Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Rollerball is on ESPN classic right now

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
sasquatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:12 PM
Original message
Rollerball is on ESPN classic right now
JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON,JONATHON!!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
Aristus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 09:59 PM
Response to Original message
1. Great film. Highly underrated. Here is my review of the film for Amazon.com:
"Rollerball" is based on a fascinating short story by William Harrison called 'Rollerball Murder'. I recommend it, and the film wholeheartedly. If you've read all the reviews so far, then you know what the film is about. And the comparison of the game of Rollerball to gladiatorial combat is more apt than you might know, unless you are familiar with the histories of Greece and Rome. Greek sporting endeavours like wrestling and foot racing were about the triumph of the individual. Roman gladiatorial combat was about the need for and triumph of collective effort. Despite what Hollywood movies depict, gladiators rarely fought in single combat. They almost always fought in teams. The film "Rollerball" is a fine depiction of this stylistic conflict. The game was conceived by the corporate powers to prove the "futility of individual effort", and James Caan's Jonathan E keeps frustrating that goal by succeeding as an individual in the sport. He loves his team, and works closely with the other members, but they all come and go in their turn, and Jonathan E remains, season after season. The film has some subtle allusions to the classical conflict at the heart of the story. In a dinner scene, two men recline comfortably while eating, and the woman sits up straight. This was the dining custom of the ancient Romans.
Despite a now dated "futuristic" look, I think the film is incredible. James Caan's thoughtful, quiet Jonathan is a refreshing break from the typical pneumatic-muscled, testosterone drenched action heroes with their silly, ghoulish one-liners. '70's-era heart-throb John Beck gives an appealing performance as Jonathan's doomed friend and teammate, Moonpie. Moonpie is not today's sullen, spoiled, overpaid celebrity athlete. Instead, he is candid and exuberant, as if he can't quite believe his good fortune at being a Rollerball star.
My one complaint with the film is the setting; it was shot in and around Munich, Germany, and the idea that those lush forests and green meadows can convincingly represent humid, scorched Houston, Texas is asking a bit much.
Still, a terrific film, overall. The polished Houston Rollerball team packs a solid wallop, the New York team is scrappy, tough, and unrefined, and the elegant but deadly Tokyo team reminds me of Japanese Zero fighters zooming in for the kill.
Buy this DVD today. It has a great informative commentary track by Norman Jewison.

Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Best_man23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Oct-12-08 10:10 PM
Response to Original message
2. I love the music
Edited on Sun Oct-12-08 10:10 PM by Best_man23
Bach's Toccatta & Fugue in D Minor and Adagio in G Minor are fantastic!!

IMO: Jonathan's slamming the ball in the goal during the last game was one of the best "up yours" to the establishment ever done in any movie.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Iggo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Oct-13-08 01:26 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. Bears a striking resemblance to...
...Icarus Dream Suite Opus whatever.

Aw, Yngwie. Aw.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 01st 2024, 10:59 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC