WarGames Reviews

Slick and suspenseful, though a little heavy-handed, John Badham's WARGAMES tells the story of a high-school hacker, David (Matthew Broderick), who manages to tap into WOPR, the Pentagon's top defense computer. Thinking he's discovered a great new video game, "Global Thermonuclear War," David innocently brings the US and the Soviet Union to the brink of WW III. Convinced that the Soviets have launched an assault, the computer prepares for a retaliatory strike. When the military's top minds can't set things straight, it's up to young David to teach WOPR that the only way to win this strange game is not to play. Featuring some strong performances from a cast that includes Dabney Coleman and Ally Sheedy, convincing re-creations of defense technology, and nicely modulated tension, WARGAMES is a generally effective message film. Nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, and Best Sound Oscars.