Review of King of Kong (opinions expressed are those of the author)
I went to see this movie with an open neutral mind. Tried to avoid thinking about all the hearsay and commotion surrounding the flick...
...Scenes began to appear staged, actors where asked to perhaps perform or repeat things that were missed on camera. It started having a reality show feeling where the seriousness of a true documentary was lost. Facts were tossed aside, flat out ignored, or totally flipped around. But of course they need to keep viewers entertained, and certainly succeeded in this regard.
...Billy unnecessarily sent two tapes to Funspot for public viewing. The one shown while Wiebe was playing was somewhat disturbing as portrayed. It appears that Billy had another tape overnighted to smother the excitement of Steve's new WR performed in public earlier. I believe the delivery and presentation of the 2nd tape (in the white package) as shown was not accurate at all -- a handoff to Robert at, and incorrectly noted, Brian Kuh's cabin -- huh?
...The movie lost even more creditability near the end with the 4 days of Pompano Beach footage which I was present for taping. Steve Sanders was another and it should be noted and will deservedly take some heat for things he said, or rather should not have. He's not the only gamer to come clean from cheating. I found one comment particularly offensive directed at Steve Wiebe and Mark Alpiger. Were you guys really unwelcome guests at Ricky's??? This restaurant scene another factual location/time/sequence error (called a Luncheon).
What I did not like about the movie was the slick video AND AUDIO editing. Words were inserted into people's interviews. Sentences were chopped off. Those verbal phrases were rearranged and inter-twined with other people comments to create drama. Several times voice overs were used when lips were not moving. Speech substitutions (e.g. Steve's young daughter asking questions like a seasoned teenager), irrelevant one-way conversions with people the get across a certain message or build-up the story, etc.
In summary, I saw no character assassinations. I knew just about everyone in the movie and they were presented faithfully as I see them and relate to them in person. Yes, Billy is a cocky, self-serving, control-freak while Steve comes across as a humble, sensitive, family-type guy. I found it interesting that some people would be shown on screen and immediately get laughs from the audience. Greg Bond and Perry Rodgers come to mind. So yes there was some laughter at the expense of gamers we all know. Mark's dumpster clip is not there. Dwayne appears twice, at two different venues. Many interviews did not make it. Lots of footage is on the cutting floor.
IN THE END, WE GOT DUPED!!!! It was supposed to be a documentary about high level gamers trying to break World Records.
...
I'll have to see the movie to see if I notice things that appear to be staged, but I will say that, personally, I never witnessed any staging, nor was I asked to 'redo' or 'stage' anything. Also, I was never told what to say in any way. Of course, that doesn't mean that this was the case for others.
In case anyone is wondering, I was around for (I think) most all of the 'gamer gathering' coverage that likely appears in the movie. Specifically, I'm speaking of Funspot 2005, CE 2005, and Pompano Beach, Florida 2006.
I don't know the whole story on the tape(s) at FS 2005, but I understood that there was just one, and I think the intent was for it to just be viewed in private by TG associates and friends. But when Steve made the 985K wr in person (just after 11 PM Friday during 'Funspot weekend'), my understanding was that the plan changed, and Billy wanted it / allowed it to be shown the next evening (check the chronology on my usual detailed picture coverage,
here). I think Steve was playing much of Saturday afternoon, and on into the evening, trying to get a million-point game, and someone told me that an idea was floated to put the monitor showing Billy's tape playback
on top of the Donkey Kong machine, while he was at it ! Needless to say, that would have been a very bad call, and one person in particular (non-TG, BTW) apparently 'went ape' over it, and now ostracizes a certain TG associate.
If the movie shows the overnight idea for the tape, it's definitely making up things, as (again) Steve made the score
very late on Friday, and all shipment places were closed hours earlier, making it impossible to 'overnight' a tape for arrival the next day, when the tape was played. In any case, after it was played, Walter announced that anyone (including Steve Wiebe) could take advantage of an offer from Billy - up until 4 PM Sunday, there would be a $1,000 bounty for anyone (read: Steve) topping one million points, and a $10,000 offer for anyone (read: Steve) topping Billy's newly shown mark. Not to diverge, but, something that never really occurred to me was said to me by the same source that relayed the attempted monitor debacle. He said that both playing the tape, and the offer, was in kind of poor taste, as it seemed like it was an attempt to take the limelight away from Steve's record. Since I don't care much for DK, the thot never crossed my mind, but, the more I've thot about it since then, the more I agree that it was actually kind of poor; at the very least, it was poor in how it was timed. And, we must note, the same thing has happened again recently, timing-wise; a tape with a higher score than Steve's is revealed after Steve's made a mark, and then a $10K offer for beating the revealed score is made. Hmmmm... history repeats itself.
