Between the musical score and the depth of the story.... AND the outstanding performances of James Caan, John Houseman... and even Maud Adams... it was a perfect film. A true warning of the importance of freedom, individuality and ultimately the rights of man over the collective. Rollerball 75 could have replaced the corporations with a World Government, run by an elite... which would work even better... The scene that kicks you in the gut is the final scene with Maud Adams... where Jonathan says, “I just wanted to know if you were with me...” as he erases her image from the disc he continues to watch... remembering a time when he was a happy. It’s at that moment that the audience... and Jonathan... realizes that he is truly alone... and what he does, he does for himself. The film inspires. The trailers for the 2002 were sufficient to demonstrate that the film was little more than a poor shadow... a “remake” in name only, that entirely lacked the heart, soul and meaning of the original... Not even really a shadow... more the ripples in the pool left by the passage of a greater, larger thing...
The original is a true classic, it's a shame the remake didn't try to do anything with the same creativity or depth. Also I love your comment about the data disc, I think I forgot to talk about that relationship aspect of the film.
Good video. I sought this out after rewatching the original last night. The original was one my Dad showed me when I was a kid. He loved these sorts of movies, so I got to see this, Soylent Green, A Boy and His Dog, Zardoz, etc., when I'm like 8-10 years old. I still love the '75 version, but watching it again last night, I could see why someone would want to remake this and expand on the sociopolitical back story or Jonathan's longing to be reunited with his former wife. I had not seen the remake and only knew that it had been a massive flop. Surprised to see they went in the other direction and scrapped those elements, especially considering how good some of McTiernan's other films are.
Back in 5th or 6th grade, RB '02 was my favourite movie, mostly because it included WWF personal Shane McMahon and Paul Heyman, as well as my favourite band Slipknot. Watching it now, it is horrible, but it still holds a soft spot for me. A major guilty pleasure
Great job of staying focused on the comparison. It'd be too easy to spin go off on tangents about how bad RB '02 is. I don't see how RB '02 was green-lit when they had so many unresolved issues with plot, tone and pacing. It'd be easier to dismiss RB '02 if it were some low-budget B-movie. However, $70m with an experienced director and producer? At least some good came from it. It helped end Chris Klein's career as a leading man.
+Junkball Media I feel like someone had an idea for Rollerball 2 and it just went around Hollywood on this endless loops for 2 decades and when it came out of the wash it landed on someone's lap who had never seen the 1975 Film. Some articles I found about the director's vision painted a neat idea but it seems like none of it came together in end. There are just so many things that I will never understand about this film.
That's probably the saddest part. Big budget and cool concept with an experienced director - wasted on poor writing and ultimate execution.. usually, the "book is better." In this case the original is much, much better! czcams.com/video/8Y_76L49T_0/video.html
Now I want to re-watch the 1975 version. It's been quite a while since I've seen it. Also, I can't believe the studio said the original ending was too asian. What does that even mean?
+Gooberslot MGM has made some really odd choices in the last 15 years. Namely the red dawn remake and poor management choices. I think they desperately need to clean house and start fresh. I think the original 2002 ending was something Americans didnt like so they made them re-shoot it. I honestly wish they had done a directors cut of that ending Because I think it tied into 1975 Rollerball But think I think its lost to time. I was digging threw old 2001 blog entries about the film when i found mention of the Prequel notion.
Yeah, after watching this I definitely am going to watch the original, ironically I just noticed yesterday that it was just added to Netflix, or Amazon Prime, can’t remember which.
The original Rollerball was a huge success in many European countries, less so in the US. The new version was too difficult to understand. In addition, the falling of players in the original movie were all real. A lot of players have hurt themselves during the filming.
For 18 years I thought that was Keanu Reeves. You learn something new everyday. Did they purposely make Chris Klein look like Keanu Reeves? I never saw the 2002 version but the original is a classic.
I never actually noticed that. I assumed they just grabbed him because he was fresh off American Pie. But he certainly played it pretty flat like Keanu.
I actually this the changes made for the remake perfectly illustrate the problems with so much of Hollywood, that have only gotten worse since 2002. So many in Hollywood seem to be totally clueless about actually making quality movies, and/or what people want. Addition so much of Hollywood has become elitist and have no concept of what the movie going public is like, and at the same time are afraid to stick their neck out and come up with something new or original. So instead they take a film like rollerball, dumb it down, and strip it if anything beyond mindless action and violence. Them put together the “story” via committees and focus groups and then think they created a masterpiece. While Hollywood and movie making has long been run businesses, in general the scripts and movies were made by the “talent” within those businesses, yes they have long interfered in the film making process, but historically how this was done was usually limited to keeping a tight control on the budget, and by assigned skilled, and trusted, producers, writers, directors and other “talent” to work with the films writers & directors. But at some point those running the business side of the studios decided that they themselves were the “talent” and started directly editing scripts, deciding on casting, scenes, tone and even what the stories should be about, and this has destroyed countless movies.
