Rollerball (1975) [4K Ultra HD] [4K UHD]

There are so many reviewers who've already stated what this movie is about, I'd rather state the issues that made this movie a work of genius. In order to do that, I have to lay some insight. If you don't want to read it, skip it and go for another review. What I write here it to add validation and credence to this movie and why I think it should be shown in schools and universities - for its social-economical merit alone, not counting its great entertainment value.For those who did not live in the 60's and 70's, for those who grew up in Generation X or Y, they may not EVER understand the context or the insight to the social-economic concerns of the post war era that this movie brings to the screen. It is not filled with FX and foul language and a continuous bombardment of fast-paced sensory numbing violence and shock value like so many of the later movies we see today of which these later generations thrive on. No wonder so many people of the later generations cannot appreciate or understand what a great movie this is, ebbing with its soft and muted sequences and waves of unglorious violence which fills the sports world and society's lust for violence. However, there may be some from the later generations past the babyboomers who may really appreciate this movie and all it stood for and so I do not exclude those with that depth of insight.In order to support this movie's weight and value of its perspective, I write a bit to validate it. The movie implies that in the future, we border on a half capitalistic/half socialistic society where all people's needs are met but that some of the rights of individual freedom have disappeared at the cost of social equality. And to allow a relief valve for such social pressures and forced adaptations, violent sports are given as a mainstay for the daily diet to the world populations. Not far off from the truth in this century as we near social-capitalistic homogenation with a global economy, political correctness, socialized medicine, and the dark side of capitalism just short of thievery.Back in the 1940's boxing used to be called "modified murder". It was at one time the most popular sport in the world. We can see this advancement of modified murder in the "martial art" full contact competitions we see televised today with people getting their heads bashed in and their faces broken up while audiences watch on in a sort of sensory numbness. Society's lust for violence has not changed but rather increased over the last few decades. The movie addresses this beautifully in the rollergames where the games have become the only social outlet for violence, a relief valve for society.The movie addressed the power of corporate influences and control over society. This movie, "Rollerball" addressed these serious issues which would emerge in the future. Today, we have just that. We see corporate wars today, with corporations and their influence over government decisions, their brainwashing advertising influencing every walk of life and behavior of today's generations. And here in the new century, we see that the movie's major points of concern such as: corporations making decisions for society, limited access information, while feeding people on a diet of violent sports games in order to satisfy people's appetite for violence in order to maintain social order. Corporate wars, government bailouts using taxpayers money to reinforce corporate strength, while feeding people on a lust for shock and violence is exactly what we see today. What comes next in our own society is to put all books on computers and eventually do away with printed paper. In this way, all knowledge can be edited and controlled filtering down to the average citizen only what they need to know, not what they want to know. Rollerball forsees a day in the future where this control of all knowledge will be managed by corporations. And indeed, we see that on today's news, it is filled with local petty stories of actors and the latest gossip instead of showing us the world events that goes on outside our plastic bubble. Why is that? Because sponsors who buy airtime on television stations (corporations) do not want to sponsor anything that is less than tolerable for today's happy go lucky citizen. Who wants to buy products when they show up right next to a broadcast of people being shot in Iraq? So in some ways, we see that a filtration of information is of course a normal operation of our corporate society. Rollerball hit it right on the head again. Today's television is filled with superficial news in order to keep people buying and spending and supporting corporate interests.No longer do corporations pay people to wear their iconic logos (like in the 50's) but now people pay extra to buy and wear iconic logo name brands on their shirts and jackets and tennis shoes. Advertisers (owned by corporations) fill our minds daily on what to buy, eat, wear, drink, and invest, and what to watch. So as we can see, the insight of "Rollerball" was way before its time.About the criticism of the movie's "slow points". This movie has "normal" points of the heart where "think time" is given (unlike today's fast paced reactionary society which hardly know what think time is)the movie allows the audience to breath and reflect on the high cost of a near socialistic society where government decisions (corporate decisions which run the government) are made for people while giving them a life of comfort and safety. For Jonathan E. (James Caan's character), he faces life changing forces that he has no control over. About the movies lavish parties, filled with drugs and sex, well, is this any different from a Hollywood party where all the drugs and sex are upstairs and the drinks and coversation are downstairs? Not much different at all.The interesting thing, the slow grinding twist in the movie which tightens like a turnequet on a bleeding wound is that Jonathan E. becomes so popular as to stand out alone, breaking the bonds of corporate reinforcement that socialistic ideas of the team is more valuable than the individual. In Jonathan's refusal to retire and in his effort to understand why he has been asked to step down, he pushes beyond the boundaries of the deadly games and becomes a single hero of epic proportions. He brings back the calling of the individual, rather than the corporate team player.Rollerball is an incredible movie and is rich with the depths of human emotions and struggles on every level. This is a world class movie. Watching it with the director's commentary is very insightful as well.