OK, back to Pat's review. So, apparently the tape situation was depicted inaccurately. You also next note another inaccuracy, about the gathering at Billy's restaurant. As you say, it wasn't a luncheon; it really occurred at around 5 PM (give or take). Actually, I'm not sure that this error, and even the one with the tape, is that terrible (as far as how much it matters to the main story), tho it does speak poorly as to the efforts to portray things correctly. Frankly, I'm more concerned if (as reported) things are slanted unfairly against Billy / TG.
I'll have to see the part with Steve Sander's comment about Steve W. and I to comment on specifics. I will say that we were not unwelcome (to my knowledge). My understanding is that everyone was going to Ricky's to eat dinner, and while Billy was not necessarily going to be there, the expectation was that he would show. Anyway, I had heard elsewhere that Steve and I were said to be sitting at another table because we were not wanted to be a part of the group. In fact, what happened was (and, I forget exactly why) that Steve and I were two of the last gamers left at the gameroom, probably because we were still involved in gaming activities - I frankly forget specifically what, now. Anyway, I knew most everyone else had left, so I finally got ready to go, and then Ed and a camera guy said they needed a ride, I think because Seth had their vehicle. Of course, Steve needed a lift too, so they asked if I could take all of them, and I of course said yes. When we got there, the main table was filled, and the only place to sit was in an adjacent booth, so that's where Steve and I sat. Pretty simple. I'll have to see exactly how it was played out in the movie.
I can report that Billy showed up about an hour after we arrived, and when he approached where we were sitting, Steve initiated an apology of sorts, saying that he was sorry that things were in such turmoil, with all the controversies, but that he had nothing but respect and admiration for Billy (I'm paraphrasing, of course, but this is accurate). I didn't want to eavesdrop, so I kind of faded back from them, to give them a little privacy, even tho lots of people were still close by.
As a hilarious aside, when Billy and Steve had their short conversation, I had Billy sign my book (as did his fabulous kids, who were really great, and funny too), and I mentioned that I hadn't seen him since the January '85 'Captain Video' contest (
see here). He said that he remembered me complaining about the size of my shirt, which I indeed did ! I was even smaller in size back then, and the damn thing was a dress, literally, on me, with its XL size. Anyway, that's what Billy remembered about me, from 21 years earlier ! Well, I'll use the notation as an excuse to put up a pic, and the full set from Florida should (finally) be up in the next few months. Check it out:
OK, I diverged again. Sorry, Pat. Now, if there was sound dubbing, voice additions, and the like, that's pretty outrageous. I'll look out for those when I view the film. If they happened with frequency, then calling it a documentary is a farce.
I'm glad that there are no character assassinations, and it's interesting that some folks garnered laughs with just an appearance. I would have thot that this was something reserved mostly for me, but, my two appearances in the first five minutes of the movie (all I've seen) didn't appear to draw much negative attention from the audience at CE.
On the Dwayne appearances; I almost forgot about the 'tricky' notifications (regarding filming taking place) that were put up in the form of notices, both at Funspot 2005, and in Florida. I have been told by someone who consulted a lawyer that such notices are perfectly legal, and allow filmers to use any and all footage of people captured in those locations. So, all footage shown from these two spots is cleared, whether waivers were signed or not.
Yes, it was related to a lot of us by the crew that they were doing a story on gamers and their exploits, as far as the pursuit of records. I think that the Florida event was really telling, however, Pat, as it gathered together a lot of gamers who were competing on hotly contested titles. There was (of course) Billy vs. Steve, even tho Billy didn't show up and play (which was his right, tho I would have enjoyed him taking an afternoon to try out a few games, no matter how 'out of practice' he was), plus Don vs. Steve S. on Joust, Kelly vs. Doris on Q*bert, you Pat (in a roundabout way) vs. Don on Frogger, Dwayne vs. Don on Dig Dug, Jason vs. Shawn Cram on Zookeeper, Gary vs. Perry (absent) on Galaxian, and Abdner vs. Chris Ayra (who wasn't there) on Ms. Pac. And, I frankly think this was the tack that was being pursued from the beginning - rivalries. And, that's perfectly OK. I don't even care if the crew knew that, and told us it was a general view of gaming. Frankly, if they let on about the rivalry angle, I'm not sure they would have gotten as accurate a result from the gamers, in both the interviews, and in the way they played. Hey, some people fold under 'pressure', and if they know the focus is on the rivalry, the result might not be as good as if they think they're just part of one big story. Just my two cents...
Well, thanks for not only the first (I think) gamer review of TKoK, Pat, but you were also there to see how a lot of it was done, and that makes your write-up a great insider's viewpoint, in addition.
