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Harry takes a look at the remake of ROLLERBALL
You know... sometimes there are movies that just the
mention of gets you in a fit. A fit of geek joy?
ROLLERBALL is one of mine.
Lots of people I know hate the film. Despise it.
Loathe it even. These people also don’t watch
football. Don’t watch basketball. And... have never
really played organized team sports... be it in little
league or high school.
I’ve played football. Loved squishing quarterbacks.
I’ve also been in the band playing during football
games... led the charge on my trombone alongside my
best friend’s trumpet. And... I have just been in the
crowd.... that electric crowd filled stadium. And I’ve
done the sports bar bit. Drunk... rowdy folks
screaming and hollering. I’ve worn plastic viking
helmets, a wedge of cheese upon my brow and so
many combinations of team colors... it’s not even
funny.
The first DVD I bought myself was ROLLERBALL.
Like I said.... I love the film. But I’m the first to
admit that the movie had some major flaws. Mainly
having to do with everytime the camera left the game,
preparation of the game or team meetings. The
corporate soceity stuff just did not work for me.
However, I have always felt that it was that aspect of
the story that warranted a remake. Nail the entire
story. Flesh out the history of the Corporate Soceity.
How do we get from where we are to a Corporate
Soceity? What is wrong with it? A perfectly
organized living structure that is... perfection.
Then there was the tree blowing up scene. Oh sure, I
understand the symbolism, but for a lot of people it
was a real scratch your head sort of thing.
The various babes that randomly kept showing up
with no real meaning to us. What was up with that?
That one chick that comes up and Jonathan and
suddenly he seems a bit changed. A hint of a
history... but what was going on there.
The film seems to be about how the Corporation is
wanting to downplay the individual, but at the same
time they make a film special dedicated to the
accomplishments of a single player... thus helping
him in his journey to stardom.... the very thing that
Mr Bartholomew and all the other suits wish to stop.
Doing the interviews with players as the hit town... all
of the things they do to handle and make the game
real to our real world... makes the corporate society
weak looking. And we must be able to look at this
game as though it is in a soceity that is well
established. That is POWERFUL.
So... when I heard there was a ROLLERBALL
remake in the wind. And that John McTiernan was in
charge... I was excited.
Recently due to spies that in-line skated from MGM’s
corporate offices... to my home here in Austin and
handed me the 1st draft screenplay for that very same
remake.
Well... I’m proud to say that at least within the first
draft by David Campbell Wilson, well... In almost
every single facet it is an improved reconception of
the original. At least on the printed page.
There are major changes here and there, but basically
the film is structured almost exactly the same. With
the only major sequence left out being the smart
water computer.... That is gone.
The film begins with a history lesson which gives you
an absolutely perfect idea of how the world came to
be the way it is at the time this film takes place.
Which is the 25th century... Twiki is nowhere to be
seen. I don’t want to spoil this history, but I will say
that today’s story on CBS NIGHTLY NEWS about
mosquitoes, birds, ticks and a new deadly virus that
came to the United States... well, it sent shivers down
my screwed up back (btw...the reason there was no
update was I wrenched the hell out of my back and
have been trying to unwrench it for the past 24)
Our hero is still Jonathan (no E), but fans know him
as only Energy Player 6, Captain. Thereby stripping
him of individuality. He’s just a number on a team
made up of other numbers, who often times have
different faces from game to game. His face has been
the same, in the same jersey for a long time now.
People know his number. And over his career he has
been developing an amazing following... though he is
just another number.
What I like most about this script is the creation of
this Corporate Society. It’s scary. It seems possible.
Everything is visual now. There are no books. In
fact all the workers... well... they can’t read. They
only know what they need to know. Excess
knowledge and thought limits productivity.
So true... but it is those very thoughts that allow us to
be human. The game seems to be changed just a bit.
Though... as written I can’t really see it without
thinking of the original filmed game. I believe this
version of the game is far more violent and cruel.