This is an underrated movie. Came in great condition. We’ve watched it over and over.

Not gonna lie ... This movie holds a very special place in my heart as it was the first "adult" movie I snuck into as a little kid at old Ranch Mart Theater in Mission, Kansas back in '75. I was 12-years old sneaking into an "R" and it changed my life ... Lol. Too bad I messed up by going home and chanting "Jonathan ... Jonathan ... Jonathan!" in front of my mom and dad, who, unbeknownst to me,had already seen the movie and wanted to know how I knew what that was from an "R" rated movie. Oops ... the jig was up and I got extra chores for a couple weeks. Totally worth it!!!Anyway, this is a truly terrific take on society made 40 years ago that almost predicted perfectly what's really going on today where corporations have literally been declared to be people but real people have had their rights stripped away. And don't even get me started on the complete lack of women's rights in the story. They're just there for the amusement of men. Ironically, the movie is supposed to be set in the year, 2018 annnnnnnnd well, I'll just leave it there.This is just perfect 1970s cinema done right, and you absolutely SHOULD watch this movie and skip that loathsome remake they did in the 2000s. I love this film!!! Jonathan ... Jonathan ... Jonathan!

I first saw Rollerball forty years ago and I still love it today. The plot, of course, is absolutely terrible. Like most dystopian fiction, it is naive quasi-intellectual dribblige of the worst sort which spends two hours vainly wandering around in search of a relevant point to make. But you can't really expect much from a movie that was adapted from a short story which was originally published in a "men's magazine," so I won't knock off any stars for that. It is what it is.The reasons to watch this movie today all boil down to production values. The lengths to which the producers went in order to make the titular sport look real are still astonishing to me. It helps a great deal that James Caan insisted on doing all of his own stunts. Even after dozens of viewings over the years, watching the arena scenes can still get my 50-something blood pumping. Also of note are the sets and ambiance. As with most 1970s science fiction movies, the shooting locations are showcases of New Brutalism and the decor is littered with Italian futurist design.The way in which the cinematography seamlessly weaves the actors and extras into these elements in order to create a believable future is quite astonishing. Just as one example, the background extras all cast furtive glances at Caan (playing famous athlete Johnathon E) as he walks around in public. It is pervasive but not obtrusive, coming across as completely natural and believable. It's as if Peyton Manning had strolled into the local library and you watch as people begin to recognize him. Small directorial touches like that add an air of realism that no amount of computer graphics can create. Much as with Gattaca two decades later, the director and principle cinematographer took great pains to make their made-up world seem real to the audience rather than relying on special effects. We could do with a lot more of that today and a lot less CGI.TLDR: Laugh at the ridiculous plot, but love the movie as a piece of art.

See above.

Buena película que no ha envejecido nada mal a pesar de tener ya 39 años. Argumento original, muy conseguido, que no se limita a las espectaculares escenas del juego, sino con un bien desarrollado trasfondo filosófico casi diría que orwelliano. Buena dirección del irregular Norman Jewison y excelente interpretación de James Caan, en un papel que le va como anillo al dedo. Buena película que merece la pena figurar en cualquier colección, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta la escasez cualitativa de este tipo de películas futuristas. Ah, por supuesto incomparablemente superior al infumable remake de 2002.Imagen en formato 16:9, sonido 5.1 en v.o y estereo para el doblaje español. Correctas, pero sin alardes. Habrá que esperar su paso al Blu Ray para un buen reprocesado. De extras, solo breve comentario del director.

Ah! Ya no se hacen películas así. Drama, anticipación, masas atrapadas por el juego (Como ahora por el fútbol!) y una salida con cierta esperanza ya que el individuo honesto parece vencer al gobierno manipulador. No se la pierdan, aunque no haya efectos de ordenador porque es una historia bien contada, no un catálogo de los llamados efectos especiales

DVD básico pero efectivo, película distopica que no puede faltar en ninguna videoteca de los mas aficionados al genero. La calidad de la película hace que aguante el paso de los años perfectamente

Excellent.

There is a fantastic article on Slate ..Rewatching Rollerball in 2019 The 1975 cult classic would be just another action movie, if it weren’t trying to be about something else.I am glad I bought this latest 4k version which is a joy to watch in you are a Gen Z or otherwise remember the 70's. Growing up on a British Army base in Germany it is very evocative given the locations for the filming and its overall style. Story moves on at a good pace and it all looks a lot better than I remember watching it on TV !