Blood of Heroes vs. Roller Ball

With the upcoming Blood Bowl board game release, I thought that it might be appropriate for a blood sport movie Trashdome. How about it? Which one will be victorious out of these?

Rollerball (1975)









The Blood of Heroes (1989)









Arena (1989).

Rollerball stomps. It's a savage critique of professional sports and human nature, featuring some great action and some unforgettable moments. I consider it one of the top ten science-fiction movies of the '70s, and one of my all-time favorite sports movies.

Blood of Heroes was mildly interesting, and seemed like it might be taking place in a different part of the same world as The Road Warrior, but didn't have any particular resonance for me.

I never even noticed Arena, so it seems like it might have skipped the theaters and gone straight to cable. Looks cheesy, but if it is closely based on the classic story by Frederic Brown, I might have to give it a look.

I have a strong emotional connection to BoH. I first saw it in high school while I was still in the SCA. I thought it would be cool to make the weapons out of foam, conduit, and duct tape. Then I pieced together rules as best I could. I could never get people to buy into it though and the items I had made languished.

All that historicity aside, Roller Ball is easily a better movie with a social critique that was completely ditched in the remake.

I was a roller derby ref (flat track) for nearly 6 years and this movie, plus the more theatrical 'sport' on tv, made me want to get into derby as it is now.

Seriously, Arena?

Sorry Juggers, Roller Ball for the win.

GREAT Trashdome.

I love James Caan, but Blood of Heroes

I didn't even know what Blood of Heroes was until I saw the youtube trailer for Salute of the Jugger.

Salute of the Jugger for me, was one of a dozen or more mid-80's VHS rentals that you watched once and moved on from. Rollerball was Caan's fist clenched in a spiked leather glove.

Rollerball

Never even heard or seen the others, so I am going for

Jonathon.....Jonathon....JonaTHON....JonaTHON.....JonaTHON.....JONATHON.....JONATHON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"I don't like brutality. I like heroics. I like the blood of heroes. "

As much as I love Rollerball, post-apoc. sports is gonna win for me. I went through a Rutger Haugher phase and this one and was it Flesh and Blood (the one about the plague) were my favorite.

I've only seen Blood of Heroes once, but really enjoyed it. Not sure why I haven't caught it again.

Still, RollerBall