Crappy film

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

As this moved dragged on, it became more and more apparent that the makers of this movie wanted it to be really deep and trippy but had no idea what exactly they wanted to say. There was a bunch of disconnected, half-developed story ideas that never really went anywhere.I was very disappointed because this movie came highly recommended and I thought for sure I would like it. But I can't imagine anyone thinking this was a "good movie". If this was produced by high-school students, I can see giving them an "A" for effort, but other than that, it should have never seen the light of day.

If you are interested in chess or computers you may be tempted to watch this film. Don't be. The film is only tangentially about chess or computers. It has nothing to say - no purpose. Many of the scenes are meandering. Some seem to have nothing to do with the movie. Some are genuinely creepy.The film's title and back cover description miss-represent what the film is about. If is was titled "Creepy people play computer chess" then the potential viewer at least has an idea what they were in for. Now I know the typical stereotype of the computer nerd who plays chess, and there are some in this film. Fine for dramatic effect. But that's not what chess or computer development is about.I have a keen interest in film. Most film produced and distributed today is of a good standard in terms of purpose, script and production values. This fails on all three.Disclaimer: I have played competitive chess for many years and have a FIDE rating over 2000.

A lot of reviewers seem to be taking this film too seriously. Honestly, relax, it's a good film. It's no blockbuster, there's no special effects (apart from a number of "glitch" type effects adding to the 80s hand-held camera vibe and the general strangeness of the film).The film is, of course, mainly about the characters. The whole artificial intelligence and computer chess story is an interesting thread throughout the film but it is not the main focus. From the start, most of the characters in the film seem socially awkward, somewhat repressed, insecure and nerdy, often even speaking in a hesitant or awkward way. It's the general quality of this film that I like, not necessarily what happens (though that is interesting too - e.g. the complete contrast between the group of chess geeks at the hotel and a bunch of new-age tantric group therapy individuals). The film moves along at its own pace, often with odd glitches or slightly cut-up scenes. Every second is enjoyable - the attitude of the characters, the geekiness of a haircut, the strange goings-on. The film is generally quite off-the-wall, with many quite odd or playfully bizarre incidents. Computer chess is IMPORTANT. And it's IMPORTANT to win. Enjoy.

Shot in grainy black-and-white, the ultra-low budget "Computer Chess" is the type of movie that gives art films a bad name among audiences who never go to art films. Slow-moving, meandering and technically unpolished (to put it mildly), it might be of interest to anyone who has a fascination with computers, chess or possibly both. Anyone else will likely be bored to tears by this static tale of a group of early '80s nerds attending a tournament designed to determine which tech team has come up with the most effective computer chess program.The movie is obviously intended as a satire of sorts about the ancient days of computer technology and those who have an easier time interacting with technology than with their fellow human beings. It also makes fun of Man's relentless quest to create artificial intelligence, but the whole thing is so lacking in clarity, energy and humor that I imagine that half the audience will have drifted out of the theater long before the midway point, while the other half will be in too much of a stupor to get up and leave.