The rule changes are harsher. And this film is
intense. The script is far darker than the original film.
And is frankly... a bit unsettling. The last three pages
literally made me stop... and just shake my head...
and go, “Holy shit.”
Now the scary thing I’ve heard is that this film had
‘script problems’. That it was in rewrite hell. GOD, I
hope this isn’t so. This was a mean ol script. And the
ending would leave the audience stunned and blown
away.
Fantastic.
It’s funny. From the opening, I thought I had figured
the whole film out. (BUZZER SOUND) That’s
right... it didn’t go that way.
Moonpie is now known as Catnip.... Personally... I
like Moonpie. You learn much more about the world
that created this game....
In the original, we never really went behind the
scenes of the Corporate world. See them. Hear their
decision making process. This time... we really get to
have a look at the beast.
McTiernan has the ability to direct this script, but the
key is going to be in getting an EXTREMELY
charismatic actor who can play early to mid thirties to
play this role. Russell Crowe most likely won’t go
near the film because of his similar work in
GLADIATOR. Personally... I’d love to see either
Chow Yun Fat or Nicholas Cage or George Clooney
in this role.
It is a tough and hard film to make. But the script
really did fix a crapload of the holes in the original.
In this screenplay... it’s not just the game that is
scary... but the entire world.
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+ Expand All
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ROLLER BOOGIE?
YA KNOW THAT CHEESY 80'S MOVIE WITH LINDA BLAIR, WE CAN HAVE NATASHA LYONE PLAY THE LINDA BLAIR ROLE...MUCH RATHER SEE THAT THEN THIS PIECE OF CRAP ROLLER BALL SHIT!!!! -
Trashing a movie before a script, a cast or even before the first shot is made? Harsh, folks. I can think of quite a few films that sounded dumb on paper but turned into beauties. BTW, Harry, is "Rollerball" the movie with a glowing blue Orb or something that has magical powers in a desert future? Cuz if so, shit, I must be old. I "remember" that flick.
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A fine piece of 70's sci-fi, but why remake it? It still holds up on its own. The changes in the story you mentioned and the far future, as opposed to near future, setting present enough changes that perhaps they should just change the name. The sad thing is that studios are so afraid to make an original film that they're greenlighting anything that's a sequel or remake because it comes with audience recognition and that's what you need for that first weekend, which is all that seems to matter. Nothing against ROLLERBALL, but I bet there are a lot more fresher ideas that are being passed on because of this. 70's and 60's sci-fi was filled with giant souless super corporations of the future. It's been done and done well already. There are tons of undeveloped cutting edge sci-fi concepts that keep getting pushed to the bottom of the pile.
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The movie to which you're referring is SOLARBABIES, a real stinker from 1986 that we must always remember so that it will never happen again.
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Some of you obviously either haven't seen or don't remember the original film. This is as strong and powerful a sci-fi film as "Forbidden Planet", "The Day The Earth Stood Still", "2001", "A Clockwork Orange" and..."Star Wars". The cast was marvelous and I believe Norman Jewison directed. To this day, if I hear Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor", I flash to the opening of "Rollerball"!!! This is classic film. The remake may be different, and it might turn out to be a better film. I doubt it, but it's WAY too early to tell, isn't it?
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I, like many of you, lived a childhood of movies. For some sick reason I have always had a soft spot in my heart for bad 80's flicks. Therfore I am not ashamed to say that I love Solarbabies... it is a lost gold nugget! Stop laughing...please. By the way Prayer Of The Rollerboys kicks booty too....and North Shore, and oh my god Thrashin' was another good one, and what about Rad...does anybody else out there love the bad eighties flicks...
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You're right, though, it is an unsung classic.....BWAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAH!!! I'm sorry, I couldn't do that with a straight face. It's an unsung CAMP classic, to be sure, though. As for Rollerball, I think a remake could be very good, but yes, PLEASE keep Keanu out of it. Any number of good actors could be in it, just not him, and not Leo. That is all. MadBoy out.
