Top Portrayals of Gaming Masterminds in Movies
Despite being two very different forms of entertainment – one active and one passive – games and cinema have strong ties to each other. Throughout the history of film, gaming has played a part as backdrop, mise en scène, plot point and inspiration in many blockbusters. Similarly, popular gaming titles have been influenced by Hollywood and the silver screen.
Gaming franchises which remain beloved around the world, such as Tomb Raider, Uncharted and Resident Evil, have seen success both as movies and as AAA games. Likewise, films such as Goldeneye and the Lord of the Rings trilogy have inspired decent gaming titles in their own right, animated by fans’ interest in delving deeper into the worlds of their favorite on-screen characters.
Today, we’re looking at the top movie portrayals of gaming genius, from Ingmar Bergman’s chess masterpiece to the modern retelling of Jumanji.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Although the original 1995 Robin Williams movie is still (rightfully) designated a classic, we’re interested in the modern retelling starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan. In this 2017 comedy-action film, each character must use their unique skills to beat the magical video game of Jumanji and return home. By working together as a team, they strive to solve each problem presented to them and avoid losing any further lives – both in the game and for real. The film was a hit with modern audiences as the plot contained such recognisable aspects of standard video games, including the characters’ special abilities, their weaknesses, and interactions with NPCs (non-player characters).
Although the four protagonists are perhaps not traditional ‘gaming masterminds’, they do have to use their wits to escape a range of puzzling situations and progress in the game. You may not feel brave enough to seek out a game of Jumanji yourself, but similar options include Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Run Lola Run
This cult German movie from the late 90s is iconic for many reasons, including Franka Potente’s bright red hair and the plot’s sense of urgency. In the film, protagonist Lola has just 20 minutes to help her boyfriend, Manni, out of a sticky situation involving his boss and an important delivery. The plot decides to follow Lola along various possible trajectories, exploring what could happen after she makes different decisions at different moments. On one timeline, she visits a casino and places her wager at the roulette table. She then employs a very strange but ultimately effective tactic: screaming at the top of her voice in an effort to spur on her bet to success.
Whilst roulette is now more usually played from the comfort of your own home via a reputable online platform, we still wouldn’t recommend using Lola’s noisy strategy. It’s possible to play High Roller, European and American variants of the title from your tablet or smartphone, whether you’re in the peace and calm of your living room or surrounded by the hubbub of a morning commute – no screaming required.
The Seventh Seal
At the opposite end of the spectrum from the action and adventure of the previous two movies mentioned here, we find Bergman’s 1950s masterpiece, The Seventh Seal. Rated by many as one of the greatest movies of all time, it won the Jury Special Prize at Cannes and quickly entered the history books as a classic. The storyline sees a medieval knight, Antonius Block, returning home after a decade away, weary in body and spirit. He meets a figure in the wilderness and challenges them to a game of chess – the prize up for grabs is Antonius’ life. These days, chess is regaining something of a reputation for excitement, flair and unconventional thought; however, Bergman’s chess game is serious, stark and full of symbolism.
Although it seems that Block may have won in the end, his opponent reminds him that, “No one escapes me.” It would be hard to recapture the gravitas of such a game, but it’s certainly possible to brush up on your chess skills via the world’s favorite online platform, Chess.com. They have an array of different chess variants which suit all styles of play, from the impatiently fast to the painfully slow.
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