Every now and then I trawl through Amazon’s bargain bin for old films I fancy watching again or feel like owning. Just been through today. Almost bought the complete Terrahawks DVD box set but it’s not exactly bargain price, likewise for Star Fleet (Staaarrrrfleeeeeeet). Did end up getting some other gems though, a few I want to be a surprise for Grete so I won’t mention those, but I felt it was about time we owned the first Police Academy, Airplane 1 & 2, the Naked Gun movies, Lost Boys, Little Shop of Horrors, Dark Crystal, and Reservoir Dogs. Most of them are under £3!
We recently watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Wargames. Both of them are as good as I remember. Wargames stands the test of time remarkably well considering the subject matter. I was amused by how the FBI dealt with our super-hacker, these days the movie would probably have him being caught, bagged and shipped abroad for ‘special treatment’ without so much as a second glance, but in the 80’s they just put you into a store room with a randy guard on the door and lots of sharp objects in the draws. How times change. If Wargames wasn’t the movie that taught you what the term DEFCON meant, then I’m not sure I want to be in your gang.
I think Wargames should be part of all Computer Studies courses at university. Both to remind people what daisy wheel printers were along with acoustic modems, and also to remind them why closed loop computer systems are bad. Oh, and to prove to them all that even the geeks can get the girl (or guy, if you’re a girl geek, but you know what I mean).
That reminds me, I should probably get a copy of Sneakers on DVD at some stage.
Was Wargames the first movie to give us the trope of text appearing on the terminal one character at a time and making a noise while it did it? I wonder.
Anyway I leave you with this quote, one of my favourite movie quotes of all time,
Joshua: Greetings, Professor Falken.
Stephen Falken: Hello, Joshua.
Joshua: A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?