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This film means more to me than most sci-fi, especially of the last 20 years, but I don't like MGM's reasons for remaking it. They picked this one, the Pink Panther, and a film called Juggernaut for re-hash because the studio belief is one has the ability to become a franchise. Supposedly, MGM wants to build a Rollerball arena in there Vegas hotel as a tie-in attraction. This could account for the re-writes, if you see the obvious paradox between the movies concept and a theme ride. McTiernan is a bad choice for director. Why? Just look at his past movies and tell me which one has any actual character development. Die Hard is a close as you get, and that's as shallow as a komode. He had two busts this summer, (13th Warrior and Thomas Crown which should be retitled To Catch A Thief '99), and, when you get down to it, nothing great since the the first D.H. McTiernan is like other formulaic action director's (Tony Scott, Andrew Davis, Richard Donner), who have made several movies, different by name only. What Harry didn't mention, is the real crux between the main character (Jonathan)and The Energy Corporation, who is trying to force him into retirement, implicating Jonathan is older. McTiernan has already said that he want someone in his thirties, meaning that they have discarded the concept of Jonathan being a veteran player. This movie is designed for one of the older action stars, not The Flavor of The Month. In the end, we'll be delivered just another atypical action film, one that will have the impact of possibly winning opening weekend, and then fading away. Maybe it will do Deep Blue Sea business. So Far, (and there is more to what's going on with this movie then Harry has reported) the effort has been banal. By the way, Didn't Snipes do an indirect re-make of this for tv a few years ago with Dean Cain called Futuresport?
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...you know I just got out of the institution that I was thrown in for liking those very movies, and because you laughed at me I' having a relapse....you hurt me Madboy, u hurt me real bad, and for that I am going to hunt you down, tie you up, make you some popcorn, and make you watch Prayer Of The Rollerboys & Garbage Pail Kids back to back...and because I'm mad I'm going to be extremely devil like and show you what a really bad movie looks like...yes that's right you'll be watching Fled all day and all night....hey off subject r u looking foward to Straight Story...I hella am and no one seems 2 be 2xcited by it coming out very very soon!
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don't get me wrong boyo, i have the utmost respect for Prayer for. . . well, that's not true. But for some bizarre reason, I watch it whenever I come across it on cable. it's vaguely hypnotic. The same canNOT be said of Garbage Pail Kids. Oh, god there are some great pieces to come out of the 80's. FLED, though - well, wrong decade. There is nothing good about that movie. NOT ONE THING. Except for the hotties, of course. I apologize, Flmlvr, I never meant to hurt you, but remember, any action taken against me will result in your being jumped by my fellow MadBoyz, duct-taped to the floor and being forced to watch POSSE, followed by Gunmen.
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I know Fled didn't come out in the 80's....You don't scare me with your threat of Gunmen...I scoff at you...how does 7 weeks straight of Rappin' and Panther sound huh...yeah Peebles is real scary ain't he....hey did you see Garbage Pail Kids in the theatres ? I did...I rememember I wuz like 8 when It came out...I wuz so hyped that I stole then one and only thng I've ever stole...a Garbage Pail Kids poster off the window of my local Circle K....Yeah that's right I'm a hard ass mutha...so u best start respecting films like Purple People Eater...gotta love that ned beatty and neil Patrick Harris...the world renowned Doogie Howser....alright Mad Boy consider your self warned....
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Since we're on the subject of a possible remake, what about the cheese-fest movie that was Michael J Fox's first flick: "Midnight Madness?" For those of you who haven't seen it, the movie is back in print so give it a chance. Four teams participate in an "all nighter" of solving clues and driving around Los Angeles all night. I can see this turned into a 90s flick with some of the younger and annoying actors/actesses of today.
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.....they're duty bound to mount an update of SCAVENGER HUNT, as well. Interesting fact: aside from a similarity in concept, they also share a thesp..... the estimable Stephen Furst. My plea to any and all production execs: GREENLIGHT THESE PROJECTS NOW!!!
