This is in many ways a film that is very typical for its kind in the late 60s and the 70s it is a relative of "2001: A Space Odyssey", "Fahrenheit 451", "Silent
Running", "Logan's Run" and "Death Race 2000". It is a social critical science fiction movie masked as straight action/sci-fi. First for the good things: It is a thought provoking movie with some riveting Rollerball action sequences, it is well played and well made with a non-standard classical organ score. The flip side is a middle section, that although it does offer thought-provoking look at a future dystopia is sagging badly. The design is as minimalistic as in "Fahrenheit 451", making it clear that this movie was made on a shoestring budget (which
explains the padding in the middlesection). I feel it is too early to make a remake of this movie for the sake of updating it technologicly or otherwise, it is simply not needed, "Rollerball" is still a very stingy critical sci-fi movie that's hitting home. A remake is however required to make the ultimate "Rollerball" movie,
with a healthy budget, allowing "Rollerball" to rise above minimalism and
deliver in the crisp & crunchy Rollerball game department. Rollerball 2002 was a dud, so this is still a challenge for a gutsy studio and director. For all its shortcomings the original "Rollerball" is an above average movie holding up
very well even today. 7/10
Running", "Logan's Run" and "Death Race 2000". It is a social critical science fiction movie masked as straight action/sci-fi. First for the good things: It is a thought provoking movie with some riveting Rollerball action sequences, it is well played and well made with a non-standard classical organ score. The flip side is a middle section, that although it does offer thought-provoking look at a future dystopia is sagging badly. The design is as minimalistic as in "Fahrenheit 451", making it clear that this movie was made on a shoestring budget (which
explains the padding in the middlesection). I feel it is too early to make a remake of this movie for the sake of updating it technologicly or otherwise, it is simply not needed, "Rollerball" is still a very stingy critical sci-fi movie that's hitting home. A remake is however required to make the ultimate "Rollerball" movie,
with a healthy budget, allowing "Rollerball" to rise above minimalism and
deliver in the crisp & crunchy Rollerball game department. Rollerball 2002 was a dud, so this is still a challenge for a gutsy studio and director. For all its shortcomings the original "Rollerball" is an above average movie holding up
very well even today. 7/10