Rating: 
Summary: Great 70s Science Fiction, Horrible Commentary
Review: "Rollerball" is one of the great science fiction movies of the seventies, the kind big, cautionary distopian flicks they used to make before Star Wars came along and pushed the genre into the world of fantasy ("Omega Man" and "Soylent Green" being two others in this league). While cheezy in a way that only the seventies can be (the old-fashioned "futuristic" computer-font letters and numbers everywhere are great), the film still raises questions as well as instilling gut-thrills.This DVD edition is good--for the price. The movie has not been restored by any means, but seeing it widescreen for the first time in a long time is a treat. The vintage promo "making of" documentary is of the classic mold, deep voiced narrator and all.
BUT Norman Jewison's commentary track is absolutely worthless; a prime example of the worst kind of blah blah commentary there is. This is the kind with a LOT of silent time. When he does talk, the guy can't even seem to get the words out ("Uh.....uh....this....uhhh...). And if he does get the words out, he usually just tells us what's happening on the screen (something we can obviously see for ourselves, given that this isnt' a radio play). Or he pontificates endlessly on the film's themes, explaining them as though we're all to stupid to understand the "individual v the corporate" storyline. Mention it, sure, but Norman, we don't have to be told for twenty minutes! Damn!
The only worse commentary I've heard was Kinka Usher's on the "Mystery Men" dvd. But at least that revealed something of interest--that the self-impressed Usher didn't have a talented bone in his body.
Directors who are not natural raccontours should be paired with (or replaced by) film historians on commentary tracks, the better to pull out of them the interesting stuff we know they must have in their heads. Not everyone is a John Carpenter or Larry Cohen, two of the best at this there are, no matter what you think of their films. Anyway, Rollerball is still worth 8 or 9 bucks. Buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the remake.
Review: Lot of action....good for the time period. This movie was copied alot so you know it has at least SOME substance. I'm not a huge James Caan fan but its funny to see him play an action star. If youve seen it before then hey, why not, go ahead and buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, not so great DVD
Review: I'm not going into precise detail what's in the movie, since many before me have already done that. There are areas where the movie appears to lag, such as many of the scenes where Jonathan E is wandering around, sitting down, and staring at the wall. Other than that I really enjoyed the movie. The DVD however, was not so enjoyable. The images were very grainy and it looks like there was not attempt to clean the picture up. The sound is okay for a movie released in the mid seventies, with excellent classical music. I believe I'm going to purchase this DVD for my father, since he enjoys these kinds of movies.
Rating: 
Summary: Great sci-fi - one of James Caan best film
Review: A very popular film back then ,a must see for all sci fi fan .dont miss this great piece of american cinema at its finest.One of James Caan best film made in 70s
Rating:
Summary: It's a better social commentary than science fiction film.
Review: "Rollerball" (judged one of the best sports movies of all time by Sports Illustrated) is more than a sports movie (although in 1975 Norman Jewison was only guessing at the thrall in which superstar athletes such as James Caan's Jonathan E could hold the public; fans carry pictures of him to matches as though he were Chairman Mao or Yasser Arafat), more than an action movie (though the stunt sequences during the games rival those of "Mad Max"), and much more than Orwellian science fiction.
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The strengths of the movie lie in the way a society that is run from cradle to grave by corporations (rather than governments) is effectively portrayed as being both class-driven (director Norman Jewison uses the time-honored Hollywood trick of using actors with English accents to play the ruling corporate class, while the Rollerball players have working-class Southern U.S. drawls when they speak at all) as well as completely desensitized from all of humanity's pains through the creature comforts (including those of the recreational pharmaceutical variety) provided by the corporations.
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The public channels what remaining passion for violence that exists in their world through the game of Rollerball, allowing themselves to be deluded into thinking that the carnage going on in their arenas and on their Multivision sets is perfectly excusable becasue it is not perpetrated by men but by machines ("Don't be silly, they're made in Detroit"). There is some question to the validity of the game itself; after the first match shown on film (the quarterfinal game of the season, it seems), the coach of Jonathan's team remarks that they will play New York in the Final. Knowing that they still have a game to play before reaching the Final, this seems not in itself anything more than a coach inspiring the confidence of his team. But by indicating that New York will be the opponent (when presumably New York also has a semifinal match to play) would seem to indicate that the season is pre-scripted, not unlike WWE wrestling or the soccer seasons in the former East Germany.
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And no one, save Jonathan E (the sports greatest and by default most violent player), ever questions the idea that no one is allowed to make even the most basic decision for themselves (men and women don't seem to meet and fall in love; rather, couples are "assigned" to each other).
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In a telling moment, Jonathan and his ex-wife (Maud Adams; in the future all women are models) are talking about the "benefits" of corporate society; she remarks that civilization has always been a crusade against poverty. Jonathan makes the most Libertarian remark I've ever heard in a major motion picture when he believes that the luxuries of corporate society have succeeded in "buying off" its citizens, that the last decision society ever made was to be comfortable rather than free, which then enabled the corporations to take over everything.
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This has always been one of my favorite movies; when I was a kid I enjoyed it because of the action (American audiences have always ben more riveted by the game itself rather than the deeper philosophical meanings to the film), but as I've gotten older and more politically aware I have come to appreciate the underlying nefarious themes behind the game and have thus gained an even greater enjoyment of an already terrific film.
