It’s only a matter of time before interest in retro video games hits the mainstream, and the astonishingly weird and phenomenally entertaining new documentary The King of Kong should help that upcoming nostalgia wave along quite nicely.

You wouldn’t think the story of two men vying to become the greatest Donkey Kong player in the world (in the 21st century no less) would make for great theater, and yet The King of Kong is easily one of the most engaging films I’ve seen this year. In fact, the hero and villain are so obvious and emotionally involving, the narrative and editorial choices of the filmmakers — who obviously select a side to be on — could be called into question.

So go as soon as you can to marvel at the low-key saga of early 80s arcade boy wonder Billy Mitchell vs. upstart Steve Wiebe, their competitive quest for identity and recognition, and how their stories become intertwined with the shifty politics of Walter Day’s still functioning Twin Galaxies. It’s pure nerdstravaganza, pure American, and all amazing.

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