Rollerball (2002)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jeff "

  
  What is there to say about this remake of the classic film? words aren't enough to describe the abomination that is Rollerball. The film is dreadful with a bad script, bad acting which goes well with the bad actors, and what surprises me is that it was made by John McTiernan the… More
  What is there to say about this remake of the classic film? words aren't enough to describe the abomination that is Rollerball. The film is dreadful with a bad script, bad acting which goes well with the bad actors, and what surprises me is that it was made by John McTiernan the same director who directed some monumental action films such as Die Hard, Predator and The Hunt For Red October. This is simply a bad film made by a once good director. The story is terrible and the cast are all of bunch talentless morons that make this less enjoyable by the minute. The thing that was interesting about the film was Slipknot's cameo, and as a big metalhead, I thought it was pretty cool. But to say that a band salvaged a dreadful film is plainly stupid. Rollerball belongs on the same list as other lackluster "re imaginings" as most recent horror films. This is a dreaful train wreck and it insults you from start to finsh. Don't be fooled by the "cool" action scenes" they're not that great. The original 1975 classic Rollerball is the definitive version, and those who've seen this train wreck should check out the original, you'll at least redeem your senses by watching a terrific classic. This film should be avoided like an Uwe Boll film. At least Uwe Boll films are humorously entertaining, this trash is simply sad.

• Conner R

  
  While it's not an incredible movie or defining of the genre, this is a fun movie that never tried to be above itself. It took a pre-existing concept and went with it, I think the main reason it was slammed so hard is that it really should have been done a decade before or after.… More
  While it's not an incredible movie or defining of the genre, this is a fun movie that never tried to be above itself. It took a pre-existing concept and went with it, I think the main reason it was slammed so hard is that it really should have been done a decade before or after. People just didn't want to see a sci-fi action movie outside of something like the Matrix, except maybe for me. I really had a lot of fun with this and I think the overall product is interesting to say the least.

• KJ P

  
  I was extremely disappointed! I expected this really cool action movie, but it obviously was not anything like that!

• Jani H

  
  "Rollerball!!" This disgusting piece of cinema is a remake of a minor classic from the 70's. The original wasn't that good, pretty boring actually so why bother making a remake of it? The story is simple and stupid, the dialogue is awful and the acting is… More
  "Rollerball!!" This disgusting piece of cinema is a remake of a minor classic from the 70's. The original wasn't that good, pretty boring actually so why bother making a remake of it? The story is simple and stupid, the dialogue is awful and the acting is something that all of those who participated in the making of this movie should be ashamed of. Jean Reno was probably druged when he signed the contract... "Rollerball" is something that the MTV generation could probbaly like. Fast editing, loud music and women in leather. I like women in leather also but not in "Rollerball"! This film should be avoided by all and all of the copies that are available for you to watch should be burned and buried. Out.

• Dean M

  
  This remake of the popular 1970's sci-fi thriller is the worst and silly action I ever saw.

• Jose Z

  
  well what can I say, If you saw tha original version, this one has no comparison, who thought this would be a good movie? the storyline is so flat and the adaptation was ridiculous. The cast was so bad, just tell me who told to LL Cool J he could be an actor and I dont know why Jean… More
  well what can I say, If you saw tha original version, this one has no comparison, who thought this would be a good movie? the storyline is so flat and the adaptation was ridiculous. The cast was so bad, just tell me who told to LL Cool J he could be an actor and I dont know why Jean Reno being a great actor, accepted to do this film. Few of the good things of this movie are maybe the music and Rebecca Romijn looking smoking hot

• Kalel J

  
  What..on..earth was this crew expecting to make while on the floor filming Rollerball? This film has so many bad parts to it's making, chemistry, and aftermath that it ultimately comes off as being an action film that makes the audience fall asleep while watching it. A major… More
  What..on..earth was this crew expecting to make while on the floor filming Rollerball? This film has so many bad parts to it's making, chemistry, and aftermath that it ultimately comes off as being an action film that makes the audience fall asleep while watching it. A major problem with this film (which is usually the aspect taken care of easily in most films) is it's editing, with scenes that jump from one to the next with no indication of the happenings in between these time periods. Rollerball is a film that has next to nothing going for it, some action yes, but by the end not even sports enthusiasts or blood cravers will enjoy what is on offer here.

