To recap, WarGames tells the story of David Lightman, a high school student who inadvertently hacks into the American nuclear defence system.
The opening scenes, showing the launch procedure which turned out to be a drill, are taut with tension and drama. There is great use of lighting and close-up shots of the actors. I always get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when watching this scene, imagining the inner thoughts of people caught up in that situation, no matter how well trained they are.
Aside from the subject matter, the centrepiece of the picture for me is the very mature performance of Matthew Broderick as David Lightman. He is a rounded and likeable character, and perhaps not the stereotypical "nerd" in some respects. Yes, he has some of the characteristics of a nerd, but in other ways not, for example in his ability to impress and attract Jennifer (Ally Sheedy). The chemistry between the two young actors helps to carry the movie.
David's attitude towards authority figures, such as teachers and his parents, is intriguing. The sign on his bedroom door (This Is A Secure Area - Authorized Entry Only - No Exceptions) illustrates this point. Occasional insolence and mild rebellion, added to more passive gestures of defiance and individuality?
If the portrayal of American high school life in the 1980s was in any way accurate, then I must conclude that I was born on the wrong side of the Atlantic. I would dearly love to have been able to go to school in a tee-shirt and jeans, and not the dreary uniform that I was forced to wear here in England. Also, the school buildings in the movie looked much more inviting than the dilapidated mausoleum in which much of my education took place.
It is easy, especially in hindsight, to make pedantic "technical" queries about the accuracy or plausibility of things which happen in the film, and how the computing environment of the early 1980s was depicted. Was David's computer stuff cobbled together from kit-form purchases, second hand gear, and so forth? His equipment was certainly superior to anything which myself or any of my peers had at home. David clearly knew people who worked in I.T., as evidenced by the amusing scene where he consults two friends at a local company.
There were bits of the film which I really identified with from my own youth. The scene at the dinner table where David is reading a computer magazine, oblivious to parental strictures, reminds me of the days when I would bury myself in those magazines, and the adverts, promising imminent delights, were sometimes more diverting than the actual content.
Back in the day, we had heard about the sort of activities which David was engaging in, although it all seemed rather remote and exotic. One or two friends of mine had outlandish plans to run modems with primitive home computers such as the Sinclair ZX81. However, at the end of the day, all we wanted to do was play games...
The scenes in David's room, when he and Jennifer are fooling around on the machine, are delightfully executed. Lighting, reflections and sound effects are all cleverly used to envoke that seductive world.
The odd little touch stands out in the film. When David and Jennifer first break into the defence system, and the list of games appears on the screen, there is a slight pause, and a gap, before the title "Global Thermonuclear War" comes up. A sense of foreboding is created, and this initiates the next phase of the movie.
A word too about the electronic music which appears throughout WarGames. This type of music was still quite a rarity in movies back then, and it nicely complements the narrative and the subject matter.
Looking at the David Lightman character, he in many ways represents what I wished I'd been at that age. Self-sufficient, inquisitive , forever seeking out knowledge. His efforts in finding information about Falken, and then tracking him down towards the end of the film, show these qualities. Again, not as much an awkward, shy computer geek, as one smart kid.
Another notable scene involves a striking juxtaposition of emotions. David returns home to be congratulated on his excellent grades (achieved in large part by hacking into the school's computer), whilst at the time same time seeing a television news report of the drama which he, unwittingly, had triggered.
The scene where he is arrested is also captured concisely and sharply. David emerges from a store, and suddenly various (what turn out to be FBI) men are closing in from all directions. One can sense his fear, anxiety and confusion, but as we see, his resourcefulness is not hindered for very long.
Some people have queried whether David would have been taken to the NORAD facility in the wake of his arrest. Surely he would have been transported to some FBI location? Admittedly, the method of his escape from the "mountain", blending in with a tour party, is also a little far-fetched. In the grand scheme of things, however, this does not spoil my enjoyment. This is entertainment, not a documentary.
I was seriously impressed at how David was able to memorize Falken's address. He only seemed to view it for barely a second or two on the terminal in McKittrick's office! Perhaps a photographic memory can be added to his formidable list of powers....
The WOPR (the big computer at the war room) clearly worked on the unimpeachable principle that processing power should be directly proportional to the number of brightly flashing coloured lights which it possesses...
Mention should also be made of perhaps the most visually appealing scene in the movie, the bit where David is dropped off by a splendid logging truck at a stunning location in the middle of nowhere, and proceeds to make a call from a 'phone box. By the way, where did Jennifer get the money to pay for their airline tickets?
The belated appearance of Falken "in the flesh" is a highlight, and adds some gravitas to the proceedings. The final scenes in the "war room" are brilliantly done. Even though we kind of know the outcome, the tension is palpable.
An underrated film, this. I still love watching it. To me, it never gets old....
