Mr-Fusion "Ecstasy of Order" immediately invites comparison to "The King of Kong", which might not sound fair. But they both follow the same narrative path, both highlight the next-level brain function needed for their respective hobbies, and they're just stylistically very similar. Where "Kong" excels is in its pacing and cultivation of lively characters. And as much as I enjoy Tetris (and I do, it's a desert island game), the actual tournament footage was far more interesting than the initial explanation of the game's ins-and-outs. On the other hand, it does have a good ending. And I feel the sudden need to dust off my copy and start working on that high score. That alone says a lot.

Sean Lamberger One of several niche-nuzzled documentaries to arrive within a very short period of time. Like "The King of Kong," Ecstasy of Order dedicates itself to an intensely-competitive corner of the video game world, albeit one without as polarizing a figure as Kong's infamous villain, Billy Mitchell. With no exception, each Tetris mega-mind to share this spotlight seems refreshingly earnest, friendly and down-to-Earth. These are guys and girls I wouldn't mind sharing a few beers with over a sticky NES control pad, and it's tough not to sit back, smile, and revel in the moment when they all get together for the very first time, several world records change hands and a spontaneous game of Texas Hold 'Em breaks out. In some ways, I think that's a symptom of the broadly different approaches of the two games: where Donkey Kong is about fire, death and imposition, Tetris is more in line with a timed jigsaw puzzle. It's quiet, inwardly-focused and nuanced, and thus so are its greatest players. Depending on the viewer's mentality, their ultimate enjoyment of the two films may vary appropriately. Sprinkled with a set of widely-varied contenders, more than its share of mysterious intrigue and the pointed quest to crown the world's best player in a first-ever champion's tournament, this is a startlingly arresting subject and a dense display of cerebral gamesmanship. Well worth watching.

intp Wow. I am amazed by how terrific this movie was. I have been an avid video game player for years, although I have only played Tetris, in particular, very occasionally. I thought "King of Kong" was a fascinating movie, but it was badly marred by the base antics of Billy Mitchell and his cronies. I have (unofficially) what is probably the fourth highest score on Exidy's Venture, but that was when I was a kid in about 1983 when nary a video camera was to be found and I had never even vaguely heard of Twin Galaxies, and I doubt I could ever seriously contend for the record at this point.But this movie was something else altogether. The spirit of camaraderie-- of striving toward personal self-perfection-- was palpable. Of course, everyone wants to be number one, to be the champ, the best. But unlike in "King of Kong", where personal egoism and jealousy were so prevalent, here the overwhelming sense was that the various players here really loved the game itself, and loved the chance to meet others with comparable skill, and that the principal goal was self-perfection, not the 'crushing' of one's opponents.Here, the folks actually seemed like, well, normal people that one would be perfectly happy socializing with and not the stereotypical dysfunctional geeks one typically associates with video game junkies.(Spoiler): But I am gladdest of all for Thor-- what a great guy. Humble and self-effacing, yet the best there ever was.

Tina N I'm not the type of person who rates everything 10 out of 10. But when it is called for, I do not hesitate to reward excellence. Ecstasy of Order: The Tetris Masters is an excellent film. And I want to be clear, I don't mean it's an excellent gamer film, or an excellent film about nerds, or an excellent version of King of Kong. It is a stand alone excellent film.And let's address this Kong of Kong elephant in the room (or theater as the case may be). Having seen, and loved, Kind of Kong I understand that the parallel is going to be made frequently, but other than having 80's video games as a focus the two movies couldn't be more different. They each have their merits, but frankly Ecstasy of Order is a more complete, well rounded and genuine film.The character development is great; you grow to truly care about the people featured in this film. Learning about the history of the players is great. Each person has been portrayed in a positive and charming manner. The film isn't a good versus evil, dark horse wins it or any other clichéd structure. It explores the fun topic of Tetris, and who is the country's best player.I don't know if you are into this kind of thing, but Ecstasy of Order is a really well edited film. The flow is pleasantly timed, logical, and smooth. The arc of the story is well thought out. In actuality I never wanted the film to end.I hope this film is picked up for general distribution because while I was lucky enough to see the film at the San Francisco Doc Fest, many of my friends weren't able to make it and are interested. In fact, I would love to see it again too. I have pulled out my Nintendo and dusted off my Tetris game and have been playing. I'd love to see some of the games in the movie again and learn from the pros.So, what's my take home message? If you like having fun and watching awesome movies, then this is the one for you.