Review of The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007) by Dann M — 31 May 2017

"One of the greatest rivalries of all time," Billy Mitchell and Steve Wiebe duke it out to see who is the King of Kong in this extraordinarily fun and entertaining documentary. Exploring the world of competitive classic arcade gaming (Pac-Man, Centipede, Q*bert, Donkey Kong) the film looks at the rise of arcade gaming in the 1980s and the quest of middle school teacher Steve Wiebe to become the high score champion of Donkey Kong and gain the respect of his fellow gamers.

A number of players and their families, along with Twin Galaxies officials (who regulate gameplay and determine the veracity of scores), are interviewed; giving a real inside look at the gaming community.

And while the film has a bit of a comedic edge, on the whole it shows respect for the dedication and skill required to be an accomplished arcade player. Lighthearted and inspirational, King of Kong is a captivating documentary about pursing one's passion and overcoming adversity.