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I saw this movie when it first came out in the theaters. I was like nine and the movie not only made a huge impact on me,but on other kids my age. It was bitchin'. At the time the kid rumour mill had Rollerball as being in the works for a real team sport. We were psyched. I think Harry is dead on with his assmesment of a remake, as are many of the responses here. I have faith in McTiernan but not the studio system. I really hope they don't drop the ball on this one...
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. . . because I have seen the future of horror, and it is SOLO!!! God, New Jack City aside (barely) Van Peebles has done nothing but crap. But keep up your idle threats, and you will succumb to nothing but repeated viewings of Teen Wolf 2, Satisfaction, and the infamous Shanghai Surprise!!
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In Ardeth's post it states that they were planning to use an actor in his 30s to play Jonathan. Ardeth contends that they should go with someone older as he is supposed to be a veteran player being forced into retirement. I disagree. Firstly, in a violent sport like this a veteran player would likely be someone in his 30s (the average career would probably be much shorter). Secondly, his age has little to do with why the Corporation wants him to retire - rather it is his fame that is the problem.
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...I was just about to leave for work when what do I see.....You making fun of Family Ties alumni....now that's not very nice you know....I remember being a young teen cheering justine Bateman on at the drive ins while I watched Satisfaction...oh yes do I dare say that it's so bad it's good....yes. Yes I do....I won't defend Teen Wolf too...that is just a horrible horrible movie that ruined a perfectly good camp classic....you threaten me again madboy and you'll be watching never ending viewings of Zapped Again...yes I said Zapped Again...You're scared aren't ya...just to make sure you don't step out of line again, I'm throwing in a couple of viewings of Tokyo Pop and Cookie....you've been warned madboy.....until next time....
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listen closely. . . are you listening? Leonard. . . Part. . . Six . . . . . Sleep tight.
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Linda Blair, when she was sexy! Now there's a movie taht's ripe for a remake!
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oooookay then. I have no response to that. I mean, you are most certainly entitled to your opinion, but we couldn't agree less. It's cool, I understand. Understand that you're a RAVING LUNATIC!!!! UGH, I HATED that movie. HATE HATE HATE!!!!!! OK, I'm sorry, I lost it there. SSzero, to each their own, please don't start flaming me over this. I mean, I'm one of the 4 people worldwide who thought Ishtar was funny, so what do I know. I mean, it was no Garbage Pail Kids, but. . .
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I'ma buss all yo heds open fo passin dis bulllllshit on. Rollerball is played. Can't top the Caan-man in the lead...sheeet, might as well put in Adam Sandler as the punkass numba 6.
Keep it real fo Fight Club,
Peeps out, rolande on the down low. -
Madboy....how dare you use Posse and GP kids in the same line....you worship the devil don't you....oh and good one with Leonard Part 6 but that is no All American Summer...If not you're not careful I;m gonna go get Mackenzie Astin and we're gonna get the magical trash pail and conjure some GP Kids on yo' ass...do you really want Ali Gator come after you....that's what I thought....
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Michael Madsen is blatantly the best actor to fit the 30ish rugged lead in rollerball. He plays hardcases in convincing fashion, and would do well in a more dark cruel version of the stellar original.
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Harry, I'm suprised you didn't get the reference in the script to that old show "The Prisoner". Jonathan being known only as #6, crushing the individual, etc... I have the same hopes and fears you expressed on this project!
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Rollerball is one of those movies that I saw as a kid and loved but never knew why.The best scene being moonpie being crippled by the japs,however, on a recent viewing I found myself fast forwarding through the boring corporate shit and just enjoying the game.That being said I'm sure they'll be talk about updating Logan's Run(Hell, I'm surprised there isn't one already)and on the subjuect of viruses...Why not a remake of the Andromeda Strain?That movie still gives me chills and the subject was sooo ahead of it's time.I'm sure the Hollywood touch will make the military the heroes instead of the scientists.And if not that,then someone get some balls and let Fincher or Ridley Scott direct Crisis In the Hotzone.It's the best horror novel I've ever read...even scarier when you realize that it's ALL FACT!!And to you naysayers, Outbreak (which was a blatant hack at CITHZ)was a piece of shit made for the same idiots who thought that "Sphere" was a brainy piece of sci-fi....Gee, there I go rambling again.Actually, don't be surprised if we here of a Mctiereman(sp?)and Bruce Willis re-teaming.
