Friday, November 16, 2012
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Top 8 Movies About Board Games
Not enough movies use board games as a central part of the plot. Here are five movies that do, and each is enjoyable in its own way. If you like to see board games put to use in feature films, this is your list.
1. Searching for Bobby Fischer
Ben Kingsley, Laurence Fishburn and Joe Mantegna all turn in superb performances in this wonderful film. (William H. Macy, one of my favorite actors, also has a small role.) Chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin struggles to mesh his love of the game with his father's (Mantegna) obsession with winning. An underrated classic.2. Word Wars
This Scrabble documentary focuses on four of the world's best Scrabble players: G.I. Joel Sherman, Joe Edley, Marlon Hill and Matt Graham. The movie culminates with the 2002 National Scrabble Championship, where the top prize is $25,000.3. Clue
Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd), Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull), and Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn) all come to life in this 1985 comedy, which also stars Tim Curry and Michael McKean. Skillfully written and filled with slapstick comedy and clever wordplay, this movie provides a delightful romp through Mr. Boddy's mansion.
4. Scrabylon
Another Scrabble documentary, this 50-minute film was shot mainly during the World Scrabble Championships in Las Vegas. Among the featured players are the highest-rated woman player, an options trader, a professional gambler, a stand-up comic, and the executive director of the National Scrabble Association.5. Uber Goober
Uber Goober, subtitled "a film about gamers," is a 90-minute look at the culture of gaming -- including roleplaying games and historical miniature games. The movie features interviews with Dungeons and Dragons creator E. Gary Gygax, televangelist Bob Larson, author Mike Stackpole, and cartoonist John Kovalic.6. Jumanji
Robin Williams stars as a boy who gets sucked into a board game and doesn't escape until more than two decades later as a grown man used to living in the jungle. This was among Kirsten Dunst's first films; Bebe Neuwirth and Bonnie Hunt also appear. The special effects -- praised by some, panned by others -- are provided by Industrial Light and Magic.7. A Bug's Life
What's this computer-animated movie from the makers of "Toy Story" doing on this list? Excellent question -- here's the answer: "Geri's Game," a short film about playing chess alone in the park, appears on both the VHS and the DVD editions.8. Sneakers
A short but important scene involving Scrabble lands this 1992 Robert Redford techno-spy thriller on the list. Other stars include River Phoenix, James Earl Jones, Sidney Poitier, Timothy Busfield, and Dan Aykroyd.
http://boardgames.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/movies.htm
Top 5 Ancient Board Games
By Erik Arneson, About.com Guide
These games are the classic classics -- board games that have been played for centuries. They have elegant rules, deep strategy, tactical opportunities, and they all continue to delight modern-day gamers.
1. Go
First played in China more than 3000 years ago, Go is so popular in Japan today that newspapers run columns about the game. Known as Wei Ch'i in China and Baduk in Korea, Go is truly the grand-daddy of all board games.2. Chess
Chess can trace its roots to a game called Chaturanga which was played in India around 600 AD. Chinese Chess (Xiangqi) and Japanese Chess (Shogi) came into existence by 800 AD. Near the end of the 1400s, the bishop and queen were added to Western Chess.3. Checkers or Draughts
Although it appears to be a much simpler game than Chess, Checkers offers plenty of strategic considerations for those who choose to look for them.4. Mancala
The word "Mancala" means "to transfer" in Arabic. This game, which by some estimates is 7000 years old, challenges players to move pieces from bin to bin. Many rule variations exist, and Mancala is played in some form in almost every African country.5. Mah Jongg
With roots dating back to 800 AD, Mah Jongg is the youngest game on this list. Originally a card game, Mah Jongg today is played with beautifully etched tiles. The modern version of Mah Jongg probably was first played sometime in the 1800s in China.
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