Rollerball: The Box Office BOMB That Landed Its Director in Jail

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Rollerball: The Box Office BOMB That Landed Its Director in Jail

Рет қаралды 168,970

Күн бұрын

In today's episode, we'll be discussing the 2002 remake of "Rollerball" directed by John McTiernan.
Video Clip Sources:
Rollerball Promo - • Video
Rollerball Stunts Featurette - • Future Sport: The Stun...
APA with Rollerball Cast vs Booker T and Test - • APA with rollerball ca...
Booker T and LL Cool J Heated Exchange Words WWE - • booker t and ll cool j...
In 1999, John McTiernan signed on to direct a remake of the 1975 movie "Rollerball" directed by Norman Jewison (originally written by William Harrison). The remake starred Chris Klein (American Pie, Election, We Were Soldiers), LL Cool J (Halloween H20, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Charlies Angels), Rebecca Romijn (X-Men, X2, X-Men First Class, Austin Powers, Dirty Work), Jean Reno (Leon The Professional, Flyboys, Da Vinci Code), and Naveen Andrews (Lost, Grindhouse). The original script for the movie was very similar to the 1975 Rollerball, but expanded upon it with bigger set pieces and more of a focus on dystopian themes. The script received multiple revisions, and in it's final form, focused mostly on the sport of Rollerball with very little social commentary. When shown to test audiences, the film received an extremely negative reaction, so United Artists and MGM advised John McTiernan to re-shoot and re-edit portions of the film. The movie was delayed, and eventually released in February of 2002. Critics and audiences despised the film, and it has since been disowned by John McTiernan. Years after the movie released, an investigation involving Anthony Pellicano (Sin Eater: The Crimes of Anthony Pellicano on FX) revealed that John McTiernan hired him to wiretap and listen in on Charles Roven, producer of Rollerball. After a lengthy investigation and trial, John McTiernan was sentenced to federal prison in 2010 - and was jailed a few years later in 2013. After his release, John directed several short promos for the video game "Ghost Recon Wildlands", and is set to direct his first film in over 20 years, very soon.
Music (in order):
The Drop - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Miami Sky - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Countach - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Melt - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Seeking - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Twin Gods - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Miami 1983 - Karl Casey ‪@WhiteBatAudio‬
Pufino - Getaway ‪@FreeToUseMusic‬
Mixkit - Ambient (outro music)
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Music track: Getaway by Pufino
Source: freetouse.com/...
Music for Videos (Free Download)
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Video Chapters:
Intro 0:00
Rollerball (1975) 0:53
Remaking Rollerball 2:27
Original script vs "Idiocracy" 3:27
Production begins on "Rollerball" (2002) 4:25
Re-edits and re-shoots 5:59
Jump cuts and infamous night vision scene 6:51
Positives of "Rollerball" / Box Office Bomb 7:20
FBI Investigation / Director charged 7:54
Wiretap scandal 9:14
Director's reasoning for wiretap 10:18
John McTiernan prison sentence / return to feature films 11:00
Future of "Rollerball" / Outro 11:15
#Rollerball #LLCoolJ #2000s

Пікірлер: 614

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

*FYI: This video originally had a clip from an episode of WWE Smackdown, where LL Cool J, Chris Klein, and Rebecca Romijn appeared at an event to promote the Rollerball remake. WWE copyright claimed my video because of that clip, so there's a weird jump cut at **7:44** where I had to cut the clip out with KZfaq's editor tool (ironically, seconds after I criticized the Rollerball remake for having weird jump cuts 😅)* Watch the movies discussed (free on tubi): • Rollerball (1975) - tubitv.com/movies/305835/rollerball • Rollerball (2002) - tubitv.com/movies/389845/rollerball • and if you really hate yourself, Futuresport (1998) - tubitv.com/movies/468467/futuresport

@iwasanangryyoungman 10 ай бұрын

No wonder…you even land cameos from Shane McMahon and Jim Ross Can’t get any more WWE brand centric than that

@ianwestc 10 ай бұрын

That's bullshit. That would absolutely be allowed under fair use.

@MediaPastimes 10 ай бұрын

vince need his munny 💰🤑

@JohnnyPaycheck69 8 ай бұрын

This movie ruined Chris Kleins carrer he had to make hallmark movies after this and tge AP sequels😂.

@jptrostle3275 7 ай бұрын

Yeah, this is just greed. A short clip like that in a critique definitely falls under fair use. And, ok, embarrassment that they were caught promoting Rollerball 2002. ;) (Not on the same level but with the same level of blinkered corporate greed: the award-winning multi-part documentary "Eyes on the Prize" couldn't be aired for over 20 YEARS because a couple of record labels were demanding millions in royalties for songs that were playing on radio in the background during archive interviews with some of the leaders of the civil rights movement. They eventually relented when execs were called out for their greed and racism.)

@baxterwilson368 Жыл бұрын

I worked at a theater when this came out and my co-workers and I had a field day tearing it apart at the screening. It holds a special place in my heart. I miss the early 2000s.

@Popcultureguy3000 11 ай бұрын

Were your coworkers three small robots, one with a bird like beak and a radar antenna on its head, another with a Gumball machine dome for a forehead, and the last one a purple snake like robot?

