Take a first look at these images from RAGING BULL 2

It would seem that no matter how many walls we punch and headbutt out of anger and frustration, Raging Bull 2 is still getting made.

And just to make 100% positively certain that none of this is nothing but a bad dream brought on by a rather suspicious lamb korma, we now have our very first two production stills, showing off what appears to be some gambling and a bare knuckle and chested boxing fight.

I know that it’s probably unfair to continuously compare this prequel/sequel to Martin Scorsese’s classic, but hey, they’re the ones who stuck both the words Raging and Bull in their title, so what did they expect?

The most immediate and jarring difference of course, is the presence of colour. And if you’ve just spent the last few minutes scouring those pictures for the non-existent black man, just know that’s not what I meant.

Scorsese famously shot the first film in black and white, giving it a grainy, almost documentarian look and feel. Director Martin Guigui will certainly have his own vision and won’t want to be seen as just copying Scorsese, but when you have a story that was already told so perfectly that anything you do is more than likely going to viewed as inferior, the question of “why do this in the first place?” once again rears its head. Followed very swiftly by the even louder and more punctuated question of “Why would you allow the director of National Lampoon’s Cattle Call and My X-Girlfriend’s Wedding Reception to do this?!”

And no disrespect to the acting abilities of either William Forsythe (who plays the 74-year old Jake LaMotta after the events of the first film) and Morjean Aria (who plays the 34-year old LaMotta before he becomes champion), but they have set themselves one herculean task in trying to measure up to the game changing performance delivered by Robert De Niro. Short of Aria undergoing invasive plastic surgery to transform into Forsythe, I have a feeling that it’s just not going to stack up.

The images were revealed as part of a press release, which you can read below:

“This film may quench the unsatisfied thirst that movie goers desire to see more of this true middleweight boxing legend as well as newcomers who want to see an action film that shows how a man’s inner drive can overcome life’s obstacles. Raging Bull II fills in the gaps and allows us to get to know Jake LaMotta. It answers such questions as what happened to him or what he was like as a youngster. LaMotta himself was present and providing guidance before and during the shoot.

Although Raging Bull gave us the adult version of Jake LaMotta, it did not provide the rare look into Jake’s childhood nor the impact of the after effects of his violent life. Raging Bull II provides this much desired insight into the real-life struggle of a down-and-out pugilist who turns his anger, abusive childhood into a boxing career. Although his brute force turned him into a middleweight champion, it also created challenges in his life.

Martin Guigui, writer-director, has attracted a wealth of established actors, including William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, Tom Sizemore, Penelope Ann Miller, along with fresh talent such as Mojean Aria as the young Jake LaMotta. Living up to the legendary Raging Bull is quite a daunting task. Although intriguing, Raging Bull fans will have to wait until 2013 to see the film.”

Two things: Firstly, I had no thirst to quench. Raging Bull left me pretty damn sated last time I checked, thank you very much. And secondly, “an action film”? Seriously? What little sliver of hope I had for this production just took a dive in the first round.

(Source: JoBlo)

Last Updated: June 22, 2012