RAGING BULL 2: Giant Corporation Defeats 91-Year-Old Man In TKO!

Dedicating themselves to the integrity and preservation of materials, without risk of besmirchment with pointless sequels or remakes of diminished value that film studios are known for, MGM has dropped their lawsuit against the producers of Raging Bull II (The Quickening?) and Jake LaMotta himself, after the producers changed the title, reports Deadline.

Jake LaMotta, the 91-year old boxer whose life formed the basis of the Martin Scorsese classic, Raging Bull, sold his memoirs to be adapted into a new film telling different parts of his life. However, MGM disputed these claims, alleging that they owned the rights to these memoirs because… just because, all right? Gawd, Mum.

Initially MGM tried to sue the production and have it shut down, because how dare Jake LaMotta make a film about his life without express consent from someone else.

The new film stars William Forsythe as LaMotta, and frankly looks like it’ll likely be a piece-of-shit. But, really, who cares? Let them make it. This is actually far less offensive or misguided than most sequels and remakes, in my opinion. I mean, it’s based on the guy’s life – he’s endorsed it… I fucking hate these rights disputes. It’s just crooked and stupid. Ugh. Anyway, the studios released the following statement: “The parties have amicably reached a resolution of their pending litigation, pursuant to which production of a film based upon certain events in the life of Jake LaMotta will proceed under the working title ‘The Bronx Bull’. That film is not related in any way to the 1980 motion picture entitled ‘Raging Bull’…” etc, etc. So, sure, it’s over, they can make their film, I get it. I get both sides, but it’s just so stupid, y’know?

Sure, making the film was cashing in on the legacy of the older film, but, along with the filmmakers, isn’t LaMotta probably the guy with the most right to do that? I dunno.

It’s this attitude that everything out there is just there for plundering, to have its corpse dug up again and again on a pedistal. All art seems to be created on a business model based on Weekend At Bernie’s.

Just because something is willing and inviting doesn’t mean it’s a good idea - that’s how you get STDs.

Maybe I’m a bit drunk, [He absolutely is. – ed.] but this victory seems dressed up like a victory for artists, when really, it’s just a studio fucking a sloppy pile of money. Which, while sexy, is not cool.

MGM needed the name of Raging Bull II (Electric Boogaloo?) changed, or else it would “irreparably tarnish the value of [the original]”, something only MGM wants to do to their properties, with their slate of remakes, sequels and sequels to remakes, which comprise almost 75% of their upcoming releases as of time of publication .

About Liam Jose

+Liam José is the name given to a highly sophisticated system of pullies and levers that edits and designs Crime Factory. Upgrades have included a random text generator, the output of which has appeared in places like A Twist of Noir, Powder Burn Flash, Flash Fiction Offensive, and as one of the winning entries of the 2010 WGI at Drowning Pool. It is serviced irregularly in Melbourne, Australia.

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