@graememceachren1118 10 ай бұрын

@@Popcultureguy3000MST 3K. I miss it.

@Popcultureguy3000 10 ай бұрын

@@graememceachren1118 …. It just got a new season last year and into this year. It’s still pretty uneven, but it’s been better than the previous two revival seasons. Munchy deserves every jab at it’s hideous uncanny valley stiff rubber face. They really had no excuse, even for a low budget picture.

@John.Angell Жыл бұрын

The story of John McTiernan is crazy. To think he directed 2 of the best action films ever made but is an obscure name all these years later.

@jasonblalock4429 Жыл бұрын

And *The Hunt For Red October* is also a damn good movie, on par with Predator and Die Hard. Its only 'problem' is that it's so closely tied to cold war politics that it's kind of a relic these days, so I don't think as many people have seen it lately.

@mattjindrak Жыл бұрын

Just goes to show that trying is pointless.

@theblobconsumes4859 11 ай бұрын

4 of the best. Die Hard 1 and With A Vengeance, and Predator. And then The Hunt For Red October. Great films, all of them

@ToxicNeon 11 ай бұрын

Idk about you but the 13th warrior was really good too.

@theblobconsumes4859 11 ай бұрын

@@ToxicNeon Yeah, pretty enjoyable.

@bob7975 Жыл бұрын

The original has 0 graphic effects. The ball is real, it's made of steel, and most of the actors are doing their own stunts. Hard to duplicate, and impossible to surpass.

@valentien9042 Жыл бұрын

I thought this movie was badass

@TheMrRobert Жыл бұрын

Steel? 😂

@Jan-hx9rw Жыл бұрын

They filmed the original movie in Munich Germany while I was stationed 30 miles away in the US Army. They came up to our base and advertised they wanted a bunch of US troops in civilian clothes as extras to shout and whoop it up. One of my neighbors made $50 and free lunch for a day, and since monthly pay for his rank was $550, it was kind of a huge amount of cash for one day of doofing around and drinking,

@jmalmsten Жыл бұрын

Hard, yes. Impossible? No, nothing is impossible. But I think it would need a madman like Verhoeven to pull it off at the time. I'm not sure however who, in today's market, would have the necessary Hard R sensibilities and mastery of satire needed to pull it off.

@jacksonjacob7791 11 ай бұрын

The original movie was really good. James Caan was in some excellent movies back then.

@dirtnastyish Жыл бұрын

They goofed it when they wrote out the dystopian society, that's what gave Rollerball meaning. Kind of like how Running Man was about an ultraviolent TV show, but the real meaning was that the larger society was sick. Plus it would have been cool to have another entry in that strange rollerblading-meets-dystopian-society microgenre(Prayer of the Rollerboys, Solarbabies, etc.)

@hendog5667 Жыл бұрын

Yeah didnt they just make it like normal eastern europe instead lmao

@mikepalmer2219 Жыл бұрын

Yes it was the whole point of the movie. Destroy the individual and make no one special. It’s a great story in my opinion.

@graphixkillzzz Жыл бұрын

prayer of the rollerboys inspired me to rollerblade harder and basically caused my entire childhood from about 12 to 20 as a hardcore street skater 🤷

@alexmartin3143 Жыл бұрын

Jeez… Rollerboys and Solarbabies… It’s like I’m 13 again…

@RichV20 Жыл бұрын

They didnt have to make a dystopian Rollerball again. The had an interesting location, Central Asia and the former Soviet Union breakaway republics. They could have focused more on that and embellished the mysterious, chaotic, mobster, oligarch Central Asia society of a near future there. It hints at it, but then focuses on eXtreme stunts and nonsense. This had potential. BORAT actually succeeded in making Kazakhstan look like a deranged, backwards country that this film could've mined for dramatic purposes.

@XAllelujahXxx Жыл бұрын

I watched Rollerball several times as a kid. I genuinely cannot tell you what happens.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

This is a better review than any other, because it’s so damn true.

@dwaneanderson8039 Жыл бұрын

I watched it once as an adult. Couldn't tell you what happens either.

@guybeleeve Жыл бұрын

The only thing I remember is the black guy gets killed off.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

@@guybeleeve His name is LL Cool J, but his legal name is "Ladies Love Cool James". Have some respect.

@Roger-hp1yg Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimesit's to bad they put him in B movies. All though I gotta say Deep Blue Saw was a cool movie lol.hecwas in that movie.

@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 Жыл бұрын

Between this and Street Fighter: the legend of chun li, Chris Klein didn’t have the smartest of career moves

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

It's wild that he was discovered in a high school while the director of "Election" was doing a location scout, too. His acting definitely improved over the years, but he was pretty bland in this movie.

@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimes yeah I do like him, he is kind of a poor man’s Keanu reeves tho

@screenwriterjohn Жыл бұрын

He's a generic white guy. He's like Ronald Reagan in that he's a decent actor and well behaved on set.

@KenMasters. Жыл бұрын

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 The only things Chris Klein has that Charlie Nash has: Being a 6'1" American... That's all!

@jeremysiron9622 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, Hollywood was very unforgiving at that time if up-and-coming stars had a couple bombs, Jamie Kennedy had the same problem. Couldn’t even get a gig after “Son of the Mask“…..

