Beyond the Mat (Unrated Director's Cut) (Ringside Special Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Barry W. Blaustein, Collette Foley, Darren Drozdov, Dewey Foley, Roland AlexanderBrand: Universal Studios
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Color, Director's Cut, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 102 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-03-23
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Beyond the Mat (Unrated Director's Cut) (Ringside Special Edition)
Movie Review: Every Wrestling Fan Should See This
Summary: 5 Stars
REVISION NOTES
I originally typed this review in August of 2005. Since then, I have researched this movie and its subjects. Most of the persons' interviews and opinions believe this documentary is biased and extremely one-sided. After learning that, I am sickened that "Beyond The Mat", which was one of my favorite films for a long time, isn't as substantial as I once believed it to be. Before reading my original review, please note that "Beyond The Mat" still provides a powerful emotional experience. It's manipulative and somewhat non-factual, but aren't all films merely an interpretation anyway? Well, enough lecturing...here's my original review:
ORIGINAL REVIEW
"I've been a fan of televised wrestling for 19 years, and going strong. This documentary looked like it would be all praise and glorification, but instead turned out ot be one shocking portrait of the human condition.
Fanboy Barry Blaustein (who used to be an Saturday Night Live writer) poses a question, "Who are these guys?" That is a dreamy question that turns into a dark journey of despair and sadness. Blaustein mainly focuses on three of the business' top performers.
Mick Foley is one of the most gentle human beings in the world, who is also gifted with an uncanny ability to take ridiculous amounts of violence and brutality. His story basically contrasts his kindness with his in-ring persona, plus with some relationship footage with his wife and kids.
Terry Funk has been around for over 30 years, and is still doing some insanely violent matches to his 58-year-old body. He contemplates retirement (for the "X"th time), and may just do it this time.
Jake Roberts wasn't a great athlete, but he knew how to play to the crowd and keep them attentive. Sadly, he's become a drug-abusing has-been, who has a tragic past and equally sad relationship with his daughter.
Now this all sounds as if this is going to be on depressing moment after another. To be honest, most of this movie is cuthroat analysis of the politics and struggles of the wrestlers and the industry's key players.
But there are sheds of light in this dark, depressing tunnel. We see a former English school-teacher with blood across his head smiling and sharing his joy of wrestling. A gangster-ish performer with a criminal background is given a chance to audition for movies, and seems to have a future if he chooses to pursue. It's little touches like that enhance Blaustein's experience.
The small towns of the Midwest contrasted with the WWF's state-of-the-art spectacle is truly riveting. Seeing a couple of independent boys make it to the WWF tryouts is one of the movie's best scenes.
There are a couple of non-cohesive edits and clips that don't seem to fit. For example, the opening title sequence shows a bunch of clips from WWF and ECW television, but don't really explain what they are. Only the most hardcore fan out there will make any sense of these clips. Blaustein talks to us sometimes as if we know who he's talking about, but doesn't go all the way for a couple of people to really get to know them. It's almost a teaser for the TV programs.
But Blaustein managed to tap into the harsh realities of entertainment in general. There are the Terry Funk's who don't know when to quit, even if it destroys their careers and bodies. There are the Jake Roberts's who have fallen so far from grace, that the public will always endear them while condeming. We'll always have the Vince McMahon's tyrannically controlling entertainment with sly sadism...all for our viewing pleasure.
This movie is a masterpiece!"
Summary of Beyond the Mat (Unrated Director's Cut) (Ringside Special Edition)
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