WarGames (8/11) Movie CLIP - It's a Bluff (1983) HD

CLIP DESCRIPTION:
Claiming that the oncoming enemy attack is nothing more than a simulation, Falken (John Wood) reasons with General Beringer (Barry Corbin) to call off the counter strike.

FILM DESCRIPTION:
Once more, a wise-guy teenager tries to prove he's smarter than any adult-and nearly destroys the whole world in the process-in Wargames. Computer-game aficionado Matthew Broderick inadverently taps into a hush-hush Pentagon computer, then proceeds to inaugurate his favorite game, "Global Thermonuclear War". What we know, but Broderick doesn't, is that the Pentagon, hoping to eliminate the chancy "human element" in the event of an actual war, has given its computer total, irreversable control over the launching of nuclear weaponry. Broderick and government official Dabney Coleman race against time to reverse the computer's resolve to send bombers to Russia. Wargames scored a hit, especially with teenage filmgoers.

CREDITS:
TM & © MGM (1983)
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman, Barry Corbin, John Wood, Ally Sheedy
Director: John Badham
Producers: Richard Hashimoto, Harold Schneider, Bruce McNall, Leonard Goldberg
Screenwriters: Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes, Walon Green

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[ReaLifeHDchannel]

I like how the General keeps saying he doesn’t trust the decision-making machine, but Falken has to remind him not to be a decision-making machine.

And what a great character!

[michaelairton]

It took me a long time to realize this fully, but General Beringer is a great character.

He's prepared to destroy the Soviets, which is exactly what his job requires of him -- he shouldn't be in that position if he isn't. But he's not a demagogue, and he's not beyond listening to reason. He wants nuclear weapons in the hands of people rather than machines, and his concern on this turns out to be well-founded. When he declares Defcon One, he looks genuinely anxious and appropriately solemn, like he wants to lose his shit emotionally but knows he can't because he's in charge.

When Falken explains convincingly why the supposed Soviet attack can't be real because it doesn't make any sense, Beringer listens and ultimately agrees -- knowing that, as the person who will advise the President and on whose advice the President will issue the fateful order, he's basically the most powerful person on earth at that moment. He alone devises the method by which they'll determine if the attack is real or not (getting the senior controllers at the first three US impact targets on the radio while ordering readiness to launch missiles if they lose radio contact), and when it's clear the attack isn't real, he's overjoyed.

Basically, throughout the movie his instincts and decisions are correct on the basis of his job and the information at his disposal.

[AlanCanon]

I was 14 when this came out in theaters. I'm 51 and I still think it packs a punch. I showed the movie to my 14 year old stepson a few years ago, and he was riveted by it (he is into the history of the microcomputer revolution). I asked him whether the old tech depicted in it got in the way of his enjoyment, and he immediately defended the movie, saying, "No, it's a classic!"

[dkibler]

The key phrase in this entire movie, the turning point, is when Falken asks, "But does it make any sense?" Pivotal moment.

[foggynotion]

"General, do you really believe that the enemy would attack without provocation, using so many missiles, bombers and subs that we would have no choice but to totally annihilate them?" Brilliantly delivered line, and an incredibly gripping scene.

[erictaylor]

Scary thought: Something like this really happened in September 1983. A computer error showed a Soviet Missile commander that the US had launched an attack. This was just after the Soviet Air Force shot down a Koren airliner killing several Americans, including a Congressman. Tensions were very high at the time, but instead of launching his missiles at once he waited long enough to realize his computers were giving him a false signal

[schusterlehrling]

He got him with the line "General, you are listening to a machine"

[grahamyodude]

2:08 "one minute to impact" *anxiously blinks uncontrollably*

[bradleysmith]

I met Barry Corbin a year ago in Claremore, Oklahoma when he received an award. I spent a couple of hours with him. He is not much different in life as the character he portrayed in War Games. It was an honor to meet him.

[Watcher]

_"John, good to see you! I see the wife still picks your ties."_

And recall earlier in the movie, where McKittrick said to Lightman that Falken didn't understand the practical uses of his work?

This scene pretty much proves that Falken understood it better than McKittrick, especially when he tells General Beringer that he's "listening to a machine."

Technologists must acknowledge that the technology can fail as well as when it can work.

It also calls to mind an episode of Star Trek, from Spock of all people, from the episode "The Ultimate Computer."

_"Computers make excellent and efficient servants. But I have no wish to serve under them."_

And that's, perhaps, that's the biggest flaw in McKittrick's evaluation of the WOPR's worth: he has placed it above that of the people who use it.

[robertcornhole]

Pretty insightful considering something like this actually happened to the Soviets in 1983.

[adrianbooth]

Ronald Reagan watched this movie and asked the SecDef(?) to investigate whether this scenario was possible. A week later he came back and said something like "its worse than that." Leading to a LOT of work to increase human decision points in the loop.

[pdex]

"Mr. McKittrick...after very careful consideration, sir, I've come to the conclusion that your new defense system sucks." - General Beringer

[tbob]

1:25 Mom what did you do in military? I joined the Air Force and my job was to conduct a countdown over the PA system at the end of the world ☺

[gumballrally]

"Do the world a favor and don't act like one."

[erictaylor]

"Yes Sir, I do too." What do you suppose he does too? I'm betting Regan said, "I hope you're right"

[ConcreteSurfer]

LOL seen this a million times I know the outcome but it still gets me on the edge of my seat and my heart racing

[stanleyhornbeck]

I would be very reassured if a real life Gen.Berenger was in charge!

[Jay-vcqk]

I love Ally’s facial expressions when the bombs are hitting - the fright, horror and sadness all in one. Tremendous acting.

[therookpiece]

Still a highly watchable movie. Great stuff.