Good story, Not enough for a whole film

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Captivating movie !

Crafty and resourceful teenage computer whiz David (a fine and likeable performance by Matthew Broderick) hacks into a top secret government super computer that has complete control of America's nuclear arsenal. David inadvertently sets in motion a series of escalating events that could possibly trigger a third world war. Director John Badham keeps the ingenious and absorbing story zipping along at a brisk pace, maintains a generally serious tone throughout, and adroitly builds a tremendous amount of nerve-rattling tension. The clever script by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes not only makes a valid and provocative point on how a nuclear war is an unwinnable proposition, but also delivers an equally sharp and incisive commentary on the potential perils inherent in mankind's foolhardy desire to abdicate certain heavy responsibilities to machines under the frail hope that they will handle them better than we can. Ally Sheedy provides sturdy support as David's sweet girlfriend Jennifer. Moreover, this film further benefits from a terrific cast of top character actors: Dabney Coleman as arrogant jerk McKittrick, John Wood as bitter recluse creator Falken, Barry Corbin as the excitable General Berringer, Dennis Lipscomb as the starchy Watson, James Tolkan as hardnosed fed Wigen, and Michael Ensign as Berringer's dutiful aide. Juanin Clay also makes a favorable impression as McKittrick's feisty assistant Pat Healy while Eddie Deezen and Maury Chaykin have funny bits as a pair of wildly contrasting computer geeks. Arthur B. Rubinstein's spirited score hits the stirring spot. William A. Fraker's slick cinematography gives this picture a pleasing polished look. An excellent nail-biter.

In this quintessentially 1980s movie (it co-stars Dabney Coleman, so that pretty much qualifies it right there), a young computer-hacker (played by a very young Matthew Broderick) accidentally hacks into the U.S. defense missile control center (while trying to forge his high school grades!) and initiates a game of "war" with a supercomputer that is used to formulate possible outcomes of thermonuclear war with Russia. Broderick's character initially plays the "side" of Russia, prompting the computer to be the U.S. and eventually push the real military generals to the brink of starting an actual war based on the faulty information the computer is giving them.I won't spoil the end of the film here, but suffice it to say that it is, at the very least, an interesting little morality lesson on nuclear proliferation and mutually-assured destruction. I began watching this movie at home on my couch one morning I was off from work and got hooked, ending up watching it to its conclusion. It just has that perfect mix of playfulness (you really can't get too serious with Broderick as your star) and serious issues that plague our current world.Surprisingly, this is probably the best film I have ever seen that deals with very serious, terrible issues (like nuclear weapons) in a dramatic format. Rocky IV was a little too weepy, and Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country was a bit too political (both in their takes on U.S./Soviet relations), but this film had the right blend of entertaining scenarios and moments that really made me think.I would recommend this movie to two types of people: 1. Those who grew up in the 80s and still love the styles/themes/films of that decade and either want to re-live them or experience this one for the first time; and 2. Children with an interest in history or politics, as they will love the simplistic messages inherent in the film's conclusion. Also, if you are an adult who can suspend his/her cynicism for about two hours, then you will find this film worthwhile as well.

WarGames is your typical 80's action/teen angst flick on one hand, but on the other hand it is a very intelligent film that seems to be ahead of it's time, or rather a type of film that wouldn't be made on a regular basis for another decade. I like how the film doesn't overstuff us with computer terminology, but it also doesn't think it's audience is dumb. It's filled with good special effects, an intelligent story (involving supercomputers), good acting, and is practically your perfect 80's film.John Badham's film is about a young computer whiz named David Lightman who hacks into the government computer system and he begins to play a game with the computer. But little did he know that he just started the process of a World War Three.The acting is rather good, though one could say this film is more about the computers, rather than the human characters. Matthew Broderick was a special actor in the 1980's and was one of the better teen actors. we might remember Ally Sheedy from her role in "The Breakfast Club," but she does good for the most part. We also get some quality supporting turns from Dabney Coleman and John Wood.Overall, WarGames is a movie that is ahead of it's time and it should be every computer hacker's dream movie. This is another film that has computers too smart for it's own good, and I was reminded very much of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Both of these films are very smart sci-fi movies. This movie is also realistic and pushes across the thought on what would happen if technology took over the world. I rate this film 9/10.

John Badham directed this computer-gone-mad picture that stars Mathew Broderick as David, a rebellious teenager and computer whiz who likes to hack into his high school computer system to change his grades to an "A", or insult his science teacher. Things take a serious turn when he accidentally hacks into the Pentagon's computer that controls the missiles aimed at Russia. David and the computer think it is a game, but it turns out to be frighteningly real, as David finds himself targeted by the military, forcing him and his girlfriend Jennifer(played by Ally Sheedy) to go on the run... Entertaining film may have a most unlikely premise(one would hope!) but is well cast and directed. Dabney Coleman is quite good as David's chief "nemesis".