Rollerball (1975) (Standard [SOLD OUT] + Encore Editions) (Limited Edition)

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

A bit surprising, I would have thought this would be far more likely from Shout.

Oh, hell-yeah. They're just not doing their job on the 70's cult classics.

Originally Posted by cine74

Never saw Rollerball but doesn't it share a similar plot with 1987's The Running Man, and even Hunger Games?

Uh, yes AND no...
Welcome to post-Nixon 70's-era pre-SW sci-fi, when everyone was pessimistic and dystopia had to have Social Meaning.
Of the examples mentioned, it's a bit like Hunger Games, only not so CW and whiny-teeny (like the remake):
Corporations have now completely replaced politics, all public needs are handed out as bread-and-circuses by "the Corporations", and Rollerball is the said circus, as official sports conglomerate and replacement for war.
But...can you just eliminate man's violent nature out of "enlightened" society so easily? Exec John Houseman seems to be removing more and more of the safety regulations out of the game for ratings, especially now that star-athlete James Caan is starting to ask questions....

Which's why I'm hoping they ported the Norman Jewison commentary over from the MGM DVD--
Without it, it's all a bit 70's silly (you probably wouldn't understand why the bored partygoers start shooting trees), but once you have the theme/plot developments put all in context, the final climactic no-rules game turns into a nailbiter.
You can keep yer Apes and Logan's Run, this is the first one I think of for "70's sci-fi".

[mar3o]

What a shame. I've been waiting and hoping for this one but there's no way I'm paying $35 for this title. I hate this company. It does nothing good for the fans or the blu-ray industry. It just creates a few thousand collectibles for scalpers to sell on Ebay.

[Flex Mentallo]

Eff the Twilight Time haters. Let 'me stick to their so-called principals. Me, I'm pre-ordering this mothertrucker day one.

Hell. I hope they get Robot Jox from MGM. Definitely an awesome double feature right there.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Oh, hell-yeah. They're just not doing their job on the 70's cult classics.



Uh, yes AND no...
Welcome to post-Nixon 70's-era pre-SW sci-fi, when everyone was pessimistic and dystopia had to have Social Meaning.
Of the examples mentioned, it's a bit like Hunger Games, only not so CW and whiny-teeny (like the remake):
Corporations have now completely replaced politics, all public needs are handed out as bread-and-circuses by "the Corporations", and Rollerball is the said circus, as official sports conglomerate and replacement for war.
But...can you just eliminate man's violent nature out of "enlightened" society so easily? Exec John Houseman seems to be removing more and more of the safety regulations out of the game for ratings, especially now that star-athlete James Caan is starting to ask questions....

Which's why I'm hoping they ported the Norman Jewison commentary over from the MGM DVD--
Without it, it's all a bit 70's silly (you probably wouldn't understand why the bored partygoers start shooting trees), but once you have the theme/plot developments put all in context, the final climactic no-rules game turns into a nailbiter.
You can keep yer Apes and Logan's Run, this is the first one I think of for "70's sci-fi".

Rollerball is a bit dated but its still a great example of 70s dystopia. Id rate it a little under Planet of the Apes and a bit above Logan's Run myself. Why this one is taking so long to get a proper mainstream release is beyond me.

[mdonovan]

Hate the business model of TT ... But this one is a day one for me.

[rkolinski]

TT business model doesn't bother me at all; I'll be happy to order this day one!

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by rkolinski

TT business model doesn't bother me at all; I'll be happy to order this day one!

Exactly. For those who think TT prices are too high.... Don't do business with them. It is your choice. I own about a dozen TT titles... and no regrets about the price. I can watch Journey to the Center of the Earth anytime I want. That is worth 30 bucks to me. And I will purchase Rollerball when it becomes available.

[Skippy Bibble]

Originally Posted by Pirate King

Exactly. For those who think TT prices are too high.... Don't do business with them. It is your choice. I own about a dozen TT titles... and no regrets about the price. I can watch Journey to the Center of the Earth anytime I want. That is worth 30 bucks to me. And I will purchase Rollerball when it becomes available.

I too bought Journey to the Center of the Earth, Mysterious Island, and Fright Night from TT, but I have to wonder something.

Would I have still bought them versus buying the HD versions on iTunes for at least half the price?
$15 versus $30+ is tempting...

[Millibar]

I saw this on its release and was really shocked at the violence and moral outlook.

