Rollerball (2002)

From the director of Die Hard comes this high-octane thriller that roars along at a breakneck pace (Los Angeles Times)! Starring Chris Klein (American Pie), Jean Reno (Ronin), LL Cool J (Charlie's Angels) and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (X-Men), Rollerball goes full-throttle with excitement from its death-defying opening until its explosive end! Jonathan Cross (Klein) is the newest recruit in the most extreme sport of all time where his fast moves and killer looks make him an instant superstar. But Cross life in the fast lane collides with reality when he learns that the league's owner (Reno) is orchestrating serious on-court accidents to boost ratings. Now Cross plans to take down the owner and his ruthless sport before the game puts an end to him!

So why remake rollerball?

The brave new world isn't about 'fake' blood and
stunt-men...Rollerball is a deadly contact sport
even simulated for the camera. Sort of a dirtier
version of world wrestling and it appears the
other reviewers don't have a stomach for
telling it like it is becoming.
Violence and sex in the media has gotten all out of hand
and this remake shows the level of escalation?
The Romans had bread, gladiatorial games and circuses,
we have TV. American social decline recorded in video for all
the generations to come to see? I think maybe vampire movies
and this one have a common ground of
blood drinking? August 17, 2008

One of the Most Terrible Remakes in Film History

In this terrible remake of 1975 film, Jean Reno plays an "evil" owner and manager of violent sports (or entertainment if you like) called "Rollerball." Just like a cross between rollerskating and ice hockey, people all over the world are excited watching the thrilling games - well, he wants it that way. No enters Chris Klein's character that soon becomes a new hero of the circuit, but he realizes that some heinous plot is going on when one of his teammates got heavily injured by receiving a big iron ball in the face.

Well, that is the film's story, sort of. Actually, nothing really makes sense in those badly edited "game scenes" where players are seen hitting each other rollerskating, and motorcycles with howling engines stumbling on the rink (and one of the riders is beautiful Rebecca Romijn-Stamos from "X-Men" but you cannot recognize her ... again.) To be honest, I had no idea of what is going on and I'm afraid you won't either. Rules? Sorry, I thought there was an introductory part about them, but I stopped caring as the film got more and more incredible.

The original "Rollerball" a cult film by Norman Jewison, knew what it wanted by drawing the bleak vision of our near future and its actions are still refreshing and exciting to see. But this remake most unaccountably ignores the tone of the original's futuristic society and stays content just showing meaninglessly violent stunts. The film remains pointless throughout I thought as it has no drama not even a decent story and no character. The game scenes look terribly bland. In fact they look dull compared with what we can see on some cable TV programs.

To be fair, there are some good action scenes like opening skateboarding race or bike chasing in the midnight. But strangely they have virtually nothing to with the premise of the film, game of the title. Chris Klein is good and Jean Reno is just OK, but the latter's charisma seen in such great films as "The Professional" cannot be found here. And most strangely this thrill-free film is directed by John Mcteirnan of thrilling action film "Die Hard." July 8, 2008

Pathetic

Rollerball in name only. While the original 1975 production was intelligent Science Fiction mixed with action and a touch of intrigue this sequel is nothing but garbage. To compare the two is like saying the first was a Rembrandt while this is urban scrawled graffiti.

A great movie from 1975 dumbed down to suit the ethnically urbanized pseudo gangsters that make up the majority of todays youth sub culture. There's good reason that there are hundreds of this Rollerball movie being sold for a penny on Amazon and Ebay while the 1975 version still demands a fair price.

Talk about living in a dystopic future society. With movies coming out that cater only to the sub culture niche of wanna be "gangsta's" and their hip hop mentality, it's becoming obvious that we ARE living in a dystopic society. This movie was trash. November 3, 2007

Good Movie

The movie was in great shape and it was shipped the next day, Thank you July 25, 2007

ugh

Read teh first 4 reviewers, they are totally on point. This is a stinker that they tried to salvage by putting Rebecca in pleather, it doesn't work. January 14, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...