The other reviews already provided a synopsis of the movie so I won't recap again. This film focuses on the rise and rise of Micro$oft and Apple and the personalities that drove these 2 companies.
The film is an extraordinary achievement. It's a little movie that few would know about and even fewer would remember and that's a shame. I was fortunate enough to find a VCD of it in Asia around 10 years ago and then bought a DVD of it just recently also in Asia (yes all legitimate...these do exist in Asia) Apart form a compelling story, what appeals about this film is the atmosphere they created. It's a nostalgia piece without intending to be and is designed for a very specific audience: those of us that were either part of the industry in the 70s and 80s or (as in my case) grew up with an Apple II in their life and vividly remember the times. But it will appeal to the uninitiated also who will unfortunately not enjoy or understand the layers of detail and history in it.
The film carries some very specific references that are really spot on (I can imagine the uninitiated wondering what the heck is this Apple II vs. Mac thing all about for example?). They perfectly capture the excitement of those early days. From references to phone phreaking, to the Apple I, to home brew computer clubs (remember those?), those early PC shows with black and white handouts, and on it goes. If you lived through those times and were in the scene, fond memories will come flooding back. You can just about feel the excitement that was around this mysterious, ultimate status symbol that the Apple II was in it's day.
The performances are spot on. Everything I've read and seen of Gates and Jobs in that time is absolutely nailed by Wyle and Hall.
But most of all this was clearly a project made by a group of people with a true love of the subject matter. Clearly, no one involved got paid the big bucks and thankfully it's not a movie that was written by a committee. And this comes through from the 1st minute to the ending.
And ultimately, why do i rate this movie so highly? Because every single time i've put it on (now up to the 5th time or so i've seen it), and plan to watch a few minutes of it, I end up watching the whole thing without a break. A triumph within it's subject matter...there's nothing else like it out there...don't miss it!
The film is an extraordinary achievement. It's a little movie that few would know about and even fewer would remember and that's a shame. I was fortunate enough to find a VCD of it in Asia around 10 years ago and then bought a DVD of it just recently also in Asia (yes all legitimate...these do exist in Asia) Apart form a compelling story, what appeals about this film is the atmosphere they created. It's a nostalgia piece without intending to be and is designed for a very specific audience: those of us that were either part of the industry in the 70s and 80s or (as in my case) grew up with an Apple II in their life and vividly remember the times. But it will appeal to the uninitiated also who will unfortunately not enjoy or understand the layers of detail and history in it.
The film carries some very specific references that are really spot on (I can imagine the uninitiated wondering what the heck is this Apple II vs. Mac thing all about for example?). They perfectly capture the excitement of those early days. From references to phone phreaking, to the Apple I, to home brew computer clubs (remember those?), those early PC shows with black and white handouts, and on it goes. If you lived through those times and were in the scene, fond memories will come flooding back. You can just about feel the excitement that was around this mysterious, ultimate status symbol that the Apple II was in it's day.
The performances are spot on. Everything I've read and seen of Gates and Jobs in that time is absolutely nailed by Wyle and Hall.
But most of all this was clearly a project made by a group of people with a true love of the subject matter. Clearly, no one involved got paid the big bucks and thankfully it's not a movie that was written by a committee. And this comes through from the 1st minute to the ending.
And ultimately, why do i rate this movie so highly? Because every single time i've put it on (now up to the 5th time or so i've seen it), and plan to watch a few minutes of it, I end up watching the whole thing without a break. A triumph within it's subject matter...there's nothing else like it out there...don't miss it!
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