Tetris (Film)

[Jedi Master Baiter]

I just saw an ad trailer for this film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetris_(film)

As someone who always had the cliffnotes, but never really got the whole story of how the deal(s) went down, I'm interested in this documentary.

It's funny to see the Famicom game box in the trailer and think Hey! I've got that in my closet!

I hope it's not overdramaticized.

[Ghegs]

I think the trailer makes it pretty clear that there will be some overdramatization involved, and shouldn't be considered a documentary. But I think it's exactly because of that that I really want to see the movie. I would recommend watching Gaming Historian's The Story of Tetris before the movie, though, and then consider the movie as the Hollywood-take on the events.

It's a shame the original FC version of Tetris isn't that good compared to pretty much any other version that came soon afterwards.

[Jedi Master Baiter]

Aww man, really? I wasn't sure because I only knew of the Tengen/Nintendo debacle. I would like to know how the whole Soviet Russia deal went without added (melo)drama.

I'm not sure I want to watch it now. 

It's a shame the original FC version of Tetris isn't that good compared to pretty much any other version that came soon afterwards.

I think we can all agree which Tetris is the definitive version:

Spoiler

The Gameboy! Ultimate bathroom system

[close]

[Ghegs]

I would like to know how the whole Soviet Russia deal went without added (melo)drama.

That's what the aforementioned The Story of Tetris is for, that one can be considered a documentary.

[P]

I've been meaning to watch that youtube documentary forever, I guess now is a good time.

I'm not sure where the line goes for a documentary as long as it's largely based on real facts and it's structured based on some sort of intended point-of-view (real footage on its own without being structured around an intended point-of-view is thus not a documentary).
This film indeed clearly has Hollywood-style action scenes and drama, so not what we typically think of as a documentary.


Any yeah, the Game Boy version has always been the best original version of the game, despite the playfield being shrunk a bit. The NES version doesn't even have a 2-player mode, I've never really liked that one.

[tonev]

I saw the cast members and so far it looks that it's going to follow the story closely. I am not sure about the Atari lawsuit but it does go on about the deal with the UK people 

[Jedi Master Baiter]

I just saw this BBC documentary on the subject: https://youtu.be/NhwNTo_Yr3k

I loved the interviews, especially the one with Nikolai Belikov. I always thought it was an oversight that USSR even allowed the rights to be sold instead of keeping it for themselves and trying to compete in the computer/console games world, but I didn't realize the gigantic shift that the Soviet Union was going through in those moments and the lack of understanding of the games market at the time. It was fortunate that Belikov had done enough due diligence to go with the better deal (to Atari's loss).

I think this whole story has Pirates of the Silicon Valley-level docudrama and humor.

Now I want to see Gaming Historian's video.

[Jedi Master Baiter]

I just saw Gaming Historian's video and I think I like the BBC's documentary with the interviews better, but I did appreciate the added tidbits, like Nintendo trying to get Pajitnov royalties and the Russian psychologist who allegedly murdered his family.

Regardless, I don't have Apple TV+ nor do I care to get it, so bleh.

[tonev]

I watched the movie and it was amazing.They all speak their native languages of English , Russian and Japanese and everything is historically accurate even to the little details. All Russian parliament officials are driving "Chaika"    and everything is in the movie even the Atari and Sega side of things. And now i want to own the BPS version of tetris 

[Ghegs]

Just finished watching the movie. It was entertaining, but I don't think the game-like effects they added to some scenes, like in the car chase scene, really added much. They felt more like "Hey remember Tetris is a video game!" -type of nods that nobody would miss if they were taken out.

Strict accuracy to the actual events is obviously not what the movie's creative team aimed for. Even Henk Rogers says in this interview: "It's a Hollywood script; it's a movie. It's not about history, so a lot of [what's in the movie] never happened."

So with that in mind, I think the movie is best enjoyed with a companion piece, like Gaming Historian's and/or BBC's documentary, or one of the books. One of those for the true story, and the movie for the funsies and 80's music.

[Jedi Master Baiter]

the movie for the funsies and 80's music.

Ugh. Do they play cheesy '80s pop synthesizer singles throughout the entire film, like Final Countdown?

I don't think the game-like effects they added to some scenes, like in the car chase scene, really added much. They felt more like "Hey remember Tetris is a video game!" -type of nods that nobody would miss if they were taken out.

So those are in the film? 

Does it have Maxwell's "suicide?"

[Magicantian]

Compared to most movies made today, I think it was a hit. Some scenes felt a little over embellished but you have to keep in mind this was the before the fall of the Soviet Union, so it might be historically accurate, money was probably tight. I felt like it led more into the background of back stabbing business ethics and difficulty to seal a deal, what it really is / was like. Had not much problem with the soundtrack, actors or writing. Would watch three times.

In regards to the new Mario movie, I didn't watch yet but everyone online upon release was bashing it very hard, I can't imagine it being that bad.

[P]

The Mario film deserves its own thread.

[TurtleKirby1234]

I hope it's not overdramaticized.

That quote didn't age well...

[Magicantian]

Meek mork meep:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VNsPkkoWxk

Outside of the popular App0l movie, this is the co-creators life. The full video is out there for those who seek it but, this is a very big story about big money and total destruction.