@evertonporter7887 Жыл бұрын

The British comic 2000AD had a strip called Harlem Heroes, also set in the future, featuring a game called Aeroball, which is inspired by the movie Rollerball. It's later incarnation, Inferno, is much darker. It's well worth checking out.

@ComicBookGuy420 Жыл бұрын

2000AD was badass

@salvagedb2470 Жыл бұрын

That was a great Strip , the Artwork was awesome.

@8bitsnkboy472 Жыл бұрын

@evertonporter7887 The British comic Action (not to be confused with DC's famous publication) featured an earlier Rollerball inspired sport called spinball, in the comic strip deathgame 1999 (beginning in issue 13 on the 8th of May 1976). The strip was drawn by several artists, some of who later worked on 2000AD including Massimo Bellardinelli (who contributed to the afore mentioned Inferno strip) and Ian Gibson (judge dredd, robohunter, halo jones etc.). It's certainly as dark as the later strips, with the teams consisting of prisoners fighting for their lives - The UK's Action comic was famously banned and pulled from the shelves in November 1976 over concerns regarding the 'lurid' depiction of violence in it's pages.

@cane6074 Жыл бұрын

Harlem Heroes also takes place in the Judge Dredd universe, one of the main characters son becomes Judge.

@steviewolfeofficial 11 ай бұрын

You know it's kinda nuts how much stuff 2000ad inspired

@Particulator Жыл бұрын

I never saw this movie but as a sign company employee at the time, I've made a few props for it. We produced two giant full size banners of the Horsemen team, the red white and black with the triangle at the bottom. Each was around 16-18 feet wide by 80 high. We also applied only the horse head of the logo, again giant size, to the tail of a Hercules Canadian Air Force transport plane, that one I won't forget.

@Lamtitude Жыл бұрын

John McTiernan was a phenomenal director. It’s a shame we didn’t get more from him in the last 20 years.

@vengeanceconscious9774 Жыл бұрын

Nvm I got him confused with tony Scott

@vengeanceconscious9774 Жыл бұрын

John mctiernan is an excellent director, I agree it’s a shame

@j3i2i2yl7 Жыл бұрын

What I liked about the origional was a world ruled by oligarchs viewed by a well- meaning musclehead, as he slowly saw how the world was controlled. The action was great, but the message was captured in one chilling exchange: Doctor: Sir, there are rules! Johnathan E: No there aren't. There aren't any rules at all.

@defiraphi 10 ай бұрын

Same as the movie Death Race 2000 starring Caradine & Stallone or the original Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston which somehow had the same messages .

@cidrain Жыл бұрын

I worked at a theater when Rollerball came out. We had a notice at the box office stating that the night vision scene was intentional and that there was nothing wrong with the print.

@zaphodthenth Жыл бұрын

The reason the Powers That Be wanted Jonathan E. to retire is because Rollerball had been created to emphasize that INDIVIDUAL actions were less important than combined efforts- Like the Multicorporations worked- which is why killing an opponent was legal. Johnathan E. disproved this, which the Executives hated. The remake was far inferior to the original and was about a "Blood" sport in another country: And to liven up the game the organizers were sabotaging the games in order to cause "Accidents" that could claim the lives of the players. This remake was badly made and the brief bare boobed scene only lowered the movie further.

@LTPottenger Жыл бұрын

The powers that be wanted McTiernan to retire, too, and got their wish.

@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 4 ай бұрын

What are you an incel lol

@zaphodthenth 4 ай бұрын

@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 No. Just someone who won't watch bad remakes like this one.

@Formakiwi Жыл бұрын

McTeirnan has to be by far the finest director to have so many enormous flops on his CV: Rollerball (2002) joins Last Action Hero (1993) and The 13th Warrior (1999) as one of the cosliest bombs of all time, and the one that finally sunk the career of the man who gave us proper unvarnished action classics like Die Hard (1988) and Predator (1987).

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s unfortunate because I actually really like “Last Action Hero”, it was ahead of its time.

@docphill Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimes It didn't help that Last Action Hero released during the same time Jurassic Park was released. And I agree, Last Action Hero was definitely ahead of it's time

@johntowers1213 Жыл бұрын

13th warrior was in my opinion an entertaining movie if a little light on plot...it might have been a critical flop, but as flops goes it falls squarely into the "if its on and I'm passing..I'll sit down and watch it" category..

@Bicloptic Жыл бұрын

I’d gladly watch the 13th warrior or last action hero over some of the bland middle of the road movies coming out today.

@dnasty312 Жыл бұрын

@@docphillArnold asked Columbia to push the release date *June 18th, 1993* back by three weeks but they wouldn't

@jameswade2007 Жыл бұрын

When this came out, I had the option of watching this or lord of the rings as a kid at theaters. I chose Rollerball cause it looked so bad ass..

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

You were a kid, so your sins have been forgiven.

@RichV20 Жыл бұрын

I think Ive watched Rollerball 2001 twice. I fell asleep halfway through LOTR on VHS in 2002.

@matthewmosier8439 11 ай бұрын

@@RichV20LoTR isn't for casual moviegoers. The trilogy is probably the most impressive cinematic achievement of the last 30 years, but a person has to care to enjoy it.

