Rollerball (1975) {Ronin Flix Blu-ray Review}

Dystopian futures feature societies in cataclysmic decline, where characters battle environmental ruin, technological control, and government oppression. Filmmakers love to explore these kind of stories. And if you are anything like me you love to watch them.

In 1975 James Caan took the lead in one such a film entitled Rollerball! Now Ronin Flix and Scorpion Releasing have released this cult classic on Blu-ray, featuring a brand new 4K scan.

The year is 2018 and it seems to be a paradise. There is no wars, there is no crime there is just the game, Rollerball. In this world it is controlled by ruthless corporations. They have made the barbaric game Rollerball as an outlet for the masses to get all their pent up frustrations out.

Jonathan E. (James Caan; The Killer Elite, The Godfather, Misery, Freebie and the Bean) is the champion Rollerball player. The Corporation has taken away the woman he loves, but when the corporate head (John Houseman; Three Days of the Condor, The Paper Chase, The Fog) tells him he better retire.... or suffer the old-fashioned way, Johnathan E rebels.

While Rollerball is science fiction it seems eerily familiar. Corporations are becoming more and more powerful in this day and age it seems as though we could easily be a hop skip and a jump to this kind of a world.

Rollerball though made in the mid-70s still looks futuristic. I give the set designers major props for making sets that don't look outdated. James Caan carries this film with extreme grace showing such range of emotion. And the supporting cast is just as good. The cast includes John Houseman, John Beck (Audrey Rose, The Other Side of Midnight), Maud Adams (Killer Force, Octopussy, Tattoo), Moses Gunn (Ragtime, Shaft), Shane Rimmer (The People that Time Forgot, The Human Factor).

Rollerball has been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The soundtrack as two audio options a DTS-HD Master 5.1 Surround and 2.0 Stereo Audio. There is also English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

This film boasts of a brand new 2021 4K scan. When I compared this release to the DVD release that I already own. There is really no comparison. This new 4K scan looks and sound so much better it is crazy. The colors are bright and the picture is crisp. The audio is clear as a bell. This 4K scan looks so good it could pass for a 2022 Ultra HD film released today.

Now as impressed as I am with the 4K film transfer. Ronin Flix added some very cool bonus features. Take a look at what is included on this Blu-ray.

* Audio Commentary with director Norman Jewison

* Audio Commentary with writer William Harrison

* From Rome to Rollerball Featurette

* Blood Sports: An interview with James Caan

* Interview with stuntman Bob Minor

* Theatrical Trailer & TV Spots

The audio commentaries just us so much more information on this film, bringing the listener insight they probably never thought of before. In addition I love the classic featurette and Interviews with James Caan and Bob Minor. Such an awesome amount of bonuses.

On a side note Rollerball is rated R. When you watch this film while there is a bit of profanity, there is nothing overtly bad and their is no nudity, and even the violence in comparison to what we see in PG-13 films today, this film seems tame. But even so parental discretion is defiantly advised.

So if you love James Caan, dystopian future films or Rollerball. I highly recommend this Blu-ray release from Ronin Flix. You can order a copy for yourself at Amazon.com today.