrific, fun stuff.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on September 4th, 2009I think the Super Mario 3 product placement in The Wizard helps over some of the others movies, great marketing!
Though Tron & The Last Starfighter are great cheesy 80s movies.
Posted by Nemesis on September 4th, 2009The Donkey Kong one.
Posted by Tomas on September 4th, 2009Because The Wizard is awesome!
No, no its not. Its so bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZErvASwdlU
Posted by Matt Gamble on September 4th, 2009No Mortal Kombat?
Posted by Henry on September 4th, 2009This list does not include 2006’s Stay Alive. Which is probably for the best as that movie was garbage. Worst use of Adam “The Hebrew Hammer” Goldberg ever?
Posted by Ovenball on September 4th, 2009Well … hmmm King of Kong be a documentary is almost cheating.
If you’re talking about a proper movie that sets out to tell of a heroes journey with the motif of gaming or something then I think The Wizard is the one.
Posted by Ian on September 5th, 2009How is King of Kong topping the chart? It’s a documentary and a sad one at that.
Posted by stevie_baby on September 5th, 2009Am I really the only one showing Cloak & Dagger some love? That’s a fantastic film.
Posted by Jon Rocks on September 7th, 2009eXistenZ all the way.
Trivia: isten means GOD in Hungarian. (hence the strangely placed capital letters in the title to emphasize the ‘god in the machine’ = modern/future video games
Bow down your god.
Posted by Kurt on September 7th, 2009Mortal Kombat isn’t about gamers… it’s a Game-tie-in film. Ok, not sure that is a real phrase but it fits.
Would be interesting too look at docs vs non docs, although other than King of Kong is most popular doc and I’m not sure how many people say Second Skin, Dungeon Masters, Darkon and Another Perfect World…
Posted by Shannon the Movie Moxie on September 8th, 2009Oh, and I love Cloak & Dagger. Special place in my heart that one holds… totally reminds me of me and my brother (but I’m not as annoying as the girl was, I hope).
Posted by Shannon the Movie Moxie on September 8th, 2009Leave a Reply