Micromen (BBC docudrama on UK microcomputer scene)

[esteban]

So, I've been watching Micromen (wikipedia link) as I prepare for my vegetarian Thanksgiving feast this afternoon.

If you are in the UK, you can watch this without a problem (BBC iPlayer, hmmmm, it says it is no longer available for viewing? Maybe that is because I'm in North America?).

Otherwise, you can watch 72 minutes, wait an hour, then finish it (it runs 1:25, thankfully commercial free) here: Micro Men (requires Flash)

There is a torrent out there, as well.

REVIEW (no spoilers):
0. Overall, the fact that something this nerdy was dramatized is wonderful. I enjoyed it. It was fun. However, that is not to say that it didn't possess some irritating aspects. Read on...
1. I hate when things are heavy-handed, and this production really is silly with exaggerated drama (more fitting of a play on stage), ill-placed and contrived "sexy stuff"  (these nerds were not getting any action in real life), and all of the other silly things that "Hollywood" usually does when it fears that the audience will be bored. The BBC is categorizing this as a "comedy drama", but that doesn't make me feel better. I really don't need for things to be this contrived. "Comedy dramas" can be subtler.
2. Pet peeve: The use of music to foster late 70's-early80's atmosphere/setting is heavy-handed. Goddamn, all they had to do was lower the volume in the mix by 50% and I would have been much happier.
3. A few Kraftwerk songs were used. This is good .
4. I don't know how faithful the dramatization was to actual events, so don't expect a history lesson. For that, you'll have to do your own research.
5. Yes, you should watch this. Accept it for what it is. Then you can enjoy it.

[Ravij]

This was on in the UK about a month ago, so it's probable not on iPlayer anymore. Still, they'll no doubt repeat it sometime.

Yes - I agree it was a bit exaggerated in places, although the 'punch up' near the end did actually occur.

[esteban]

Damn, no one else is interested in the UK scene at all?

Apart from sunteam_paul, I suppose