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Stop it, you're killing me here! I can't catch a breath! Don't make me sit you both down and force you to sit through my Joe Estevez film festival (including Soultaker and Werewolf).
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Oh, All American Summer, that's a fuckin' classic. I almost missed your post up there, and was wondering if you had turned tail on me. Don't make me bring up Yellowbeard, which I saw SEVEN times. In the theater, no that's not a joke. I'm so ashamed. . . But you continue your attempts to scare me, don't forget that you will suffer. O yes you will, when I tie you down, pour butter-flavored substitute down your throat and make you watch Action Jackson and the ENTIRE Angel series, yes #'s 1-4. And if that's not enough, we will continue on to Xanadu and. . . yes, fear me, child. . . MY DEMON LOVER!!!
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Well, Flmlvr, it's been real, but I gotta head home. If only my boss knew. . . anyway, just in case you think I am giving up, remember - mocking or threatening me will result in my busting out my Deadly Friend, which will in turn lead to Jumpin' Jack Flash. And if that doesn't scare you, perhaps Who's That Girl will. . . Feel free to shoot me more idle threats and I'll mock them tomorrow. until next time, MadBoy out.
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god DAMN, now i NEED to see the remake - directed by mctiernan, cage in the lead (if not cage, crowe...if not crowe, willis better get his ass into shape). i love the original (james caan was perfect) but you're right - it didn't fill in the blanks. that's kinda what made it cool - you were thrust into this fucked-up future world and had to pick up the gist as you went along - but it would be excellent to get some background on the corporate wars. hollywood had a chance to make a kickass violent-sport-as-metaphor-for-shit-society movie when stephen king's 'the running man' was published, but then it got turned into that schwarzenegger piece of shit. i wanna see 'rollerball 2000' noooowwwwwwww!!! (oh, and i realise he's not quite a-list enough for the lead, but i also think michael biehn would rock as player #6. we all in agreement? cool.)
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Did one of you bastards make fun of an Emily Lloyd movie up there? Don't make me break out my collection of Hello Larry episodes! After all... didn't you see A Clockwork Orange? (Man, I love Fled.)
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Sep 30, 1999 4:38:08 PM CDT
"THIS REALLY PISSES ME OFF, JACK BURTON!" LEONARDO Di CAPRIO AS
by uncapie
Okay, now you guys have had it! I breaking out my video collection of "Mr. Sunshine" the short lived tv series and "Sunset Grill" which starred Glenn Frye before they "permanently put the series on hiatus." after one episode. Bastards!
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Antonio Banderas as Jonathan... I can see the mangled English already. Seriously though, Cage would make the guy feminine and psycho somehow, Reeves would make him fruity, and Crowe will almost definitely turn it down because of Gladiator. My humble suggestion (gentleman, prepare to flame...): Brad Pitt. I think we will all be surprised at his draw and the offers he gets out of Fight Club. For those of you who have read the book, if he can pull of the lines that Tyler Durden speak with ease, he has my vote...
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My bran is muving faster than my hands cn type. Purists beware...
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ROLLERBALL, SOYLENT GREEN, THE OMEGA MAN, and The PLANET OF THE APES series were my favorite contemporary movies when I was a kid, when the ice cream man was somebody important. A new ROLLERBALL is the only reason I may ever have to pay to see George Clooney. Sorry to hear about your recent back problems, Harry.
