Tag: eSports

[Fantasia Film Festival] Although Flawed but Fierce, Good Game Struggles to Hit Full Potential

This entertaining e-sports drama where underdogs fight for purpose, pride, and a struggling internet café’s future requires a good game where sportsmanship is key if this team is to win the respect of everyone playing, their rivals included.

Good Game Movie Poster
This movie played at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival on July 27th.

Just when I thought first-person shooter games couldn’t be brought convincingly to life, Dickson Leung’s Good Game proves otherwise. Rather than rely on flashy CGI, this film keeps things grounded, visualizing the action in a way that feels closer to what real gamers crave. But at its heart, Good Game isn’t just about the spectacle—it’s a heartfelt sports drama about misfits, redemption, and second chances.

The core of the story follows Solo (Will Or), a disgraced esports competitor who was ousted from his team after an in-game betrayal. He’s a gamer to the core, living and breathing the digital battlefield, but struggling to find purpose in the real world. When he wanders into an ailing internet café for a quick fix, he crosses paths with Fay (Yanny Chan) and her father Tai (Andrew Lam), who run the place. Fay sees potential in Solo, while her skeptical father remembers his infamous reputation. Continue reading “[Fantasia Film Festival] Although Flawed but Fierce, Good Game Struggles to Hit Full Potential”

Last to See Gran Turismo the Movie. It’s Just Another Day at the Races, and That’s Okay

There’s really nothing new that hasn’t been done before in Gran Turismo. This latest movie to be based on a videogame at least has its heart in the right place.

Grand Turismo 4K Case
Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Gran Turismo is a movie I never raced to the theatres to see. That’s because the director, Neill Blomkamp, is more synonymous with indie than studio manufactured content. I adore Chappie and District 9, and when he’s not attached to writing this latest, my trepidation was warrented.

The idea of telling the story about a video gamer turned racer is interesting enough to adapt to a motion picture. After all, if I’m to say I love Jean-Claude Van Damme‘s Bloodsport, then I should give this movie a chance too. And when Santa Sony Pictures sent me their home video release for me to evaluate. I’m glad I saw this film through my home theatre’s sound system. The only Dolby ATMOS certified cinema is out in the Western Communities and everything else in town pales in comparison (save for the Royal BC Museum’s IMAX).

Continue reading “Last to See Gran Turismo the Movie. It’s Just Another Day at the Races, and That’s Okay”

Go Get ‘Em! Geek Girls, Documentary Review

Upcoming Shows:
AUSTRALIA –
Demand Film
March 19-April 9, 6:30pm

CANADA, WINNIPEG –
Winnipeg Cinematheque
March 21-25 & 29

UK, LEEDS –
Left Bank Leeds
March 29, 8pm

BELGIUM, BRUSSELS –
Millenium Documentary Film Festival –
March 21, 7pm & March 25, 5pm

Geek Girls is a documentary by filmmaker Gina Hara (Your Place or Minecraft), chronicling her journey on why life as a female nerd is tough. A brief background about her childhood explains her motivations, and to see her interview other women (11 in total) who have found occupations by keeping true to themselves is inspiring no matter what the gender. This 80-minute production looks at how nerdom is a badge of honour instead of a sign of shame.

Sometimes the gender issue is not always in focus, as nearly every child played with dolls (Barbie, Transformers and GI Joe all belong in the same category), read comics, traded baseball cards or played some kind of video game. The labelling happened when peers in high school knew these secrets. Though back then, etymologists will note the words nerd and geek meant different things. The modern definition is more synonymous, and with this work, looks at these ladies deal against so-called societal norms.

Continue reading “Go Get ‘Em! Geek Girls, Documentary Review”

Level Achieved. Unlocked, the World of Games Interview with Jeremy Snead

Both Videogames the Movie and the upcoming eight-part documentary, Unlocked, the World of Games Revealed are a passion project from filmmaker Jeremy Snead.

jeremy-snead-photo1

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Both Videogames the Movie and the upcoming eight-part documentary, Unlocked, the World of Games Revealed are a passion project from filmmaker Jeremy Snead. With the former, he focussed on certain aspects of an industry that he knew he could comfortably cover — history, culture and business — but as for what’s next, the seeds were already planted and to see the idea grow was required.

“I met a couple of producers that asked me what to make next if I could take my pick, and that’s where Unlocked started,” said Snead.

This new series will become available online Dec 15, through iTunes, Google Play, Steam and Amazon and a physical release with bonus material is being planned. The topics explored present more than a look at videogames impact upon society. It has celebrity correspondents who are genuinely interested in the subject they are presenting. To decide on what topics to explore was not easy for this producer. The list was huge. To match the right person to look into that particular aspect of an industry or part of the culture was not always easy. To decide on having eight topics explored throughout the eight episodes felt right, according to this director, and he joked, “How long do we need [to tell the story] without lingering too much without making it a Ken Burns 15 hour style docu-series?”

Continue reading “Level Achieved. Unlocked, the World of Games Interview with Jeremy Snead”

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Unlocked: The World of (Video) Games is an Upcoming Online Documentary, One Byte Deep!

The eight-part documentary Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed will be available online through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Steam starting December 15th.

15027712_646986138795528_2453628057481800844_nBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Celebrity hosts Sean Astin, Tom Arnold, Matt Walsh, Penn Jillette, Michael Rooker, Zelda Williams, Alison Haislip and Meghan Camarena will look deep into the world of video games in an eight-part documentary Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed. This series will be available online through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Steam starting December 15th and it is currently available for preorder.

“The goal in producing a series like ‘Unlocked’ is to educate and entertain the audience on all these fascinating topics within the world of gaming all with a cast of curious correspondents that the audience is familiar with,” said series director Jeremy Snead.

Continue reading “Unlocked: The World of (Video) Games is an Upcoming Online Documentary, One Byte Deep!”