Rating:
Summary: Good on you, sport
Review: James Caan has a lot of screen presence and does a good job portraying a man who is meant to be both aggressive and docile and compliant at the same time, despite the fact you don't really buy the possibility. It's also difficult to swallow the idea that America, with it's history of idolised sporting heroes, could possibly think that sport could be used to teach the futility of individual effort.
This film brought back 'happy' memories of being held down and given a 'Moonpie' at school. It also explains why I'm habitually forced to look at this screen slightly to one side.
Rating:
Summary: Full Contact Sport
Review: In the year 2018, Earth has eradicated the problems of war and crime, there is only the game of Rollerball. In a world where corporations influence all aspects of our daily life, Rollerball, is the only way for the public to vent their anger and frustrations. The game is a mix between football, motorcross, and hockey. As its most popular player, Jonathan E. (James Caan), is pitted against not only against combatants in the arena, but the head of the corporation as well. Bartholomew (John Houseman) takes away Jonathan's girlfriend, Ella, (Maude Adams) when he refuses to cooperate with them anymore. Released in 1975, ROLLERBALL, is one of several futuristic cautionary films of the 60s and 70s. Some of the films look and style seem outdated today. However, most of the movie remains relevant, and some of its predictions were right on target. Caan and Houseman give memorable performances. Directed by Norman Jewison, some of the film's more violent scenes have been muted by the passage of time, but the film never really gets too over the top. For the record, I have yet to see the recent remake with Chris Klien, so I cannot comment on that film in relation to the original. As film's go this isn't that bad and is quite entertaining. The DVD has a so-so commentary track from Jewison. There is a paltry 7 minutes of vintage behind the scenes footage that has an interview with the director and star. Basically, its just a look at the film's cautionary message, and anti-violent theme-using violence. There is also a rather lame interactive game to play. The liner notes contain information, trivia, and photos from the film. Obviously, the film takes center stage on this DVD. Recommended for the film only.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome movie and very close to actual reality!!!
Review: This movie is awesome for so many reasons... I had the game for my commodore as a kid... Still nothing can compare to this movie... The corporations today just about run the entire world just like in the movie... So its really freaky when you watch to realize just how close it is to reality... The sport in the movie is there to control the masses... Give them something to watch and not realize whats going on... Also to feed the Bloodlust that lurks in the souls of almost every human... Nobody was ever sposed to be good or popular in it... A player emerges that captures the hearts and minds of the people... He is a threat to the corporate power that runs the entire world with iron fist... Hides and lies about information and even kills and moves people around like cattle... Those who are high up in the corporations have almost all the power... The hero loses the woman he loves to someone high in some corporation... His heart is broken and he only has the game left... They try to get him to retire from the game... Join the corporation, so that his power will not get any Stronger... He rejects this, they can't understand the love and dedication he has to the game and his team... For they have no humanity nor campassion in their heartless souls... So they make the game change to where nobody will survive... They change rules right during the season and it gets really brutal... What was a game where people would get killed and die... Becomes nothing more than a gladiator combat to the death with teams... STill he does not buckle and he stays in the game... You must see this movie and listen and watch very closely at the end... Hear the words they chant, see what happens and try to understand... I would not waste your time with the cheap remake of this movie... Nothing could compare to how well done this movie was... Get this movie and watch it and think about how things are for a while... We might not have a sport like Rollerball but its not far from it...
Rating:
Summary: Oh, Not Bad as You Think If You're After Watching Its Remake
Review: The critically maligned the remake of this film will make you avoid this original, and sure, you're right. The original is not a classic, but certainly conveys the social atomosphere of the 1970s. James Caan is suitably cast as a veteran player of "rollerball" game, violent and exciting game everyone is watching on TV in a society where crime is all eliminated. As an outlet for the people's craving for violence, the company that reigns the society provides a series of wild games using a heavy iron ball and motorbikes. (And the company's anthem is sung at the beginning of each game.) Extremely popular player Caan, however, gradually refuses to comform to the rules of the company which suggests his early retirement, and as the pressure from the executives get higher, the games become more violent, with less rules observed in the game, apparently aiming at his limbs or life. The film, reflecting the social mode of the 70s, gives darker view on the society, and the story sometimes seems as if musing. The three sequences on the game are all exciting, but the dull part comes in between, making the film weighed down by its seriousness. Unfortunately, those philosophical part about this Orwell-like company-ruled totalitarian society and weak individuals are now dated as long as sports industry is concerned, considering the today's relations between players and teams in any sports, and the messages are strictly confined in its own times. "Rollerball" shows how once social commentary was made through the mixture of sports and dictatorship. If you're interested in the field, you may enjoy it. And the game scenes are still good. Especially when, like me, you grew up watching on TV those exciting games of roller derby during the late 60s and early 70s. My memory goes back to the names like Tokyo Bombers -- you won't remember them, maybe, but for the people like me, the film has extra charm.
Rating:
Summary: Watch this with "Network"...
Review: ...and you'll get a look at what some brilliant filmmakers correctly thought we'd be watching in the year 2000. A great film, and less violent than I'd remembered. (Or has it been overshadowed by a continued barrage of other violent films?)
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