WarGames (1983)
Actors:
James Tolkan (actor),
John Wood (actor),
Michael Ensign (actor),
Drew Snyder (actor),
Art LaFleur (actor),
William H. Macy (actor),
Michael Madsen (actor),
Matthew Broderick (actor),
Maury Chaykin (actor),
Eddie Deezen (actor),
Dabney Coleman (actor),
Barry Corbin (actor),
Alan Blumenfeld (actor),
Leonard Goldberg (producer),
Ally Sheedy (actress),
Plot: A young computer whiz kid accidentally connects into a top secret super-computer which has complete control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal. It challenges him to a game between America and Russia, and he innocently starts the countdown to World War 3. Can he convince the computer he wanted to play a game and not the real thing ?
Keywords: 7-eleven, abuse-of-power, anti-war, armageddon, artificial-intelligence, backdoor, biology, biology-course, blockbuster, boyfriend-girlfriend-relationship
Genres:
Sci-Fi,
Thriller,
Taglines: The only winning move is not to play. To David Lightman, "Global Thermonuclear War" will just be one hell of a game. To everybody else, it will be hell waiting to happen. "Global Thermonuclear War." You may think it's one hell of a game. You couldn't be more right. Wouldn't YOU rather play chess? Is it a game, or is it real?
Quotes:
General Beringer: We've had men in those silos since before any of you guys were watching "Howdy Doody"! Now I myself sleep pretty well knowing those boys are down there.
Mr. Liggett: Now there seems to be a lot of confusion on this next question: asexual reproduction. Could someone tell me please who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex?::David Lightman: Ah-heh. [whispers something to a classmate]::Jennifer: [overhearing, Jennifer starts to laugh]::Mr. Liggett: [turns around and sees Jennifer giggling] Miss Mack! What is so amusing?::Jennifer: I...::[Jennifer breaks up into laughter again and turns to look at David, who puts on a show of mock innocence]::Mr. Liggett: Alright, Lightman. Maybe you could tell us who first suggested the idea of reproduction without sex.::David Lightman: Umm... Your wife? [the class erupts into laughter]::Mr. Liggett: [pointing to the door] Get out, Lightman. Get out.
FBI Agent George Wigan: He does fit the profile perfectly. He's intelligent, but an under-achiever; alienated from his parents; has few friends. Classic case for recruitment by the Soviets.::Lyle Watson: Now what does this say about the state of our country, hmm?::[General Beringer rolls his eyes]::Lyle Watson: I mean have you gotten any insight as to why a, a bright boy like this would jeopardize the lives of millions?::FBI Agent George Wigan: No sir. He says he does this sort of thing for fun.::John McKittrick: What?::Arthur Cabot: Dammit, John, I want some answers and I want them *now*!
David Lightman: [typing] People sometimes make mistakes.::Joshua: Yes, they do.
Joshua: Shall we play a game?::David Lightman: Oh!::Jennifer: [giggles] I think it missed him.::David Lightman: Yeah. Weird isn't it?::Jennifer: Yeah.::David Lightman: [typing] Love to. How about Global Thermonuclear War?::Joshua: Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?::[Jennifer laughs]::David Lightman: [typing] Later. Let's play Global Thermonuclear War.::Joshua: Fine.
David Lightman: [typing] What is the primary goal?::Joshua: You should know, Professor. You programmed me.::David Lightman: Oh, come on.::David Lightman: [typing] What is the primary goal?::Joshua: To win the game.
McKittrick: See that sign up here - up here. "Defcon." That indicates our current defense condition. It should read "Defcon 5," which means peace. It's still on 4 because of that little stunt you pulled. Actually, if we hadn't caught it in time, it might have gone to Defcon 1. You know what that means, David?::David Lightman: No. What does that mean?::McKittrick: World War Three.
David Lightman: [typing] Is this a game... or is it real?::Joshua: What's the difference?::David Lightman: [muttering] Oh wow.::Joshua: You are a hard man to reach. Could not find you in Seattle and no terminal is in operation at your classified address.::David Lightman: [typing] What classified address?::Joshua: D.O.D. pension files indicate current mailing as: Dr. Robert Hume, a.k.a. Stephen W. Falken, 5 Tall Cedar Road, Goose Island, Oregon 97...
Stephen Falken: Now, children, come on over here. I'm going to tell you a bedtime story. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. Once upon a time, there lived a magnificent race of animals that dominated the world through age after age. They ran, they swam, and they fought and they flew, until suddenly, quite recently, they disappeared. Nature just gave up and started again. We weren't even apes then. We were just these smart little rodents hiding in the rocks. And when we go, nature will start over. With the bees, probably. Nature knows when to give up, David.
McKittrick: [McKittrick approaches Falken's group on stairs] I don't know what you think you can do here, Stephen.::Stephen Falken: [suddenly noticing] John! Good to see you. I see the wife still picks your ties.::McKittrick: What is- What has this kid been telling you?::Stephen Falken: [looking at screens] How far's he gone?::McKittrick: Well the President about ready to order a counterstrike. That's what we're recommending he do.::Stephen Falken: It's a bluff, John, call it off.::McKittrick: No, it's not a bluff. It's real.::Stephen Falken: [raising his voice from stairs] Hello, General Beringer! Stephen Falken!::General Beringer: [standing] Mr. Falken you picked a hell of a day for a visit!::Stephen Falken: Uh, uh, General, what you see on these screens up here is a fantasy; a computer-enhanced hallucination. Those blips are not real missiles. They're phantoms.::McKittrick: [McKittrick approaches Beringer] Jack, there's nothing to indicate a simulation at all. Everything is working perfectly!::Stephen Falken: But does it make any sense?::General Beringer: Does what make any sense?::Stephen Falken: [points to the screens] That!::General Beringer: Look, I don't have time for a conversation right now.::Stephen Falken: [Falken speaks as he approaches] General, are you prepared to destroy the enemy?::General Beringer: You betcha!::Stephen Falken: Do you think they know that?::General Beringer: I believe we've made that clear enough.::Stephen Falken: [face to face] Then don't! Tell the President to ride out the attack.::Colonel Joe Conley: Sir, they need a decision.::Stephen Falken: General, do you really believe that the enemy would attack without provocation, using so many missiles, bombers, and subs so that we would have no choice but to totally annihilate them?::Female Airman First Class: [on loudspeaker] One minute and thirty seconds to impact.::Stephen Falken: General, you are listening to a machine! Do the world a favor and don't act like one.::Female Airman First Class: [on loudspeaker] One minute and twenty seconds to impact.