The Hollywood Outsider – Film and Television Podcast | Reviews An award-winning film and television podcast for the fan in all of us
Anyone who listens to our weekly podcast knows that while I enjoy movies, my first love has always been video games. Ever since I was four years old, I have been obsessed with manipulating on-screen characters with some kind of controller. It is a passion that has always been difficult for me to express to those who do not share my adoration for the hobby.
Along comes ‘Video Games: The Movie’, a documentary from director Jeremy Snead, that beautifully sums up why people like me devote countless hours in front of our video game consoles. The film is equal parts history lesson and love letter to video gaming which masterfully targets both gamers and non-gamers alike. Most gamers will flock to this film as it gleefully reviles in the history of their favorite hobby, and for those of you who just want to know ‘What is so special about video games?’ This film is the answer you have been waiting for.
Video Games: The Movie covers a number of angles in the gaming industry, even addressing the old adage that gaming is strictly for social pariahs living in their parent’s basement (spoiler alert: it’s not). By electing to not focus solely on history, Video Games: The Movie widens its viewpoint and also takes a close look at the culture of gaming and what it means to be a ‘gamer’. It does this in a way that is very accessible to those who have never touched a controller while still being immensely entertaining to those who wear the title with pride. This ability to cater to both audiences is the film’s greatest strength.
One of the key factors in any documentary is the interviews, and Video Games: The Movie has an enticing mix of industry gaming personalities. There are many recognizable faces such as: Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari), Reggie Fils-Aime (President and COO of Nintendo), and Cliff Bleszinski (creator of ‘Gears of War’, also an executive producer of the film). What makes the interviews so special is its inclusion of people not directly involved in the development or marketing of video games. Many famous actors (including Zach Braff, Wil Wheaton, and even an impassioned narration from Sean Astin) show up to express their love for gaming, and there is even an appearance by author Ernest Cline (‘Ready Player One’). The filmmaker even included interviews with people who helped to financially back the project via Kickstarter, gamers themselves. This mix of people who make, market, consume and write about video games is enormously welcome and really helps to express just how diverse gaming culture truly is.
Not only is Video Games: The Movie one of the more interesting documentaries to come around in some time, there are several audio and visual touches that Snead embraces to keep the film entertaining even amidst all of the conversing. The combination of digital effects (created by Aaron Becker and Seth Kleinberg), original soundtrack (by Craig Richey) and popular music sets the tone from the opening title sequence till the very clever and touching (yes, I said touching) closing credits. There are countless video captures of familiar and obscure video games and even a few television commercials from various consoles through the years that make for a fun trip down Memory Lane for the initiated and uninitiated alike.
I love this documentary. I have seen many attempts at the subject, but Video Games: The Movie is the first to give me exactly what I wanted from an attempt to showcase this material. I rarely purchase movies anymore (much less re-watch them), but I will view this one multiple times, hopefully with people that I have tried for years to explain why I love video games. I would like to shake the hand of all those involved and thank them for legitimizing my passion.
Gamers have received a lot of grief over the years by some who simply do not understand our passion, that still have this vision of video games as a child’s toy locked into their minds. Thanks to director Jeremy Snead and his efforts, we now have something to point to and say to those people: ‘THIS is why I’m a gamer.’
If $10.00 is the full price of admission, Video Games: The Movie is worth $9.50
Also, be sure to listen to our interview with Video Games: The Movie director, Jeremy Snead!
Scott Clark
The Hollywood Outsider