@jesusnthedaisychain Жыл бұрын

Technically, I helped boost Rollerball's box office receipts. My cousin was 17 and I was 18, and we wanted to see Collateral Damage. They wouldn't sell a ticket to my cousin and they had already seen us together, so I couldn't just get 2 tickets to CD. Those pricks would've stopped it. So we bought tickets to PG-13 Rollerball and went to CD instead. Thug life.

@christco120 Жыл бұрын

The original film is massively underrated, I adore it

@imaadshahrukh4829 Жыл бұрын

It's a favorite of mine as well.

@Channeleven2345789 11 ай бұрын

Given the comments here, I highly doubt the original Rollerball is underrated, everyone loves the shit out of it.

@gabrieljewett4042 11 ай бұрын

It’s not underrated it came out almost 50 years ago, it isn’t in the public consciousness anymore.

@christco120 11 ай бұрын

@@gabrieljewett4042 it's both. This isn't hard to grasp. Sunset Blvd is out of the public consciousness, but it is by no means underrated. Citizen Kane is largely out of the public consciousness, it is far from underrated. Rollerball is both out of the public consciousness AND underrated. See my point here?

@chizorama 10 ай бұрын

I would put it down as a cult classic.

@guesswhat-chickenbutt Жыл бұрын

I remember being so stoked to see this movie because of the brief Slipknot cameo. Takes me back to the days of Sobe Adrenaline Rush and Altoid tangerine sours!!!! Still a huge Slipknot fan 23 years later. 🤘

@56postoffice Жыл бұрын

I forgot *"Rollerball"* had a remake made by John McTiernan. Plus, *"Idiocracy"* is now seen as a documentary, which is possibly THE most relevant film ever made.

@christianninsananda9626 Жыл бұрын

His other 2 flop - Last Action Hero and 13th Warrior - were actually pretty good. I think this one had more studio interference than normal.

@derworfnet Жыл бұрын

I’d add _The 13th Warrior_ to the list of great films McTiernan directed. I mean, it’s not perfect and it isn’t quite the Version he originally intended (still waiting for a Directors Cut) but I dig it’s vines. It’s Epic, for lack of a better word. And underrated. And that a movie of this quality came out the other end of such a torturous production is kind of awesome, actually.

@droppinloot4960 Жыл бұрын

I love reading about this story because I can't believe someone went to jail over Rollerball. Not just someone but a legendary action director

@bobbarker1593 11 ай бұрын

He should of went to jail for pretending a broad could compete with men in a man's sport. Maybe the director should of drank less soy.

@fernie-fernandez 6 ай бұрын

@@bobbarker1593Now imagine the case for Paul WS Anderson’s use of heroine…

@Diggy22 Жыл бұрын

I remember the first time I heard about the Rollerball remake was on the MTV Show, Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2000. There was a game event on the show that involved a Rollerball-styled point game, and one of the Road Rules contestants won the event for his team, and also won a bit part in the Rollerball movie as one of the players. Tbh, the only main draw of the movie at the time was the fact that LL Cool J was in it, since he was a solid draw at the box office and his rap career was still booming. I remember the Booker T/LL face off on Smackdown too, since the supermarket attack wasn’t that far back from it. The only really good thing about the remake was that it got people like me interested in the original.

@Pwnulolumad Жыл бұрын

I loved the supermarket attack fight it was awesome

@Jasonificatiation 11 ай бұрын

This happens in Hollywood every day. Someone buys a great script and then systematically destroys it with endless rewrites and notes from all kinds of different people. And they get rid of the writer ASAP and have their own people do pass after pass. These people typically don't know their own craft, but i see good filmmakers do it all the time too.

@plissken2156 Жыл бұрын

John McTiernan likes to work in 2's: - He's worked twice with Pierce Brosnan: Nomads (1986) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). - He's worked twice with Arnold Schwarzenegger: Predator (1987) and The Last Action Hero (1993). - He's worked twice with Bruce Willis: Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). - He's worked twice with Sean Connery: The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Medicine Man (1992). - He's worked twice with Samuel L. Jackson: Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) and Basic (2003). - He's worked twice with composer Bill Conti: Nomads (1986) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). - He's worked twice with cinematographer Steve Mason: Rollerball (2002) and Basic (2003). - He's worked twice with cinematographer Jan DeBont: Die Hard (1988) and The Hunt for Red October (1990). - He's remade two Norman Jewison films: The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and Rollerball (2002).

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

Damn, good point. Thanks Snake!

@rpineda76 Жыл бұрын

Don't forget three times with composer Michael Kamen: Die Hard (1988), Last Action Hero (1993) and Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). Twice with producers Joel Silver and Lawrence Gordon: Predator (1987) and Die Hard (1988). But editor John Wright takes the crown with six collaborations total: The Hunt for Red October (1990), Last Action Hero (1993), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), The 13th Warrior (also '99), and Rollerball (2002).

@plissken2156 Жыл бұрын

@@rpineda76 Yes, John Wright wins the race. Also, discovered these members of the 2-timers club: - Worked twice with cinematographer Donald McAlpine: Predator (1987) and Medicine Man (1992). - Worked twice with cinematographer Peter Menzies Jr.: Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) and The 13th Warrior (1999). - Worked twice with cinematographer Steve Mason: Rollerball (2002) and Basic (2003). - Worked twice with composer Jerry Goldsmith: Medicine Man (1993) and The 13th Warrior (1999). - Worked twice with editor John F. Link: Predator (1987) and Die Hard (1988).

