Released in 1983, WarGames is a science-fiction movie set during the Cold War. The plot revolves around the threat of global thermonuclear war and a highly intelligent computer, which makes that fear of World War III a reality.

 The title alone caught my attention; with a name such as “WarGames,” I immediately assumed it would be strictly combat-driven. I, however, was wrong.

 The movie had a relatively slow start. It begins with a nuclear launch drill where one of the two men who should turn the key to launch the nukes would not turn his key. The movie transitions to teenage computer genius David Lightman (played by Matthew Broderick) and the plot unveils from his point of view. David is first sent to his school’s principal for making a rather humorous, inappropriate remark. We now learn about his hacking skills when he gains the password to his school’s grading network and changes the failing grades of himself and his friend, Jennifer Mack (portrayed by Ally Sheedy).

 He then attempts to hack into a game developer computer to play unreleased games when he stumbles upon a top secret military supercomputer. David accesses supercomputer and decides to play one of the war simulators, “Global Thermonuclear War,” which results in a nuclear launch scare across the world. The computer plans to actually launch real missiles. David and Jennifer are thrust into a position in which they must prevent the start of an apocalyptic nuclear war.

 Violence is virtually non-existent in this movie, although it is implied in the beginning when a man aims a revolver at the operative who will not turn the key to launch the missiles. While this movie is labeled as science-fiction, I believe that suspense is also fitting. The movie has a general message about nuclear war that even the supercomputer states at the end of the film: “The only winning move in nuclear war is not to play at all.”

 This movie was well received by critics when it was initially released. I give it four out of five stars. The plot was very capturing and the suspense is what upheld it. A sequel was released in 2008 that was ported straight to DVD. This is one of those few movies that I’ve watched that doesn’t contain comedy, intense action or a twist yet truly kept me entertained.