I'm guessing it will come over as pretty tame by today's standards.

I'm not thrilled about the TT pricing but if it means getting a long forgotten title on Blu ray then so be it.

I wasn't aware of TT when Christine was released and if I could nab it for £30 now I wouldn't give it a second thought

[jetthead]

I will DEFINITELY be purchasing a copy.

I have no problem with TT's business model. The higher price has kept me from buying some titles that I have an interest in but when it's a film that I absolutely LOVE (The Big Heat, Body Double), I will shell out for it.

[kidglov3s]

I hate TT's prices... I'd almost assuredly buy this if I was still stuck with the awful US DVD, I imported the SE from the UK and it's a marked improvement. I hope there is an affordable region free import option. This, along with something like 1776, would be one of the few to actually get me to order from TT but it feels like extortion. Trying to **** with the market.

[Mr Kite]

Absolute 100% day one for me. This is one film I have waited years to see on Blu. I would have loved for Arrow to have a go on this one but hey beggars can't be choosers.
I have pestered some labels (as some will Know ) for a Blu release and now it's going to happen.

[HotRats]

William Harrison's original story Roller Ball Murder is worth a read and he did a decent commentary on the UK DVD, I wouldn't like to raise false hope but Arrow will soon release The Long Goodbye which is an MGM title so Rollerball could theoretically be possible I suppose.

I remember seeing the huge hoarding for this in Carnaby Street when the film came out, it was enough to persuade me to see it. It usually played with Death Race 2000 as a double bill in Britain.

At about the same time as Rollerball Gary K Wolf wrote a book called Killerbowl which had plastered all over the front "Deadlier Than Rollerball!", its a day long match of American football played on the streets with weapons and a sniper for each team. I'm surprised it was never filmed

[Akijama]

Here's a suggestion to mods. Delete the last sixteen (or so) posts since they're off topic. Express concerns over TT business model at TT thread.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

it's called having principles...
it's friggin ridiculous to be paying almost $35 for a catalog title with usually no extras....
funny thing is I would have no problem paying $20, many people here want catalog titles for $5..... I don't mind paying a reasonable price for movies, but this is just WRONG....

Sometimes you have to forget about your principles and do the right thing.

Rollerball (1975) is a film I'd happily pay $35 for.

If I were hospitalised for a month and missed the pre-order and could only buy it by paying £70 on ebay, I'd do that, too.

Obviously I'd rather pay £2.35, or with an amulet made of cats' teeth, but there you go.

Steve W

[whiteberry]

Originally Posted by Akijama

Here's a suggestion to mods. Delete the last sixteen (or so) posts since they're off topic. Express concerns over TT business model at TT thread.

You need to use the ignore user feature otherwise the TT threads are unreadable.

[Filmmaker]

Seriously, NO ONE wins in a TT thread. The haters trot out the same tired dead horse diatribes. Every. Single. Time. while the supporters, like me (I'm buying ROLLERBALL day one, with a smile and a "thank you very much, TT!"), have to wade through mountains of boo-hoo's just to find one or two people similarly happy about the opportunity to own a great film. I truly wish the moderators would create a solitary "Why I Hate Twilight Time" thread that all the crybabies would be forced to chase their tails in and leave these title-specific threads unsullied by their same-ol', same-ol'.

[kidglov3s]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Seriously, NO ONE wins in a TT thread. The haters trot out the same tired dead horse diatribes. Every. Single. Time. while the supporters, like me (I'm buying ROLLERBALL day one, with a smile and a "thank you very much, TT!"), have to wade through mountains of boo-hoo's just to find one or two people similarly happy about the opportunity to own a great film. I truly wish the moderators would create a solitary "Why I Hate Twilight Time" thread that all the crybabies would be forced to chase their tails in and leave these title-specific threads unsullied by their same-ol', same-ol'.

I guess I'm new to these threads, this is the first time TT snared a film I really care about. Won't be posting about it again.

[Monroville]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

and yet here's a ton of people that all seem perfectly okay to pay over $30 for a zero featured catalog title....
am I in the Twilight Zone? this doesn't make sense to me...

No... you are in the Twilight Time Zone.

[kidglov3s]

I guess I'm happy you guys brought it up because I hadn't considered the perspective of a TT fan, and how I guess the truly repetitive years old complaints come across. All I could think about was being bummed to learn that I might have to pay more for a movie I love on Blu-ray than I hoped I would.