anborn3000

Insightful look st a polarizing subject that has endless opinions but fewer facts. This documentary educated me and provided a lot of the facts the MSM simply will not or is unable to convey. This documentary is a good start, but I find it missing a bigger angle of compliant governments allowing this to happen when he outcome is well known. Few can deny there is a worldwide collusion amongst the leaders of the west to introduce this element into those countries with disastrous results. I would've like to see the bigger elements addresses although that could well be in the mix for a sequel. I gave this 9-Stars, an excellent doc.

It's been awhile since the release of this spectacular cinematic effort. I own the DVD and find myself returning to it often enough. I'm not an incureable romantic, far from it. I'm an observer of life, and this film has a slice of life rarely captured or portrayed adequately...... I'm referring to Thomas Crown himself. Too often we see the baubles and toys of the rich, famous and powerful. They're detailed endlessly on superficial, tightly edited shows that air on television every night. We never see the person behind the toys and what really makes them what they are. In The Thomas Crown Affair, Pierce B. took a little suave from Bond, but added that certain air of confidence and assurance we see in the upper crust of achievers in our society. We're privy to witness that extra drive and risk-taking behaviour the top rung share; while the rest of us clap as the parade goes by. Give McTiernan credit. Those subtle nuances of Brosnan betting huge $$$ for a golf shot, that tremendous splash as he races the catamaran to a wet end, as well as Crown's open friction and flirtation with authority. Pure genius. This film is a five-star effort from stem to stern; but it really is an eye-opening experience for the 95% of the populace content to just eat, breathe and sleep. It shows us the real difference between the rich and powerful and the wannabees.

The original film was a masterpiece. Not only for the (at the time) over-the-top action, but for the marvelously clear look into the future. Only science-fiction would dare suggest the future holds society completely employed by six corporations! What a brilliant prophecy!

In the self-centered and hedonistic 70's, isn't it amazing the true gist of the original film is the attempt to keep a famous player from becoming bigger than the game he plays? One need only peruse today's business section to see how our society now strives to eliminate the notion of the individual in favor of an identity-nullifying "team concept."

So one can say the original is all about the triumph of the individual.

The 2002 version is nothing more than a haphazard mess that shows what happens when a studio changes hands and a cinematic vision is compromised for a PG-13 rating that effectively destroys the film. Rollerball could do with a well-intentioned remake; this wasn't it.................by a long shot.