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I can agree with the point that, to be old in this game, a player would have to be in their thirties, and that most atheletes USED to retire in the mid thirties. But, in sports across the board, that's not how it is anymore. Players today, due survive longer, raising the age median across the board. Just look at the most dangerous sport, boxing, and the age disparities existing there. If McTiernan doesn't want to use an older actor, than he better cast considerably younger actors around whoever he gets as Jonathan, or else he'll miss the point altogether, and that it's his longevity + ablitity that have made him a star, not just his game. Especially if he's going to have the fans only know him as a number, it has to be a number that would have been around for a while. Also, on a different note, let's not quote the book as resource. It's not even a novella, and we all can guess how close they're going to stick to the source material anyway. In the end, you have a choice of a generic male A-lister who is in his forties-fifties (Stallone, Arnold, Willis) surrounded by guys in there thirties, late twenties. Or, you have Keanu Reeves hanging out with the cast of Dawson's Creek in the Battlezone. By the way, I've got $20 that says they add a female player or two by the time they shoot. Either way, this project is shot in the foot from word go. Wrong guy calling the shots.
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Think about it!!!!
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.... whether the original was good or bad there is always something to overcome. We all have preconceptions about how Johnny E. should act, the kind of physique, age etc.
Really, if there hadn't been a previous version we wouldn't really care who the hell was cast as Jimmy E.
Those who loved the original will have a hard time accepting any contempory in the lead. James definately left some LARGE shoes to fill.
Leave all your prejudices, and preconceived notions at the door. You'll find it much easier to enjoy the film.
From what I can infer from Harry's notes. The spirit of Rollerball has translated to this new script. With a little luck, that should guarantee a GREAT remake!! -
We've recently completed a flash tribute page to future sports hero Jonathan E.
http://jonathan-e.homepage.com
Check it out sports fans! -
I guess this is the right idea, rather than updating a perfectly realized film, take a horrible film that ruined a decent premise. I'll give my personal guarantee this is one remake that will be better than the original
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You can remake a much better James Caan movie... The Killer Elite! Jimmy and Robert Duval as rival wet-works operators in a film directed by Sam Peckinpah. This movie has everything: Explosions, fast cars, and ninjas! Definitely a film waiting to be remade.
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You sick twisted bastard now I have pictures of James Caan, Keanu Reeves, and Russel Crowe playing nude Rollerball in my head! Yeccccccchhhhhhhhhhh!
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I think my post came out wrong. I was just kidding around. If it pissed you off, I take it back. Indeed, I don't like Posse, I just saw it a couple of weeks ago, and I still dislike it. The ranting part of my post was strictly a joke. Hey, you're talking to a guy who liked Ishtar, right? I mean, how much judgement can I possibly pass. Anyway, the post wasn't meant to be a personal criticism. Humble apologies form MadBoy. Anyway, on to this Rollerball thing. I think that whoever suggested Brad Pitt has a pretty good idea. I think Pitt in 12 MOnkeys or Fight Club mode could pull it off. The other fellow who'd be a good choice would of course be Russell Crowe, he'd be my first pick. In fact, I should be in this movie. MadBoy, the mad towel boy. With Pisso the Locker Room Shower Clown as my sidekick.
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the spot that ran on TV for Rollerball? (it probably also ran in theaters, but I was too young to go to those types of movies). It started with that cool Beethoven scary music..."In the not too distant future, wars will no longer exist, but there will be......ROLLERBALL!" Now that was WAY COOL! Man, I wanted to see that movie. Who out there shared the feeling?
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I'm only a college graduate.
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Rollerball was a boring movie. It was one of the most boring movies i've seen. What that movie needs is an edit.. Of everything but the game. What about a remake of The Running Man that more follows the Steven King Novella. That would be cool. As for everybody getting pessimistic in talkback. That's counter revolutionary. What we need is a sign you know that everyone can be friends. You know like an antinegativity picture like a flower or something where we could look at it and say "This is a true place of friendship and understanding where we can exchange ideas in a non destructive manner" because what is going down now is not cool. We all have feelings and it's not good to have them hurt. You know the internet is a great thing. All you have to do is be positive and you can make someones day. All it takes is a little something extra in your posts like: I feel what you have to say is really important. Thanks for hearing me out.
