Bill, thanks for posting that scene - it's been many years since I'd watch the entire movie, but I had missed the point the movie made about the missing 13th century (and the Magna Carta).
The scene that I find haunting is the after party of the bored elites who set trees on fire as a source of amusement. The oligarchs of today would fit easily into that scene.
The artists (written or visual) and poets always seem to know what's coming.
The frustration arises when the history is farther back than the number of years I’ve been on this planet. For most of my sentient years, I actually remember what happened and do often find myself amending the retelling in public discourse … To go farther back, without primary sources, it’s tough to make hard-and-fast statements about events and their implications. Still, “doing the research “ matters. AT THE LEAST, use more than one source for current info .. more than two … more than three! And get out of the silo. It’s tough, but we gotta figure out how to figure out what’s up. {I figure the Magna Carta is a primary source, right? Gad. Onward and upward.}
"Rollerball" first appeared as a story in Esquire Magazine, possibly under title "Rollerball Murder," though with that latter I may be thinking of the remake of the movie. Senior moments, curse them! Nations have ceased to exist, replaced by corporations, eh? This is the premise of the speech 'Mr. Jensen' (the late great Ned Beatty) delivers to 'Howard Beal' (Peter Finch) in the greatly superior "Network," product of the genius of Sidney Lumet (based on another piece that debuted in Esquire, by Paddy Chayefsky). [For the record, I quit reading Esquire decades ago.] But this is "utopian" (in a dystopian kind of way!) twaddle. (Or is it piffle?) Corporations will always be in competition with one another. They're not going to unite into one gigantic global ruler of the world's human population and resources. Not even "the World's Richest Person," Elon Musk, can achieve that. At any rate, we--those who still revere Truth--will have a lot of work to do to restore History in the post-Trump years. Heck, there will be a lot of work to do to simply restore concepts like Basic Human Decency!! Roll up your sleeves, folks!
It is so depressing how bad it has gotten since 1975. I was reading recently about the creation of the trilateral commission back in the early 70s, created by the wealthy elites, with the agenda of making all of this happen. I think we can declare their mission a success.
Great movie saw it when I was in the USAF when it came out 1975, and loved it. "Jonathan!!!" "Jonathan!!! "Jonathan!!!" "Hunger Games" picked up the steel ball on. So true how America has become. "Moonpie" didn't deserve to get it that way. Sort of like Football & the violence of Ice Hockey, on Motor Bikes combined. Mr. Bartholomew says its time You Retired!!!
Bill, thanks for posting that scene - it's been many years since I'd watch the entire movie, but I had missed the point the movie made about the missing 13th century (and the Magna Carta).
The scene that I find haunting is the after party of the bored elites who set trees on fire as a source of amusement. The oligarchs of today would fit easily into that scene.
The artists (written or visual) and poets always seem to know what's coming.
Yes, I agree. That scene (burning the trees for sport and spectacle) has stayed with me.
The frustration arises when the history is farther back than the number of years I’ve been on this planet. For most of my sentient years, I actually remember what happened and do often find myself amending the retelling in public discourse … To go farther back, without primary sources, it’s tough to make hard-and-fast statements about events and their implications. Still, “doing the research “ matters. AT THE LEAST, use more than one source for current info .. more than two … more than three! And get out of the silo. It’s tough, but we gotta figure out how to figure out what’s up. {I figure the Magna Carta is a primary source, right? Gad. Onward and upward.}
"Rollerball" first appeared as a story in Esquire Magazine, possibly under title "Rollerball Murder," though with that latter I may be thinking of the remake of the movie. Senior moments, curse them! Nations have ceased to exist, replaced by corporations, eh? This is the premise of the speech 'Mr. Jensen' (the late great Ned Beatty) delivers to 'Howard Beal' (Peter Finch) in the greatly superior "Network," product of the genius of Sidney Lumet (based on another piece that debuted in Esquire, by Paddy Chayefsky). [For the record, I quit reading Esquire decades ago.] But this is "utopian" (in a dystopian kind of way!) twaddle. (Or is it piffle?) Corporations will always be in competition with one another. They're not going to unite into one gigantic global ruler of the world's human population and resources. Not even "the World's Richest Person," Elon Musk, can achieve that. At any rate, we--those who still revere Truth--will have a lot of work to do to restore History in the post-Trump years. Heck, there will be a lot of work to do to simply restore concepts like Basic Human Decency!! Roll up your sleeves, folks!
It is so depressing how bad it has gotten since 1975. I was reading recently about the creation of the trilateral commission back in the early 70s, created by the wealthy elites, with the agenda of making all of this happen. I think we can declare their mission a success.
Great movie saw it when I was in the USAF when it came out 1975, and loved it. "Jonathan!!!" "Jonathan!!! "Jonathan!!!" "Hunger Games" picked up the steel ball on. So true how America has become. "Moonpie" didn't deserve to get it that way. Sort of like Football & the violence of Ice Hockey, on Motor Bikes combined. Mr. Bartholomew says its time You Retired!!!
Or
Wecould all just live in the moment.
The question is, who shapes, defines, and controls the moment?
The immediate past gets us to the immediate present. All the rest is in the dust ben of history.
Good one Bill. Will share the video clip on my blog. Very important.