We've all seen movies in which a down-and-out athlete beats the odds to win. That's pretty much the plot of every sports film, it seems, though Rocky IV is probably my favorite example. Videogames are slowly starting to emerge as competitive sporting events. So, where is our inspirational tale of plucky underdogs who come together to defeat an unstoppable opponent?
Here's a good start. This mock trailer for Sunday Night Starcraft blends together just about every cliché moment you can imagine from sports films with a heavy dollop of dorkiness.
Funny stuff. My favorite moment is when the main character finds himself trying to play while at the dinner table. That, or the slightly racist Korean impersonation. Hard to say. I'm easily pleased.
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
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King of Kong is a documentary. And he doesn't really "win" in the traditional sense, the dramatically overblown victory, which makes it pretty much not the same thing.
Pretty funny stuff. Watching that right after watching the new Starcraft 2 Cinematic trailer though is just kinda weird. How can both be about the same thing (in a sense)?
Look, Conrad, I don't mean to get into a nitpicking fight as to why "King of Kong" is either a lot like or unlike a bad sports film. I was just saying that the set-up for that movie (which is not diminished by it being a documentary - I didn't understand that point) sounds a lot like what I quoted from your article.
It's inspirational.
There's a plucky hero and an "unstoppable force".
And despite not fitting into the classic three-act structure, there is a victory.
I might be out of line, but you sounded a little defensive to me. It wasn't my intention to be that aggressive.
@the Company: If I didn't want people to respond to my comments, I wouldn't make them. No worries here. Perhaps I could have been more clear as to what I had in mind in the original post and I certainly wouldn't begrudge you for making a perfectly valid point.
I agree with you that King of Kong is in no way diminished by being a documentary. I merely classify it differently because it's not a fictional tale or "based on" reality.
Great trailer. Just one thing: Wild Turkey whiskey? Eww! Goddamn, that stuff is shit in a bottle! Shoulda gone for some Jack.
Also, there seems to be somethimg wrong with peoples' posts. There's this weird "script" thing at the end, and I'm wondering if it could be a serious problem. Just thoght you guys should know.
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Contest:
3:00 AM on 07.22.2010
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King of Kong?
Exactly. It's also worth noting that the King of Kong was actually a pretty good movie in its own right.
Also, what a dipshit, he was playing Starcraft with only the keyboard.
It's inspirational.
There's a plucky hero and an "unstoppable force".
And despite not fitting into the classic three-act structure, there is a victory.
I might be out of line, but you sounded a little defensive to me. It wasn't my intention to be that aggressive.
I agree with you that King of Kong is in no way diminished by being a documentary. I merely classify it differently because it's not a fictional tale or "based on" reality.
Also, there seems to be somethimg wrong with peoples' posts. There's this weird "script" thing at the end, and I'm wondering if it could be a serious problem. Just thoght you guys should know.