Speaking as someone who's seen both versions of Rollerball, that intro was a brilliant interpretive performance of the experience of watching the remake knowing what a poor imitation of the original it is, and it spoke to me on a deep level.
RB 1 is one of the best CF movies I've ever seen in my life. That's why when 2 appeared, I enthusiastically went to see it. It was a shock. It was perhaps the worst movie I have ever seen. That not even for movie B or C maybe Y or Z.
That would have been really a interesting name for the sport. I wonder if that could have impacted the game in the films in any way if the name were different.
The explanation behind that scene from RB '02 is simple. He starts blabbering American Lingo because he realized they were being watched right as he's about tell the truth
I'd like to see Deathrace 2000, vs Deathrace (the bad ones from the early 2000's) vs Deathrace the true remake (which actually follows the original fairly well)
Damon R. Absolutely, I often find it hard to understand what compelled them to think a remake was a good idea in the first place. I didnt think rollerball had much more than a cult following.
I got chills at the end of the original movie. Jonathan!
God I love that part
Between the musical score and the depth of the story.... AND the outstanding performances of James Caan, John Houseman... and even Maud Adams... it was a perfect film. A true warning of the importance of freedom, individuality and ultimately the rights of man over the collective.
Rollerball 75 could have replaced the corporations with a World Government, run by an elite... which would work even better...
The scene that kicks you in the gut is the final scene with Maud Adams... where Jonathan says, “I just wanted to know if you were with me...” as he erases her image from the disc he continues to watch... remembering a time when he was a happy. It’s at that moment that the audience... and Jonathan... realizes that he is truly alone... and what he does, he does for himself.
The film inspires.
The trailers for the 2002 were sufficient to demonstrate that the film was little more than a poor shadow... a “remake” in name only, that entirely lacked the heart, soul and meaning of the original...
Not even really a shadow... more the ripples in the pool left by the passage of a greater, larger thing...
The original is a true classic, it's a shame the remake didn't try to do anything with the same creativity or depth. Also I love your comment about the data disc, I think I forgot to talk about that relationship aspect of the film.
Good video. I sought this out after rewatching the original last night. The original was one my Dad showed me when I was a kid. He loved these sorts of movies, so I got to see this, Soylent Green, A Boy and His Dog, Zardoz, etc., when I'm like 8-10 years old.
I still love the '75 version, but watching it again last night, I could see why someone would want to remake this and expand on the sociopolitical back story or Jonathan's longing to be reunited with his former wife. I had not seen the remake and only knew that it had been a massive flop. Surprised to see they went in the other direction and scrapped those elements, especially considering how good some of McTiernan's other films are.
Back in 5th or 6th grade, RB '02 was my favourite movie, mostly because it included WWF personal Shane McMahon and Paul Heyman, as well as my favourite band Slipknot. Watching it now, it is horrible, but it still holds a soft spot for me. A major guilty pleasure
Great job of staying focused on the comparison. It'd be too easy to spin go off on tangents about how bad RB '02 is. I don't see how RB '02 was green-lit when they had so many unresolved issues with plot, tone and pacing. It'd be easier to dismiss RB '02 if it were some low-budget B-movie. However, $70m with an experienced director and producer? At least some good came from it. It helped end Chris Klein's career as a leading man.
+Junkball Media I feel like someone had an idea for Rollerball 2 and it just went around Hollywood on this endless loops for 2 decades and when it came out of the wash it landed on someone's lap who had never seen the 1975 Film. Some articles I found about the director's vision painted a neat idea but it seems like none of it came together in end. There are just so many things that I will never understand about this film.
That's probably the saddest part. Big budget and cool concept with an experienced director - wasted on poor writing and ultimate execution.. usually, the "book is better." In this case the original is much, much better! czcams.com/video/8Y_76L49T_0/video.html
Curiously enough, it looks like they used the props from Futuresport in Rollerball.
i had similar feelings about The Italian job remake
Now I want to re-watch the 1975 version. It's been quite a while since I've seen it.
Also, I can't believe the studio said the original ending was too asian. What does that even mean?
+Gooberslot MGM has made some really odd choices in the last 15 years. Namely the red dawn remake and poor management choices. I think they desperately need to clean house and start fresh.
I think the original 2002 ending was something Americans didnt like so they made them re-shoot it. I honestly wish they had done a directors cut of that ending Because I think it tied into 1975 Rollerball But think I think its lost to time. I was digging threw old 2001 blog entries about the film when i found mention of the Prequel notion.
