Game = Life

Urged by friends whose taste I trust as similar to mine, I took in the matinee of Cloverfield yesterday. (Warning - site link does launch the trailer.)  It was f***ing fantastic.  If you like monster movies, go see it.  If you like well told stories, go see it.  If you're prone to motion sickness, take your Dramamine first, as it's all shaky-cam.  It's not revolutionary filmmaking, but it takes immersive storytelling and does it right.  I jumped, I gasped, I cried. Twice.

I won't share my high concept reaction because it is a spoiler.  See it unspoiled if you can.  On the other hand, if you want to be spoiled or you've already seen it, Wil Wheaton's review says everything I'd want to say, and better.

Any number of times during the movie, I found myself thinking: "This is just what my Chill game is like on its best days."  (No ego here, nope, not at all, move along.)  Regular people in unimaginable circumstances, trying to deal and being heroic along the way.  I have one player for whom Hud's remarks in the subway tunnel are perfectly in character.  Some of their decisions are ill considered - even stupid - but they're plausible, and that's what makes the movie for me.

I also kept wondering if they were going to bring out a video game.  I think it would make an amazing videogame.

I will be taking the pacing and sensibility of this movie into my game.

Go see it.  Seriously.  It's that good.

Courtesy of Ghost of a Flea, here's notice of an independent film about my particular subculture, the Geek.  Geekin': Love, Jealousy and 20 sided dice, is scheduled for Summer 2005.  I think I might have to see this one.  I am inordinately fond of geek-centric films such as The Gamers (Dead Gentlemen Productions) and Free Enterprise (starring William Shatner as himself).