Charity's Place

WARGAMES

REVIEWED BY LINDSAY GRAHAM

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: language, brief innuendo

Rated:

David Lightman (Matthew Broderick), is the average American teenager of the 80’s -- he spends his time playing Galaga in the local video arcade... but there's one amusement less well-known to others; his love for hacking into computers. Attempting to find a way into a company manufacturing computer games, David inadvertently finds his way into the military’s War Operation Plan Response system, a machine that plays a series of war games and fights World War III as a game repeatedly. It estimates damage, counts the dead, and tries to improve the score. Unbeknownst to David, and his friend Jennifer (Ally Sheedy) they have hacked into the military’s computer and aren’t just playing a simulation game entitled Global Thermonuclear War, but instead, the actual thing. Inadvertently, David and Jennifer have started the clock ticking toward WW3 and while US officials are in pursuit of them, they must pursue information concerning the WOPR’s seemingly dead creator, and convince the computer they wanted to play a game and not start a war.

War Games is an interesting film that manages to be amusing as well. Perhaps a little too morose, yet it is able to add in some humor. It gives us a glimpse at the worries and obtrusive faults of nuclear warfare; in the end of the film it is proven that no one can win such a war. David and Jennifer are likable characters, and all of the actors were excellent in their respective roles. I also enjoyed being able to see some development in the main characters. The film progresses at a nice pace and until the credits roll, you will be kept on the edge of your seat. Yet, is this adventure to save the world on the right track? Sadly, War Games is far from perfect. The most noticeable and regrettable fault is profanity, consisting of da--, he--, a-- h----, sh--, numerous instances of taking the Lord’s name in vain, in addition to a few other objectionable phrases and remarks. Even David and Jennifer are not exempt from this and they are often heard cursing.

Not withstanding the profanity, other faults are present and will perhaps linger in the mind of the viewer. A brief, yet uncomfortable (though not explicit) conversation is held in a science class that is centered on the reproductive systems of plants; however instructional this discussion may begin, it paves the way to a crude joke made about human reproduction. One consolation is that although no one else is present while David and Jennifer are holed up in his room playing war games, nothing objectionable transpires between the teens. Other sensuality is present as slight harassment of an officer toward a female nurse, and a male character is seen without a shirt on. Also, one scene Christian viewers will be appalled at is one in which Dr. Falken (John Wood), discusses how humans came to be humans and his belief is in evolution. He discusses this, as well as his belief in the futility of mankind and how we should give up eventually. Regardless of the fact that Dr. Falken is still undergoing depression from the death of his wife and young son, Joshua, these beliefs are totally un-Biblical and are wholly unsuitable for younger audiences.

Thankfully, violence only consists of one character threatening another with a firearm as well as an automobile crash (in which no one is seriously injured or killed). Also, deception and hacking into computers, regardless that they are presented as detestable things, are additional faults. If you are looking for a war movie that isn’t just gore or a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is definitely the film for you. Parents and elder siblings who may watch War Games should seriously contemplate the objectionable content of the film before permitting children to join them on this high-paced adventure.