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'cuz that arnie one was pure trash, man. they need to do that shit right. the rollerball thing sounds cool, though. but no michael madsen, dude is a one-note hack. i'll give his res. dogs, but not much else.
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Comeout comeout where ever you are! That's right I'm back. First off you GP kids bashing fiend....I actually (sadly I may add) own a copy of My Demon Lover (There u go again bashing Family Ties alumini), so if you're not careful I'll make sure thats all you see when you turn on your T.V.....plus if you continue to threaten me....to no avail I may add, I will be forced to call out my secret weapon...yes that's right....I will hook you up with a date....what date you ask...."Date with an Angel"....so you best be careful....oh I'll see you at Drive me Crazy this weekend....
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You're asking for trouble, m'man. You keep it up, and I'll scare you so bad you won't be able to sleep through the night. Night of the COMET, that is. That's right, and you'll lie there, hoping I won't follow through with my threats of loop after loop of Under a Cherry Moon. NO way do you own my demon lover, you're fuckin' whacko, i love it. And if that don't scare you, there's always my boy Patrick Dempsey, and Loverboy will take you down.
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but i'll be back. and before i go, i want to leave with some candy, that's right some special candy. maybe some m & m's - MAID TO ORDER AND MY CHAUFFEUR!!! EAT THAT!!
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...huh...Loverboy is great 80's cheese....and u know it...don't lie...and well I'm at it Can't buy me love is another good one...saw that it the theatres, double feature with Labamba...and Happy together is bad in a good way...if you wanna continue to make fun of 80's chesse you will be forced to watch Action Jackson, Over the Top, yes the hulk hogan film, and for equally sick fun...I will throw in the hideous Karate Kid 3, and the 90's entry of Next Karate Kid....you know it's getting really hard to think of bad 80's flicks...and by the freakin' way I wasn't hiding under a rock, I wuz stuck at work...so keep talking and you will be watching the goonies rip-off...russkies....
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...mmmm half that candy was yummy....Maid to order....saw it in the theatres...yep I'm a sad sad individual....but you know what Madboy I got some tasty candy for you...how does a Jon Cryer marathon sound to you....yep that's right an afternoon with ducky....we'll start off the day with a a little Hiding out...then move on to a little Morgan Stewarts coming home....and to wrap out the day we'll switch gears from Cryer and move on to a movie that was filmed at my High School...the classic Just One of the Boys...oh and cuz I'm cruel I'll throw in a lost gem called Girls just wanna have fun....anyways I gotta go to...by the time I'm back you'll have probably bailed from work...so have a good weekend madboy....as always sleep tight with visions of Tony Danza movies in your head...talk to you on Monday.....
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Everyone is invited to my place for the 80's movie marathon to end all 80's movie marathons. What's playing you say, well I'm glad you asked.**********First up the Police Academy series, skipping the first rather lacklustre effort in favour of the pure unadulterated glory that began with Police Academy 2 and just got better and better with each film (how many films series can claim that?). And if thats not exciting enough then this will really blow your socks off, the entire Howling series (once again with the exception of the crap original film...Dick Miller you should be ashamed of yourself), and then, yes thats right film fans it's on to a back to back showing of the American Ninja series, every damn one of them including the much loved spinoffs where characters that have a habit of getting killed are magically resurrected only to be killed again (sweet or what?). That will be swiftly followed by the highly praised Deathstalker series, thats right all four of them, together and uninterupted...excited yet? Well we're not done yet, there's still Son Of The Pink Panther, Jaws The Revenge (go Michael Caine!), Space Mutiny and it's all capped off with 3 back to back and nonstop showings of Lets Get Harry! (thats not a threat by the way), who can forget this classic starring such greats as Mark Harmon, Glenn Frey, Rick Rossovich, Robert Duvall (what's he doing in a great film like this one? Bloody hack) and Gary Busey with his frequent threats to 'have you on a stick'...ah, cinema bliss.
