Southampton Playhouse presents “Pictures Of Pixels: Videogames At The Movies” from March 28 to April 2 to celebrate films where gaming hits the big screen ahead of “A Minecraft Movie” release on April 4 on IMAX.
Long before this season’s big blockbuster release, “A Minecraft Movie,” videogames have informed the art and culture of modern movies. Southampton Playhouse’s latest repertory series illustrates the lively and dynamic relationship between games, gamers, and various memorable cinematic achievements.
This eclectic program includes the thrilling and hilarious documentary “King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” (2007), about a high-stakes arcade competition, a 15th-anniversary screening of Edgar Wright’s visually dazzling “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” (2010), and a family-friendly matinee screening of the original “Jumanji” (1995).
Finally, as a special bonus to set the stage, Southampton Playhouse will host a special screening of “Minecraft” director Jared Hess’s first feature, the classic deadpan comedy “Napoleon Dynamite.”
“A Minecraft Movie is a delightful ode to the thrill of videogames as well as its eccentric subculture, which has persisted for generations. This series is an extension of that by proving that gaming, and the lively personalities associated with it, have informed a rich tradition of cinematic storytelling that continues to play a central role in popular culture,” said Eric Kohn, Southampton Playhouse’s Artistic Director.
In the lounge throughout the series, there will also be a newly installed arcade machine, which features a massive library of classic games.