I grew up in the 80's hanging out in the local video arcade The Black Hole and Cactus Jacks. It's where I became the queen of Centipede, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga and Tron. The documentary "Token Taverns" is a wonderful doc that not only brings back great memories for those of us that lived it! It is also a great watch for anyone that is interested in the 1980's and society. Filmmaker Bob Rose did a wonderful job making this documentary. The interviews are engaging, the camera work is great, and a wonderful job was done in the editing. So many indie docs are poorly done and hardly watchable. "Token Taverns" is a must watch.

Bob Rose deserves props for bringing this era back to life. The doc hits home for arcade veterans, but it's not just for us old-timers-it's a gripping watch for anyone keen on the '80s vibe. The interviews? Engaging as all get-out, giving you the real deal straight from the players. The camera work? Smooth, capturing the arcade buzz, and the editing? Flawless. In a world where indie documentaries sometimes miss the mark, "Token Taverns" shines bright. It's not just a throwback for the OGs; it's a deep dive into '80s society. Bob Rose's work is a classy salute to a rad era, making it a real good time for anyone watching, whether for the memories or the history lesson.

"Token Taverns" is a captivating documentary that takes a nostalgic journey back to the 1980s, a time when local video arcades were the epicenters of social life. As someone who spent their formative years in these gaming havens, watching this documentary was a delightful trip down memory lane. However I must premise this with the fact that this documentary was produced in 2020 and does spend a great deal of time discussing the pandemic which is not as interesting as the topic of video arcades themselves. The documentary not only resonates with those who lived through the arcade culture but also offers a compelling viewing experience for anyone interested in the social fabric of the 1980s. The interviews are engaging, providing firsthand accounts that enrich the narrative. The camera work is skillful, capturing the essence of the arcade experience, and the editing is seamlessly executed. I only wish more time was spent on the social impacts the video arcades had in the 1980s and less time on how the pandemic of 2020 impacted today's retro arcades.

In a time when we have become more and more isolated. "Token Taverns" reminds us why we should go out and socialize. Nowadays, we stay home and play video games in our rooms, but this movie shows that video games can be social in the right environment. This film follows 3 bar owners with a passion for craft brews and video games. This informative documentary shares how these bars got started and follows their challenges through the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a feeling of camaraderie with owners and patrons as they celebrate the good times and adapt to the bad. They show this support through their love and passion for old-school video games and pinball as they teach the younger generation tips and tricks for console video games. Now I'm off to see if I can find any local arcade bars.

Trailer—Token Taverns

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source: Token Taverns

Token Taverns is a fantastic nostalgic time. This documentary follows four arcades and their day to day business life. Writer and director Bob Rose does a great job intertwining all the different arcades and formulating a captivating story. I felt myself getting investing in each of their individual stories I enjoyed hearing the different and creative ways the arcades did to survive and serve their customer during the Covid shutdowns. I liked how he showed the community and camaraderie that exists when you are apart of a group like this. Great job done by everyone involved in making this..

I enjoyed this documentary! Unusual dive into a retro smoke filled barroom past of slot arcades. An inside look look into three Arcade Bars and their owners over 2 years as they try to thrive and survive through a global pandemic. This brought back great memories for me as I love the arcade games, pinball, Pacman and air hockey. This explores the human side of the arcade business, the owners and the fans, and how they adapt and change with the challenges of economic uncertainty. You will see some familiar faces in this documentary including Stormy Daniels as you'll recall from news headlines a few years back. I recommend this film highly.

If you remember spending your wayward youths in video game arcades dropping quarters into PacMan, Donkey Kong, and Galaga, you'll appreciate this documentary on arcade bars. Combining the nostalgia for pinball machines and arcade video games, bars are popping up that offer these games plus the congenial atmosphere of bars. The direction and editing is fast-paced, just like video games, and personable arcade bar owners and patrons describe why they love the friendly feel of these places. The big antagonist in this story is the pandemic restrictions on communal spaces. I wish there was more time spent on the games themselves and why the patrons enjoy them but the overall sense is that these places become popular because they make the video game experience back into something communal, to share in person with friends.