With a fistful of popcorn and a cup of sweet soda, I sat down to watch the incredible documentary, The King of Kong. Directed by Seth Gordon, the 2007 feature film explores the powerful arcade addiction that plays on the self-image of classic video gamers. As we emerge into the cutthroat world of Donkey Kong, we shadow the lives of two competitors as they battle it out for the one-man title, ‘King of Kong’. The aim of the game? To rescue the damsel in distress from the sinister Kong
Obsessed with being the best, Steve Wiebe attempts to break the world record at the popular 1980s arcade classic, Donkey Kong. We first meet the humble competitor in his family home with a wife and two children. Down to earth and an average joe, he is often seen by the beach or pool, enjoying the family life. Therefore, we are quick to join his fight.
In contrast, the shadowy, self-proclaimed ‘sauce king’, Billy Mitchel surrounds himself with the comforts of his success – his sauce, his restaurant, his car, and his beautiful wife. He is perceived as overly egotistical and cocky. As he steals the spotlight away from the hero of our tale, he quickly becomes the ‘Kong’ of the competition. …show more content…
Steve Wiebe works successfully as a science teacher and actively attends night classes. However, he never achieves greater than second best, and with those around him constantly reminding him of his past failures in the fields of sports and the arts (an inability to pitch and disinterest in performing), Wiebe clings to the arcade classic as the last beckon of light in his life. In in one instance, a tape is recorded in front of the arcade machine. His obsession pulls him and he neglects the cries of his young son in favour of a new
Obsessed with being the best, Steve Wiebe attempts to break the world record at the popular 1980s arcade classic, Donkey Kong. We first meet the humble competitor in his family home with a wife and two children. Down to earth and an average joe, he is often seen by the beach or pool, enjoying the family life. Therefore, we are quick to join his fight.
In contrast, the shadowy, self-proclaimed ‘sauce king’, Billy Mitchel surrounds himself with the comforts of his success – his sauce, his restaurant, his car, and his beautiful wife. He is perceived as overly egotistical and cocky. As he steals the spotlight away from the hero of our tale, he quickly becomes the ‘Kong’ of the competition. …show more content…
Steve Wiebe works successfully as a science teacher and actively attends night classes. However, he never achieves greater than second best, and with those around him constantly reminding him of his past failures in the fields of sports and the arts (an inability to pitch and disinterest in performing), Wiebe clings to the arcade classic as the last beckon of light in his life. In in one instance, a tape is recorded in front of the arcade machine. His obsession pulls him and he neglects the cries of his young son in favour of a new