Futuresport [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

Shades of Rollerball! Director Ernest Dickerson and executive producer Wesley Snipes ponder the sport of the future and come up with... "Futuresport", a combination of handball, ice hockey, and skateboard hot-dogging begun as an inner-city alternative to gang warfare and transformed into a glitzy media sensation. Dean Cain stars as the reigning Futuresport hero, a cocky glory hound who counts his cash and "popularity index" ratings with a smug grin until his narcissism costs him the championship game. As a ruthless terrorist group pushes the world to the brink of war, the suddenly altruistic Cain hatches a plan to bring Futuresport back to its roots. With the help of reporter (and former flame) Vanessa Williams and the game's creator (a rastah-inflected Snipes, who gives himself the film's best role), Cain proposes a winner-take-all game to settle the territorial dispute. Beefy former TV "Superman" Cain makes a better reformed hero than a snotty superstar and looks great in the game scenes, but Snipes steals the film with his funky turn as the inner-city guru with more on his mind than the game. Dickerson gives this TV film a handsome look and even injects a little grit into the otherwise bland screenplay, but apart from the zippy game scenes (which Dickerson films with an electrified energy), it's a familiar and rather flat bit of science fiction hokum. --Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Pleasantly Surprised.......2006-07-10

I first saw this movie years ago on channel five not expecting a great deal, however I was deemed wrong as I was actually enjoying the movie. The acting is not oscar worthy but convincing at times but the action is where it shows its worth, even though the production value isnt the highest but the CGI etc is very well done which is rather surprising considering it was a made-for-tv movie, first shown on ABC in October 1998. Overall I beleive it deserves a 4* rating when compared with other made-for-tv movies it is well above par, but it doesnt get the 5* as it is not perfect but it still deserves good recognition

The Man With The Plan.......2005-06-24

After reading other reviews and then ignoring them I bought this DVD for a few quid, I then watched it and was pleasantly surprised. All of the other reviews had stated the film was a total disaster but I thought it was a totally realistic and well thought out plot. Come on, a game where the sole purpose is to eliminate WAR, that can't be bad! And when that game is all about beating the other team up and not getting electrocuted by the ball come on it must be worth a little bit of a go. The plot is totally newly fangled in a way that I have never seen before definitely worth a look for a night in when bored.

not the worst (sport) film available.......2002-04-14

In a word, watchable. Neither engrossing nor deplorable the film sets out to mildly entertain and achieves it's goal. Most of the acting is passable and the film really doesn't ask for more than for Williams to look sultry, Cain to look athletic and Snipes, as by far the most experienced actor to play a more twisting and ultimately controlling role. As far as TV movies go this ain't the worst, Britanic is. If your looking for action and sports try Rollerball with James Caan. if your a Snipes fan then for acting you'll know to look at New Jack City, for action to look at Blade.

Popcorn movie you dont have to think to watch.......2001-10-22

Having watched this film originally on the small screen (SCI-Fi Channel to be precise), I have to say it rings true that Wesley Snipes acting was terrible in this film. Dean Cain was wooden. The only great performance was that of the villan played by JR Bourne, how refreshing an actor of this calibre. Its a shame the writing wasn't any better, they all could have had a better chance.
Some of the sport scenes where thought out well. If only a game of sport could decide a war in this current climate, how many people could we really save?
Watch this for fun, don't expect much, but watch for JR Bourne, he will be a star of the future.

Rubbish.......2001-01-21

This film is one of the worst I have ever had the misfortune to see. After the classic known as Blade, Wesely Snipes goes and does a rubish film like this, with a main character who is such a bad actor, that he can only find work in a low budget TV series of superman, and this, which seems to have a lower budget that the series. Do not watch!!! Avoid like the plague!!

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