Review of Video Games: The Movie (2014) by Sean P — 23 Jul 2014

Slick looking documentary, portends to a be a celebration of video games - and as a matter of fact, some of those very sharp, colorful video captures will make you want to run off and fire up those old consoles - but after a promising start that focuses on introductory statistics and a digest of video game history, it becomes apparent that Jeremy Snead's documentary has some significant issues.

The talking head selection looks great on paper, but industry luminaries such as Nolan Bushnell, Al Alcorn, David Crane, etc, don't get that much screen time - where more would have more insightful, Game designers currently working in the industry such as Nintendo of America's Reggie Fils Aime or Cliff Bleszinski do get more screen time, but they all seem to be engaging in shallow self-promotion (in fact Bleszinski is among the film's producers).

Then, probably a bit too much time is given to actors and film makers with geek credentials (Wil Wheaton, Max Landis, etc) whose only insight is into their current and past consumption of video games.

The senility of it's stream of thought structure may, by the time the film reaches it's boss stage, leave viewers feeling a little weary and lost as to what actually they have learned from this.

Not an ordeal by any means, but pretty insubstantial.