WarGames (1983) ***1/2

John Badham's WarGames (1983) plays much like a kid-friendly version of Sidney Lumet's Fail Safe (1964) (review). Which isn't to say it's dumbed down in any sense—it's just more fun and its protagonists are teenagers. The technology is primitive by today's standards but it's a great snapshot of the early 80s and I love analog visual effects. 

Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy provide an effortlessly charismatic pair of leads. Dabney Coleman takes a bit of a backseat here but made up for it the following year in a similar but more developed role in Cloak & Dagger (podcast where I discussed that film here). Barry Corbin is a highlight—providing stoic comic relief. Arthur B. Rubinstein's playful score is quite diverse and I particularly enjoy its electronic aspects. 

WarGames made hacker culture cool via a prescient techno-thriller that carries a timeless message. The film treats its subject matter seriously but also remains superbly entertaining. The only winning move is not to play.