Viva Amiga: The Story of a Beautiful Machine

2017 • 62 minutes
4.4
31 reviews
Eligible
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About this movie

In a world of green on black... they dared to dream in color. 1985: An upstart team of Silicon Valley mavericks created a miracle: the Amiga computer. A machine made for creativity. For games, for art, for expression. Breaking from the mold set by IBM and Apple, this was something new. Something to change what people believed computers could do. 2016: The future they saw isn't the one we live in now. Or is it? From the creation of the world's first multimedia digital art powerhouse, to a bankrupt shell sold and resold into obscurity, to a post-punk spark revitalized by determined fans. Viva Amiga is a look at a digital dream and the freaks, geeks and geniuses who brought it to life. And the Amiga is still alive. Featuring dozens of interviews with the Amiga's founders and fans, plus rare footage of Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry, Penn & Teller, and more!

Ratings and reviews

4.4
31 reviews
Zack M
January 26, 2017
Google is making me give this a 3 but I want to give it a 2.5. This didn't quite live up to the hype. Firstly, this is for fans by fans, it was alright for someone who knows what the Amiga is, was, and can do already, but I can only imagine people who have no clue what the Amiga was just walking away in confusion, you'll learn it was a computer that can do many things but you'll never SEE exactly why it was so special and it doesn't really do such a great job of making you WANT to delve deeper. I understand money/time problems mean you can't show everything, but they spent what felt like YEARS waxing nostalgia about video editing and rushed through everything else. A few minutes talking about how it's perfect for games, but you never really see any games or hear from any game developers. Some music but never mention any specific software or talk about the Paula's capabilities in-depth, they mention art programs but nothing more than a quick look. If it wasn't the Video Toaster, it practically wasn't there. Plus the overall "vaporwave" presentation is boring and bland, ironic for such a quirky machine. This is a movie about Amiga users and creators, not the Amiga.
Henrik Matzen
January 10, 2017
Finally the history of computers are out to let the world know that it wasn't Apple, Microsoft or anyone else who ignited the multitasking multi-media era of computers in the world - it was the Amiga. The most amazing computer we had ever seen which enabled us to be creative in our bedroom in a way we would never have imagined. Amiga lead the way and were (light)years ahead - the rest were just followers trying to catch up. The movie is beautifully produced and alot of legends from the glorious Amiga and Commodore days in the past are a part of this movie. Now ... go watch it!
Niklas Lindholm
January 28, 2017
If you know your Amiga history and/or was there when it all happened then this movie is pretty fun to watch. There are lot of clips with interviews from many central Amiga people like RJ Mical, Dave Needle and Dave Haynie. It is however in no way a comprehensive documentary about the rise and fall of the Amiga. There are so many gaping holes in the story telling. It's also very USA centric while the Amiga enjoyed most of its success in Europe.