Memoirs of a Spectrum Addict Review.

Memoirs of a Spectrum Addict Review.

 Memoirs of a Spectrum Addict.

Memoirs of a Spectrum Addict by Andy Remic is a full length documentary feature film which takes a detailed look at the ZX Spectrum. Starring such notable industry legends as The Oliver Twins, Clive Townsend, Mark R. Jones, Jon Hare, Jim Bagley, Steve Turner, Oliver Frey, Rich Stevenson, Roger Kean, Mev Dinc, Simon Butler, Jas Austin, and the original designer of the Spectrum – Rick Dickinson.

The film started out as a successful Kickstarter campaign back in 2015, smashing its target amount very early on, being a huge Spectrum fan I decided to support and I pledged for the DVD version of the film and that’s what my review will be based on but the film will be available in a variety of formats, including digital download, BluRay and 4K download. Film running length: 2 hours 20 minutes Rated: PG.

So my copy of the film arrived and the first impressions of the DVD case and disc are as you would expect with the cover artwork being done by Oliver Frey, the movie is split up into chapters, each of these is started with a super cool Spectrum loading screen and wow did that bring back some memories. Each chapter offers insights into early memories, favourite games, the subject of software piracy, limitations of Spectrum hardware, individual developments, and looking forward to the future.

Many of the interviewees are guys we all recognise and its amazing to hear them speak so openly and fondly of the Spectrum era. Rick Dickinson chatting about the lengths he went to in creating the layout of the Spectrum Keyboard and how the Oliver Twins hacked some spectrum games to get them on discs and devised a way to program games on the Amstrad for the Spectrum.. I won’t go into to much detail as I don’t want to have to many spoilers but the film is packed with wonderful stories from the heyday of Spectrum gaming. Like all great movies you need to watch the outtakes during the credits, AWESOME.

CONCLUSION

For a film that had such a small budget I have to compliment the team that created this fine documentary, I look forward to what RaM Films releases next, if indeed they do, going on the evidence of this movie I really hope they do. The Spectrum had a huge following and I am sure this film will sell by the bucket load, for the general retro fan who never owned a Spectrum it’s a fascinating insight and I highly recommend it.

Memoirs of a Spectrum Addict is available to buy on DVD, Blu-Ray and digital formats from http://www.remicmedia.com/speccyaddict/

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