For anyone who saw King of Kong

[yendi]

Billy Mitchell responds to some of the issues in the movie.

There's almost no doubt, from what I've read here and in a lot of articles, that the movie was cut in Steve's favor. There's also little doubt, however, that some of the more embarrassing comments made by Billy on screen were perfectly legit. That said, I know plenty of folks (myself included) who could come across as arrogant or full of stupid comments in a documentary. And real life people tend to be neither heroes nor villains, so there's no inherent contradiction in the idea of a guy holding back a videotaped performance until the right moment to undercut his rival, and the same guy also buying a septuagenarian so she could work on reclaiming her Q*Bert world record.

Still, it's hard to not feel supportive towards Steve Wiebe; there's been almost nothing to indicate that he's anything less than he's portrayed as during the film.

Comments

[tablesaw]

Mitchell's been spinning all over the place for months. A good counterspin is available at GameSetWatch</a<

[yendi]

*nod* I'd seen a lot of Billy's spin (as well as the related Twin Galaxies spin). I don't doubt most of the stuff really does favor Wiebe, but moments where the filmmakers cut stuff out still annoy me. The story tells itself so well (and Billy does such a good job in interviews of coming across as an ass), that omitting stuff (like Tim Sczerby, etc) strikes me as manipulative.

[coffeehouse.livejournal.com]

I just saw it yesterday.
I didn't have a problem with Billy withholding his tape.
I didn't have a problem with Billy tooting his own horn or being big shot or being insecure.
I did have a problem with Billy not being gracious enough to even say hello and shake Steve's hand.
That is why I think Billy's an ass.
That and his being a total hippocrite and not playing live.

[yendi]

*nod* The guy's his own worst PR.