@rpineda76 Жыл бұрын

@@plissken2156 Can't wait to see who he works with next!

@plissken2156 Жыл бұрын

@@rpineda76 According to his IMdB page, his next project is a science-fiction revenge flick called 'Tau Ceti Foxtrot' starring Uma Thurman and Travis Fimmel (both 1st-timers).

@crazyinsane500 Жыл бұрын

Oh god the night vision scene. I was on board with the movie being early 00's schlock, exactly what I want from a streaming service like Tubi, but then that scene ruined even that experience. They were trying to make the movie all "Extreme" but that screams they thought about shooting that *conceptually* but disregarded how nobody does that for a good reason. IIRC that was a *reshoot.* So there exists that footage without the filter, done slightly differently, and nothing would've been missed in the plot.

@GeorgHaeder Жыл бұрын

2:19 That's the BMW Headquarters in Munich, also noteworthy is that all of the the Rollerball game sequences were filmed in the 1972 Olympic Basketball Arena in Munich, Germany. The exterior shots of the bowl-shaped library building are actually of the old BMW museum.

@detroitarrow794 Жыл бұрын

A Rollerball series would be awesome because you could get so many more matches on screen, I liked the original rollerball as a kid and was a teenager when the remake came out and I was entertained by the beginning as well, but then it just fell apart in epic fashion.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

It is kind of cool to think about who could act as the showrunner, and who would star in the series in modern times. They could definitely involve James Caan's son Scott as a side character as a wink to the fans.

@Whalewraith Жыл бұрын

I didn't realise they had remade this. The original was incredible and you can tell just from the trailer (which is showing everything but Rollerball,) it was going to be awful. A thing about Rollerball is with it all being practical effectd it still looks good today.

@BigEOT3 Жыл бұрын

The best thing about the Rollerball remake was the commentator played by former ECW owner, former WCW manager, and current WWE manager & manager of Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, Paul E Dangerously/Paul Heyman.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

Paul had the most energy out of the entire cast, everyone else seemed dead inside.

@andrewdunn5568 Жыл бұрын

Yeah and at the time ECW had just lost their tv deal and Heyman told the ECW roster he was going out to LA to shop around for a new tv deal. He was filming this movie instead.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

I saw an article online disproving that theory, as Rollerball was mostly filmed in Minnesota and Canada.

@mitrooper Жыл бұрын

Gen-Xers might know this, the game that was inspired by Rollerball, Speedball and it's sequel Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, both originally released on the Commodore Amiga during the late 1980's.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

I did come across those during my research, I was raised on the NES in the early-mid 90s so I definitely want to check them out. The co-founder of bitmap brothers hilariously said "we actually weren't inspired by rollerball, it's just a coincidence that our game is very similar to the movie"... YEAH, OKAY.

@Flickawho Жыл бұрын

I tried to see the Mothman movie at a theater, and it sold out. Rollerball came out the same weekend and was the only other option. I must admit, it’s the first movie I ever “hate watched”. Never took it seriously. Began my love for “so bad they’re good” movies. This one really is just a stinker, tho.

@seanturner1197 10 ай бұрын

And to think, 20 years ago as a kid, I wanted the dvd set of this film, until I saw it on television , 2 years later.... Later on I did watch the original and I found it more entertaining.

@johnwatson3948 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info always wondered what was going on with this - always liked the 1975 Rollerball and still think a more direct updated remake would be a hit.

@UncleUnbated Жыл бұрын

Another great video! It's crazy how much of a relic a movie like this is for early 2000s nostalgia. Basically someone was like "what if we took roller derby and added a ball and motorcycles that'll reel the younger generation in"

@job489 Жыл бұрын

I only heard of the Rollerball remake, because I watched WWE Raw at the time. I only watched it, because Paul Heyman was in it.

@waferty6027 11 ай бұрын

Here is a fun fact for me : This movie had some filming locations in Quebec (Canada) and one of my teacher in primary school was an extra in this movie. She told the class with pride that she was a journalist in the movie. I don't know why, but that details come to my mind 20 years later. So I watched the movie and tried to find her. So, I watched one of the worst movie ever made frame-by-frame and still cannot find her.

@chrissheppard5068 10 ай бұрын

I saw the original Rollerball in the Cinema. You know when you have watched a great film when the audience are quiet and sat in shock at the end.

@the9-2-5outlawgamer Жыл бұрын

Can’t believe the Director of Die Hard And the Hunt for Red October got locked up.

@bighuge1060 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video. I liked the '70s Rollerball when I first saw it and have come to really like and admire it. I loathed the remake and found I could not get more than two or three minutes here and there when it debuted on cable -- most likely on HBO. I may take another look at it to see if I can make it through the entire movie. Watching the clips in your video, I don't think I'd be able.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

The original Rollerball had been on my watchlist for a while, and I watched it after the remake while I was making this episode. I'm thankful that I watched them in that order, because the remake was so bad that any and all of the flaws (if you could even call them flaws) of the original were easy to ignore. I can't wait to revisit the original again in a year or two, but I'll probably never watch the remake again.