Yeah, after watching this I definitely am going to watch the original, ironically I just noticed yesterday that it was just added to Netflix, or Amazon Prime, can’t remember which.
Rollerball 1975 is a masterpiece.
Is that Paul Haymen?
yes that is him. He had to make some money after his wrestling company folded. He not a bad announcer
The original Rollerball was a huge success in many European countries, less so in the US. The new version was too difficult to understand. In addition, the falling of players in the original movie were all real. A lot of players have hurt themselves during the filming.
For 18 years I thought that was Keanu Reeves. You learn something new everyday. Did they purposely make Chris Klein look like Keanu Reeves? I never saw the 2002 version but the original is a classic.
I never actually noticed that. I assumed they just grabbed him because he was fresh off American Pie. But he certainly played it pretty flat like Keanu.
@@HistoricNerd Are still making videos? I'd like to see Cape Fear, King Kong and Ben Hur.
@@theman4884 I am, I just divide my time between Video game retrospectives and these. I have Jacobs ladder next on the docket, but I like those ideas
I actually this the changes made for the remake perfectly illustrate the problems with so much of Hollywood, that have only gotten worse since 2002. So many in Hollywood seem to be totally clueless about actually making quality movies, and/or what people want. Addition so much of Hollywood has become elitist and have no concept of what the movie going public is like, and at the same time are afraid to stick their neck out and come up with something new or original.
So instead they take a film like rollerball, dumb it down, and strip it if anything beyond mindless action and violence. Them put together the “story” via committees and focus groups and then think they created a masterpiece.
While Hollywood and movie making has long been run businesses, in general the scripts and movies were made by the “talent” within those businesses, yes they have long interfered in the film making process, but historically how this was done was usually limited to keeping a tight control on the budget, and by assigned skilled, and trusted, producers, writers, directors and other “talent” to work with the films writers & directors. But at some point those running the business side of the studios decided that they themselves were the “talent” and started directly editing scripts, deciding on casting, scenes, tone and even what the stories should be about, and this has destroyed countless movies.
Great video! I hope someone actually adapts a proper Rollerball film.
Forgot about rollerball
Speaking as someone who's seen both versions of Rollerball, that intro was a brilliant interpretive performance of the experience of watching the remake knowing what a poor imitation of the original it is, and it spoke to me on a deep level.
La mejor es 100 veces la original !!!!!!!
RB 1 is one of the best CF movies I've ever seen in my life. That's why when 2 appeared, I enthusiastically went to see it. It was a shock. It was perhaps the worst movie I have ever seen. That not even for movie B or C maybe Y or Z.
I thought it was called Thunderball, for a long time.
That would have been really a interesting name for the sport. I wonder if that could have impacted the game in the films in any way if the name were different.
HistoricNerd Yeah, it’s actually a James Bond Title.
I didn't even think about that lol
The explanation behind that scene from RB '02 is simple. He starts blabbering American Lingo because he realized they were being watched right as he's about tell the truth
Ah the early 2000's where everything was extreme
*xXx-treme!
Rollerball 1975 Is Cult movie!!
Absolutely!
Good stuff, man!
Thank you!
do Total Recall next
+Monnman Fan That is a really good idea! I actually hadn't thought about that one. I'm gonna add that to the list. Thank you.
I'd like to see Deathrace 2000, vs Deathrace (the bad ones from the early 2000's) vs Deathrace the true remake (which actually follows the original fairly well)
That's actually on my list of videos to do.
Dam your good...cheers
Thanks!
I'd say the big winner here is rollerball...oh wait
+Retro Cynical Wait...Rollerball or Rollerball? Oh GOD WHICH ONE!
I saw the remake
Its one of those films that people have seen but don't remember when or why they watched it.
I’m sorry.
I missed the 2002...
Well... ok... I really didn’t miss it... I avoided it.
I totally agree. The original is much better than the remake, which was a waste of time and money.
Damon R. Absolutely, I often find it hard to understand what compelled them to think a remake was a good idea in the first place. I didnt think rollerball had much more than a cult following.
lmfao. Love these reviews.
+Exigentable glad to hear you enjoy them
how about Rollerball vs Roller Boogie?
Oh man. Wasn't roller bounce kind of a remake of that?
@@HistoricNerd lol, it was set in 1978 Chicago with a similar plot, the title is actually Roll Bounce
Your review was excellent, accurate and on point! That 2002 version was an embarrassment. No substance. It sucked!
Have to have J.C initials! Lol
Great job telling the rollerball original and remake and 75 is the best the 02 sorry it sucks
2002 was good I like it better than the original
FIRST!
The original was great. the remake sux.