High school misfit David Lightman, eager to find out what new games a popular software company is about to release, sets his home computer to randomly dial phone numbers, making a record of those numbers which are answered by other computers. One particular number grabs the young computer prodigy's attention, and convinced that he has found a hidden modem number for the software company, he decides to hack his way in. The only clue he has is a name - Falken, a brilliant computer programmer who reportedly died some time ago. David cracks the system, discovering a number of simple strategy games, along with a game simply labeled "Global Thermonuclear War." He opts for the latter, which turns out to be a surprisingly complex simulation of the opening gambit of an open nuclear conflict between the United States and the U.S.S.R. It's only when he attracts the attention of the intelligence community that David realizes he's hacked into a government computer - one which intends to play out World War III for real...and only one person, the late Professor Falken, could end the game before missiles are actually launched.

Though it's relatively obscure unless you had a computer or a video game console around 1983, WarGames had a more profound impact on pop culture than anyone gives it credit for. Ever heard of a "war dialer"? It's a real program that seeks out modem connects from a random selection of phone numbers - just like the one which starts all the trouble in the movie. And WarGames is also to thank for introducing the "DefCon" scale to the public at large. Where Tron showed hacking as a noble endeavour, WarGames painted it - perhaps much more accurately, depending on one's political and ethical leanings - as a dangerous pursuit.

Matthew Broderick has never been my cup of tea in any role, to be quite honest. But no acting is required for him in the role of David, a brainy but nondescript teenager. Ally Sheedy is incredibly...young...in this movie. Dabney Coleman turns in yet another no-acting-required gig as an asinine, cocky computer expert, and Barry Corbin serves up what could be a stereotypical military role, until the prospect of a very real war draws closer and a haunted look dwells on his face until the last possible moment. The star of the show is undoubtedly John Wood as Falken, an eccentric computer genius who is also haunted by the implications of the use of the system he created. It almost seems obvious that Falken could become David's mentor, and Wood conveys a wonderful wordless expression that the professor is clearly impressed with David's expertise and intuition. But I appreciate that this almost-too-obvious relationship was avoided, with Falken seeming almost misanthropic. He encourages David to find his own solutions later, without manipulating events himself. An easy clichè is sidestepped. I appreciate that.

When first arriving on Falken's island property, Broderick is promptly strafed by a flying model of a pterodactyl, a winged dinosaur. I wonder if it ever crossed his mind that this was something he'd want to be doing fifteen years later in Godzilla?

• screenplay by Lawrence Lasker & Walter F. Parkes
• directed by John Badham
• music by Arthur Rubenstein
• Cast: Matthew Broderick (David Lightman), Dabney Coleman (McKittrick), John Wood (Stephen Falken), Ally Sheedy (Jennifer), Barry Corbin (General Beringer), Juanin Clay (Pat Healy), Kent Williams (Cabot), Dennis Lipscomb (Watson), Joe Dorsey (Conley), Irving Metzman (Richter), Michael Ensign (Beringer's Aide), William Bogart (Mr. Lightman), Susan Davis (Mrs. Lightman), James Tolkan (Nigan), David Clover (Stockman), Drew Snyder (Ayers), John Garber (Corporal), Duncan Wilmore (Major Lem), Billy Ray Sharkey (Radar Analyst), John Spencer (Jerry), Michael Madsen (Steve), Erik Stern (Commander), Gary Bisig (Deputy), Gary Sexton (Technician), Jason Bernard (Captain Knewt), Frankie Hill (Airman Fields), Jesse D. Goins (Sergeant), Alan Blumenfeld (Mr. Liggett), Len Lawson (Vice Principal), Maury Chaykin (Jim Sting), Eddie Deezen (Malvin), Stephen Lee (Sgt. Schneider), Lucinda Crosby (Nurse), Stack Pierce (Airman), Art LaFleur (Guard), Brad David Berwick (Flight Pilot Leader), Martha Shaw (Vice Principal's Secretary), Howie Allen (Boy in Arcade), Mike Adams (Travis), James Ackerman (Joshua), Jim Harriott (Newscaster), Tom Lawrence (Sgt. Sims), Francis Nealy (Visitor), Charles Akins (Major Ford), Glenn Standifer (Major Wenstin), Edward Jahnke (NORAD Officer), Paul V. Picerni Jr. (Technician)