@bighuge1060 Жыл бұрын

It's interesting to watch movies again after a span of time as maturity and life-experiences do impact one's enjoyment. The last time I watched the original Rollerball was two months ago on my sister's streaming (even though I own the DVD of the movie). This time I watched it for the craft; acting, directing, writing, art direction, etc. and I grew a better appreciation of it. It is weird watching his teammate after seeing him as Shoulders (because he often rides on the road's shoulders) in The Big Bus. @@MediaPastimes

@FoxtailCinematics Жыл бұрын

The 2000s truly was a lawless time when it came to the movies that were released. But damn they were fun! 😂

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

A lawless time for movies, TV shows, and video games. I remember licensed games based on TV shows and movies being released like, once a week. It was wild.

@ComicBookGuy420 Жыл бұрын

You think 2000 was lawless, look back at the 80s early 90s Movies used to have cocaine in the budget under "incidentals"😂

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

The movies produced in the 2000s were the result of all the booger sugar being used in the 80s, it rotted all of the producers brains 😅

@ComicBookGuy420 Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimes 😂

@whaddyathink949 Жыл бұрын

not completely lawless. That was the prime time period of cutting films to lower the ratings, which ruined what many 'would be' R-rated films.

@The-Shadow-Realm Жыл бұрын

I haven’t thought about SOBE in so long until you said it - now I can’t stop feeling nostalgic for it! 😂

@Monkey_Boy9602 Жыл бұрын

The only way I remember this thing is because of "The Real World/Road Rules Challenge". They had the stars do some crazy stunts on in-line skates and promised a role in the movie to the winner. Since I never saw the movie, I have no idea if dude made the cut.

@scottmcclary594 Жыл бұрын

I just baught this movie on bluray a few weeks ago and if I'm the only one that loves this movie in happy standing in that box alone... this movie isn't bad at all!

@glenharrison983 Жыл бұрын

I stand in that box with you.

@inmyOWN_world 11 ай бұрын

I feel like a lot of movies I love critics or the majority hates it

@tonybeluga2796 11 ай бұрын

It’s overrated

@marcel1372 11 ай бұрын

when the FBI wiretaps you for wiretapping

@doublep1980 Ай бұрын

So, let me get this straight. The director John McTiernan ( a veteran film maker who made modern classics like Die Hard & Predator), hired a shady "fixer", to wiretap the producer because he believed that the producer "sabotaged" his shitty movie by spreading bad word about it? The guy was then caught, sentenced to jail & his career is basically over. That is some wild stuff... Hell, you could turn this story into a movie by itself!

@MediaPastimes Ай бұрын

The show "Ray Donovan" was loosely based on the fixer guy.

@doublep1980 Ай бұрын

@@MediaPastimes Makes you wonder what other shady shieet is going on behind the scenes of Hollywood, on a regular basis...

@Goku22411 Жыл бұрын

I remember seeing this movie in KZfaq movies for free; after this video, I definitely need to see it now.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

I'll probably never watch it again after making this video, but I can definitely see myself revisiting the original 1975 version someday. I wouldn't be against a modern day adaptation of it, either.

@FunkStyles Жыл бұрын

The most surprising thing about this video, is learning that Last Action Hero bombed at the box office, that movie was awesome.

@nihilismistheonlyway4680 Жыл бұрын

Love that you stuck a clip of Hal in there. I'm re-watching Malcolm in the Middle atm. Great show. 😊

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

One of my all-time favorites, especially as the youngest in a family with four kids. It’s so damn accurate.

@nihilismistheonlyway4680 Жыл бұрын

Its kind of fun re hashing some of the drama surrounding early 2000's cheesy movies. Crazy time. I miss it.

@GEMINIEARTHWALKER Жыл бұрын

I still love this movie, and not because I just happened to be a blurry extra in the background in the San Francisco scene, but I genuinely enjoy it.

@j.r.cruzaguirre2734 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video. I have been a long time McTiernan fan, but I never really knew the details as to why he and his career suddenly went to shit. No I know. Thank you!

@generationwhyentertainment2455 6 ай бұрын

Funny because this movie actually has one more connection with pro wrestling ECW owner and head booker Paul Heyman basically took off on ECW while it was in a horrid state financially, having lost a tv deal and being very in the red. Wrestlers weren't being paid and they had no TV deal. Essentially Paul Heyman left wrestler tommy dreamer in charge, stating that he was in LA trying to get a new TV Deal, it turns out he was shooting his scenes for Rollerball, and a few months later ECW would shut down and Heyman would take a job with WWF, leaving a bunch of his workers unemployed and in debt

@pegcity4eva 11 ай бұрын

That Green night scene and the Boing sound effect lol.

@sicdavid6292 Жыл бұрын

I was on the set of the first Fast and Furious when the director and a producer were looking for a third production to make with Triple X. In those days you could go to Prague and shoot 3 films for the price of 2. Only after they asked i told them the Rollerball remake was for sale cheap. I was so pissed when RB came to theaters.

@JulianClarkFilms Жыл бұрын

Your best one yet. Thanks for making these. You’re the only interesting video essayist on KZfaq rn

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

Thanks dude! I'm not really big on watching a lot of video essay content, but one of the few I do watch that you also might like is Hats Off Entertainment: www.youtube.com/@HatsOffEntertainment

@JulianClarkFilms Жыл бұрын

Nice I’ve seen his Leslie Nielsen vid, will check more out

@wilmingtonlongman Жыл бұрын

Good video. Thanks. If there is to be a remake, let's hope it's that first dystopian future version

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

With Amazon’s budget behind it, it’d better be.