**********So come one, come all, and see a selection of the greatest films of not just the 80's but of all time! Bring your friends and teach them to hate you, bring your enemies and remind them why they hate you, bring yourself and wonder why, Why, WHY??? And stay tuned for my nineties movie marathon featuring such greats of modern cinema as Kazaam!, Cop and A Half, Species 2 and the word famous Trancers fest (as usual skipping the pesky crap original film and starting right at the superior Trancers 2). Not enough Tim Thomerson for you? Then how about Dollman, followed by Dollman versus Demonic Toys, then the original Demonic Toys, followed by Bad Channels and then the Puppet Master back to back festival. You have to be there for this one folks...coming to an asylum near you real soon. -
. . . and now you got it!! That's right, Next of Kin will bring you in, baby, yes that beautiful Saywze vehicle, and if that's not enough I'll bust out Roadhouse. And if you're feeling a little scientific, there's always My Science Project, with a little Big Top Pee-Wee thrown in for good measure.
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Harry, I was struck by your writeup of "Rollerball". I think we're about the same age, and I don't know if it's the times we grew up in or something, but when I want to get scared I watch "The Howling" or "Dead and Buried", but when I want to get truly frightened about the world it's "Rollerball" and "Brazil". Your writeup hit the nail on the head, but as far as the tree burning scene, I recommend you watch the film again if you haven't recently. I did, and it's a different movie for me in terms of seeing how that corporate society works.
Anyway, about your Rollerball casting idea: You mentioned an older actor. I got the impression from the original that James Caan wasn't supposed to be that old. Here's a concept; use a Mark Wahlberg or someone obviously young and surround them with teenagers (not like "Solarbabies", but more like Lord of the Flies). The idea being that the kids are basically labeled from the _womb_ as to what they will be (hell, we can practically do that now) and they just don't last very long in the world of the rink. They start in the minors at, say, eight, go to the pros at sixteen and are
usually dead or permanently crippled by twenty-one (due to the violence of the game and the fact that everyone on that rink is genetically predispositioned for such combat, but the idea occurs to me of a little Haley Joel Osment who's forced on to the rink as a clerical error which noone challenges). With life so easily categorized and no need for education (which eats up twelve otherwise productive years), it becomes completely disposable, and so a twenty-four-year-old Rollerball player is practially the same as proof of the existence
of artificial intelligence would be now: a wonder. The corporate society encourages hero worship because to idealize the exploits of another helps obsure the lack of meaning in one's own life.
The other possibility is that Johnathan is _young_ and everyone else is old, really old, because of medical techniques that can rebuild them and keep them going ad infinitum. Players could be sixty, seventy, even eighty or ninety, kept going by transplants, grafts and genetic manipulation. Most are completely insane after decades of being killed/mutilated and then being patched up and sent back out, and the young phenomenon who plays with real style and heart captures everyone's imagination.
Whatever you think of my ideas, I'm sure McTiernan will find a way to rewrite the beauty out of it and wind up with "Die Hard on Skates" (in which case, I have two words: Jackie Chan! Jackie Chan!). But if you ever wind up with a movie studio, Harry, you should think about that.
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Any Questions
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what wuz the point of that post?
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I have always enjoyed Rollerball. I like much of that classic mid-range stuff like Omega Man, etc. This is my humble suggestion for insuring a really cool movie. To me this is obvious.
Jonathan does have to be older for the movie to make sense. I agree. That's why Arnold is perfect for the lead. He also has the build, drawing power, and some say ability.
I say no to McTiernan. Verhoeven gets the job instead. So Poledouris gets to do the score now. I have always seen Nicholson as Mr. Bartholomew. Reeves can be Moon Pie/Catnip but we would never work it into the budget. Charlie Sheen can sub I guess.
Take it to the bank! Make it so, Number 6!
Jetboy
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