• Nate Z

  
  [font=Arial][color=darkred]The year is 2005 and the number one sport, at least in the former Soviet Union for some reason, is a mixture of roller derby, football and some kind of ESPN X-game. The man behind Rollerball is Alexi Petrovich (Jean Reno), who still thirsts for that… More
  [font=Arial][color=darkred]The year is 2005 and the number one sport, at least in the former Soviet Union for some reason, is a mixture of roller derby, football and some kind of ESPN X-game. The man behind Rollerball is Alexi Petrovich (Jean Reno), who still thirsts for that lucrative cable contract with the U.S. and just might do anything to get it. Play suspicious music here.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Jonathan Cross (Chris Klein) is an NHL draft pick in trouble with the law after a stupid high speed street race. His pal Marcus Ridley (LL Cool J) tells him of a new extreme sport catching on in Central Asia, and Jonathan accepts his offer. The two are enjoying their success in Spandex but start to have reservations when they notice Petrovich including more violence as a ratings booster. Jonathan can't just look the other way. Because he's the good guy. So after a botched escape (shot infuriatingly all in what seems like Night Vision green) he collects his fellow ballers to rebel against Petrovich and whatever.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]As you can easily see, the story of Rollerball is not exactly its strong point. Not that there is a strong point in Rollerball.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The original Rollerball came out in 1975 and was full of political themes like corporate dictatorships and Orwellian observations on a dominated, passive society where war and nationalism have been replaced with a roller sport. Though the themes of this James Caan vehicle were a bit heavy-handed at times, the action was rather impressive especially as the corporations try their best to squash Caan in a bloody onslaught of an ending. The 1975 Rollerball had a political message and some nice action. What does the 2002 version have? Try banality and plenty of it.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Klein is possibly the blandest action hero since Ralph Macchio tried to wax a car. Klein came to the limelight through movies like American Pie and Election, and if his dimwitted deer-in-headlights look wasn't doing it for you before then God help you with his performance in Rollerball. Klein is like Keanu-lite, only one calorie but still the same horrible taste.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Rebecca Romijn-Stamos plays Klein's teammate and lover on the Rollerball circuit. He tells her at one point that her face isn't as bad as she feels (she has a scar over one eye but still looks mighty hot), proving Klein has indeed seen her blue-nude performance in X-Men. Reno deserves a trophy for even delivering the majority of his lines with a straight face.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Oh how the mighty have fallen John McTiernan. You once directed such great 80s action movies like Die Hard, The Hunt for the Red October, and Predator but now you spend your days remaking old Norman Jewison films. It began with the lukewarm remake of The Thomas Crown Affair and now a boring re-cooking of Rollerball follows it up. Can a remake of F.I.S.T. or Fiddler on the Roof be the only thing we have to look forward to now?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The most jarring problem with Rollerball, and there are so many to choose from, is the hack editing choices made. The way the movie plays one wonders if they threw all their footage in a wood chipper and grabbed whatever pieces they could and glued them into a movie. Scenes exist but appear in no discernible pattern or order. All one sees in their chair is a whirl of colors and you might be wondering if you stepped into Kaleidoscope: The Motion Picture.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The story behind this Rollerball was that it was originally slated to come out August of 2001, but after test screenings that left people howling the studio bumped it to the winter and cut it from an R to a more commercial PG-13. Lost in this cost-cutting maneuver are gore (which you would think would be important for a violent future Gladiator sport) and a full-frontal nude scene involving Romijn-Stamos. Which version would you have rather seen?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Rollerball is a laughably noisy and empty film that will leave your head spinning for all the wrong reasons. It's likely the worst flick you'll see for 2002 right now, that is, until the following week when Britney's train wreck of a film debut opens. But until that time Rollerball is the true champion - of boredom and stupidity.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: D- [/color][/font]

• Steven V

  
  This is quite possibly one of the lamest movies ever made. The trailer for the movie made it somewhat appealing. But the movie itself was terrible. The actions scenes on the track were too fast, so much so that it was hard to see what was going on.

• Christopher H

  
  With a flaccid plot and loose performances with little to no motivation or reasoning for changes of heart, Rollerball relies on its pumped up adrenaline and complicated foreign sport to provide for any action to drive the film. With little invested throughout the entire film, the… More
  With a flaccid plot and loose performances with little to no motivation or reasoning for changes of heart, Rollerball relies on its pumped up adrenaline and complicated foreign sport to provide for any action to drive the film. With little invested throughout the entire film, the payoff seems hardly worth it and ends in what can only be described as a self-inflicted train wreck.

• Kevin L

  
  What the hell?

• Lee K

  
  although having watched both i hated them both but i would watch this remake over the original starring james caan

• Leo L

  
  interesting.

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