@homelessjesse9453 Жыл бұрын

Killed Chris Klein's Hollywood career to the point where he had to come back for American Pie 4.

@jamesfrederick7502 11 ай бұрын

I wonder if the original cut still exists somewhere.

@aaroncook7036 Жыл бұрын

I love showing off the original to the uninitiated. That ending

@JadisAmalthea 11 ай бұрын

I watched the original Rollerball on DVD and thought it was one of the most incoherent, depressing sci-fi films I've ever seen. I never had any interest in the remake until recently when I learned that the great and immortal Paul Heyman was in it. I might just see this one day, solely cuz of the Wiseman lol.

@philtkaswahl2124 Жыл бұрын

To add insult to injury, my younger self kept mistaking this remake for the made-for-TV movie Futuresport.

@gatsu8634 Жыл бұрын

Idk why but the nostalgia flashbacks I'm getting from remembering how a Sobe Pina Colada tastes is causing me to experience an existential crisis. Sick vid to the max, stay x-treme my mountain dewd. ✌️😎🤙

@monkeykeyfu2868 11 ай бұрын

John McTiernan recently said he wanted Mathew McConaughey as the lead actor, but his producer refused and chose Chris Klein, and McTiernan says Klein was lazy and bad on set of this Rollerball. And the producer prevented the director from following the script of the film planned for filming.

@X_Baron Жыл бұрын

The irony of dumbing the movie down because the masses allegedly don't want to see a plot about corporations dumbing everything down to control people better.

@imaadshahrukh4829 Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised the video doesn't mention The Thomas Crown Affair, because that was a much better remake of a Norman Jewison film by John McTiernan than Rollerball ended up being.

@snakeplisskin8696 8 ай бұрын

He directed "Predator". One of the greatest movies in cinematic history.

@bradleyrocks618 Жыл бұрын

I love this movie personally. Always had a soft spot for it.

@glenharrison983 Жыл бұрын

I saw this movie at the cinema back in 2002 (in fact, I saw it more than once). I lked it then and I still like it now. Yes, it has it's flaws and you can tell it's been messed about with, but I liked the near-future setting and I really enjoyed the fact that it took place in Asia, unlike 90 - 95% of American movies that not only exclusively take place in (where else?) America, but act as though the rest of the world doesn't exist. And I thought the night vision sequence showed great imagination and was quite unique. Rollerball fans unite!

@coyoteartist 11 ай бұрын

Watching people beat the s out of each other is exactly why there were people who wanted the rights to the rules of the sport after the original came out. There were actual rules and real games played during down time when filming the original.

@MrJ1Horrordirector Жыл бұрын

the theater went wild when slipknot was on screen! beautiful memory! ❤

@defaultusername123 11 ай бұрын

I remember as a kid, playing Simpsons Hit and Run when this movie came out on TV. I remember flipping it on for like 30 seconds and being like “no thanks” even back then lol

@TristynRusselo Жыл бұрын

Now that would be really dystopian... could you imagine being sponsored by a company called "Tushy"

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

They essentially controlled KZfaq and half of the podcast world in 2020/2021, it was a bleak time.

@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958 6 ай бұрын

If he really did direct "Last Action Hero" and the "Rollerball" remake, he deserves to go to jail. The original Rollerball was one of the classics along with Soylent Green, Omega Man, and Silent Running

@ancipital Жыл бұрын

The original film is fantasic, showing a distopian future where the games are a violent spectacle for the masses, probably not unlike the original gladiators in roman times. They try everything to stop Jonathon E but in the end, he triumphs above the system.

@beavercleaver5770 Жыл бұрын

I'll admit I haven't seen the rollerball remake in years but I thought it was ok. I bought the DVD back in the day and watched it a few times. It definitely is not the worst movie ever made.

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

I definitely don’t consider it one of the worst movies ever made, but a lot of people despised it upon release. It’s way more entertaining than some of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.

@beavercleaver5770 Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimes I remember liking it but I was pretty young. It probably wouldn't hold up today. I think the worst movie is probably mortal kombat annihilation if I had to pick

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

I have MK Annihilation on blu-ray for a "so bad its good" viewing every few years, truly an abomination but I loved it when I was a kid.

@sollytom6266 11 ай бұрын

I can still hear the clang of the ball going into the goal.

@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 Жыл бұрын

The constant wwe refrences is glorious as a wrestling fan, plus ll cool j sizing up to booker t was hilarious

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

The grocery store slam had me DYING

@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 Жыл бұрын

@@MediaPastimes 😂

@ComicBookGuy420 Жыл бұрын

Suckaaaaa😂

@dirtySwingset Жыл бұрын

Love your vids bro! Keep creating! You always seem to make vids on weird shit from my childhood haha i love it!

@forsaken841 Жыл бұрын

I woulda never thought James Caan had ever put on a pair of roller skates

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

It blew my mind the first time I watched the original Rollerball, too. He always seemed the strong silent type, super weird seeing him in skates.

