MOVIE REVIEW – Apple TV Plus’ “video game” creation is not just a Tetris documentary, but an exciting, clever and witty thriller that tells the story of the birth of the legendary game of skill and logic. Set in the 1980s, the plot centres on Taron Egerton, the daredevil and genius video game developer and distributor Henk Rogers, and Nikita Efremov, the father of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov. A story based on video game development has never been so vibrant, twisty, witty and visually rich with references to the genre.

But why make a film about Tetris? The answer is simple: it’s not just a game of fun, it’s a phenomenon, a culture, a revolution. It is a game that has captivated everyone who has ever played it. But how did this genius come about? And how did it go from the labs of Soviet scientists to the world’s biggest video game markets? That’s the amazing story told in Apple TV Plus, a creation full of excitement, adventure, humour and drama.

At the centre of it all are a globetrotting entrepreneur and a genius mathematician

The protagonist is Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton), a Dutch-born video game developer and distributor who discovers a seemingly simple but addictive game in Japan in 1988: Tetris. Rogers immediately recognises the game’s potential and decides to acquire the rights. To do so, however, he must travel to the Soviet Union, where he must battle bureaucracy, business rivals and the KGB. In the process, he meets the game’s creator, Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov), a reclusive mathematician and programmer who has no idea of the impact his invention has had on the world.

Director Jon S. Baird (Stan and Pan), working from a screenplay by Noah Pink, not only tells the story of the birth of Tetris, but also of what life and business were like at the end of the Cold War. The cast is impressive, featuring such notable actors as Toby Jones (Harry Potter films, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Roger Allam (V for Vendetta, The Queen) and Matthew Marsh (The Fourth Protocol), and the atmosphere is enhanced by the style and music of the 1980s, as well as the graphic style elements and sounds of the games of the era. For anyone who was a gamer during this period, the atmosphere is sure to be at its peak! The retrofeeling of the film is huge!

The most exciting game of the Cold War: the plot of Tetris

The Apple TV Plus film not only tells the story of a video game, but also a real spy thriller. The plot is packed with twists, turns, action and suspense that will keep the viewer riveted. It shows the dangers and challenges that Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov faced to bring Tetrisk to the world. It shows not only the legal and business battles of the game, but also the role Tetris played at the end of the Cold War. It is therefore not only an entertaining and witty piece of work, but also a historical and cultural document. In the end, we learn about the fate of the game and its creators, and the impact Tetris has had on the world.

Whilst Tetris is an enjoyable and engaging film, it is not without its negatives. Some argue that the script only provides the basics to understand the motivations of the characters, but not enough to prevent them from becoming like avatars. In addition, parts of the film, such as the unfolding friendship between Henk and Alexey, do not achieve the same impact as the story of the licensing of the game, which seems more natural in its twists and turns and unexpected events.

Tetris tries to raise questions about intellectual property, capital and the losers of the priority of greed, but the film is not fully immersed in the geopolitical landscape in which the game was born. The film does not fully explore the complex ideas behind the licensing battle and the background to the emergence of the new world order.

A tale of greed, capitalism and communism – a bit superficial

The film is similar to David Fincher’s The Social Network, which also explores greed and capitalism in a lengthy legal battle. However, with its eighties-inspired visual palette, fun music and shaky camp, Tetris feels like a thriller with a slightly different tone, and uses elements such as 8-bit animated interludes and Europe’s “The Final Countdown” to rescue Tetris from cynicism.

However, the plot ultimately only highlights the fun part of the events and fails to fully show the more complex story behind Tetris and the challenges of intellectual property. While Jon S. Baird’s work is enjoyable and engaging, viewers might have expected more depth and complexity from the subject matter and characters.

Not always do the cubes fit well

Overall, Tetris is an engaging and entertaining film that takes the viewer into the story of the birth of the legendary video game and its legal battles. Taron Egerton gives a stunning performance as Henk Rogers, and the film’s 1980s feel is a delight.

However, the whole experience can sometimes feel like a misplaced Tetris block: it doesn’t fit perfectly with the audience’s expectations, and although the dice are rolled under most of the time, the high score is not achieved before the game over. Some strands of the film can feel overblown and the motivations of the characters can seem superficial at times.

While Tetris is not a perfect film, the story is still compelling overall and offers a unique insight into the early days of video games. While the film is entertaining, instructive and atmospheric, it dares to explore themes of greed, intellectual property and the fall of the Soviet Union, but these issues are not given enough screen time to make it a truly profound film.

-BadSector-