@TonyElTigre-kq4ri Ай бұрын

Roller ball was a fun movie I watched it a bunch of times as a kid. But you’re right the dialogue was jumpy and sometimes I got lost lol

@ian.swift.31614 11 ай бұрын

I'm 35 and remember the massive promotion for the movie. I only saw the movie finally about 5 months ago. It wasn't so terrible. It was on the same level as another 2000s remake - The Mod Squad. I do prefer the original Rollerball by a million miles though. It is sad they turned it into something else for the remake.

@yannickdecorte89 10 ай бұрын

I actually really like the remake and never quite understood the intense hatred for it. I've seen it a bunch of times over the years and watched it again two weeks ago, and it feels like a movie you'd expect to get an RT score in the high 30s or low 40s. The execution is a bit lacking but it's incredibly entertaining and there's a lot in the film that is only hinted at but is kinda fascinating, like some of the players getting a number tattooed on their face, and Aurora gets a tattoo on the side of her face that isn't scarred, so there's a neat little moment where she hides her face from Jonathan, who knew she was ashamed of her scar. I also quite liked the jump cuts and disagree that they're purely a result of reediting. There are plenty of moments where there was some other shot to cut to and they choose not to and go for a jump cut. The action scenes are full of jump cuts as well so I always took it as a stylistic editing choice. It gives the film a very raw and energetic style. My biggest regret is the blood being replaced by sweat really robs certain scenes of their intended shock value, and I will never understand why they used that stock "boiiiiing" sound effect, TWICE. I came to assume a temp sound effect that was either left by mistake or left intentionally by someone unhappy with the final product. The very end also feels like it was cobbled together in the editing room rather than written and shot as a real ending. So I can see the flaws but the positives completely outweigh them for me. I think it's at the very least just a fun time with fantastic set and costume design, with deeper themes hinted at throughout the runtime.

@hypertensionfilms5439 11 ай бұрын

I remember being pumped for two things: 1. Slipknot randomly appearing 2. Paul Heyman. I was also 13 years old. And simple.

@alexandercrumulent271 Жыл бұрын

Don't. Talk. To. The. Cops. How hard is that? You'd think a Hollywood guy would have a lawyer on speed dial.

@BipandBatsDN 11 ай бұрын

Actual roller derby has a bunch of badasses on roller skates!

@reconsoldier135 Жыл бұрын

The thing I remember most about this movie is that Slipknot has a cameo appearance

@SafetyBriefer Жыл бұрын

If the FBI ever ask questions, don't answer! Tell them to talk to your lawyer.

@paullastnamehere3295 Жыл бұрын

I never watched the original or even heard about it when I first watched the 2002 version. I actually like this version and watch it often. I'll admit that it falls into a B-rated movie (lower for some), but there are a couple of good movies out there that are either B-rated or box office flops that people actually like. You brought up Idiocracy and that movie flopped thanks to the studio pulling it out of the theaters, and now it is a cult classic.

@JonathanRodriguez-hm7jp Жыл бұрын

I remember seeing the poster for this movie as a kid and thinking “man that looks pretty cool” never went to go see it though lol

@MadHax-wt5tl Жыл бұрын

The Rollerball remake, is yet another movie that does absolutely nothing to justify its own existence. See the original, it's cool.

@kevinthetruckdriver353 Жыл бұрын

To me, Rollerball 1975 wasn't about the sport of Rollerball. The story was about how conglomerates & government merged into one entity. *DON'T BELIEVE ME.* Replace Rollerball with Football. Or worst yet.Take out sports & put in *SOCIAL MEDIA.*

@jamesrowles9249 Жыл бұрын

70 MILLION?! Damn. Somebody is walking around with tens of millions of dollars in his bank account!

@MediaPastimes Жыл бұрын

70 million is nothing compared to the cost of big budget movies in 2023. And studios will sometimes under-report a film's budget just in case it flops, so they don't look as bad.

@rodneykingston6420 Жыл бұрын

I always thought the original was over-rated, but man, this one was UNWATCHABLE!

@justinlast2lastharder749 11 ай бұрын

It wasnt that Bad. Honestly, it was pretty cool in Theaters seeing it. Not every Movie needs to be some deep philosophical piece...sometimes its just good old fashioned action.

@cottonmouth6369 6 ай бұрын

I was in a movie forum and I never even knew there was an original and darker rollerball. Loved seeing this video covering it. I think the PG13 rating did a lot of damage that took wind out of its sails

@cottonmouth6369 6 ай бұрын

Btw the forum was discussing what would be a good movie to remake and this movie caught my eye

@user-gr8xl2cv1i Жыл бұрын

I like to think that A Clockwork Orange, 1984 and Rollerball are all set in the same universe. Going from the 50s and 60s dystopia of Clockwork Orange. To the corporate war's of 1984 Then the corporate wars ended and Rollerball was started, in 2018. As a way of keeping the peace betwwen the corporations.

@madarab37 Жыл бұрын

Commodor 64 Rollerball video game brought me here. Both movies fall short.

@someperson8151 4 ай бұрын

They purposely made new Rollerball horrible to keep newer generation from seeking the old movie. New generation won't waste their time with old movies, especially with a pre conception that it'll suck. The original Rollerball got bad ratings. Critics scoffed at how stupid it was to think corporations could take over.