WWE - Hard Knocks - The Chris Benoit Story
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Movie Reviews of WWE - Hard Knocks - The Chris Benoit Story
Movie Review: The legacy of a great wrestler
Summary: 4 Stars
Even with the tragic end we all know. Chris Benoit would be remembered because of his in ring ability, and I think that's the more important thing to keep in mind. Here you will get great matches from him and get and inside on how Benoit became the great wrestler he was. No wonder he was admired by millions, but one tragic incident made all that seem in jeopardy, even to the point WWE try so hard to erase all mention of Benoit as the guy never existed.
I'm not saying Benoit is a role model as a person, but as a wrestler he was committed to giving it all on the ring, and he was a great entertainer, just like Eddie Guerrero, he lived to the fullest but sadly for some strange reason he did a terrible thing and that thing can erase his entire career.
I prefer to remember Benoit as a great wrestler, I prefer to think of him as a ring technician, no I'm not saying it's a matter of pride but at least remember his talent in the ring.
This DVD is great if you want to look and to remember Benoit for what he was best: A WRESTLER.
Movie Review: Actual Review about a WRESTLING DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been a wrestling fan since 1996 and have watched all kinds of wrestling. I have a wrestling DVD/VHS collection spanning over 50 all together. This is the most complete and accurate review of this DVD you will find. I hope you find this review helpful; remember to vote helpful or not helpful. (Note-Each DVD I review has a "Match of the DVD" award somewhere in it.)
Hard Knocks- The Chris Benoit Story
Chris Benoit was one of the greatest wrestlers ever. No one can deny that. No matter what he did, we will not discuss the murders, he was did an amazing wrestler. This DVD set tells the story of a man that worked so hard to get what he achieved in his professional wrestler career. How this man went from growing up and working out all the time, to becoming World Heavyweight Champion at WWE WrestleMania XX.
Chris Benoit, with the help of his family and other wrestlers, tells his story. He talks about his days in Stu Hart's Dungeon, to his days in Japan, WCW, and his move to the WWE. You'll hear about his feuds with The Rock, Booker T, Kurt Angle, and many more. Benoit also gives a few very heart felt comments about Owen Hart's death and his match with Bret Hart that paid tribute to Owen Hart. This documentary ends with Chris Benoit winning the prestigious World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania XX.
The documentary itself is very good. It's only an hour long, but it is a very worthwhile hour. I enjoy the parts about Japan, and how excited Benoit was to travel when he first began wrestling. Mostly the documentary highlights Benoit's top feuds and matches. I wish Benoit had told more about his conflict with Kevin Sullivan.
Before I go into the extras, I will say that although this is packed with matches, it lacked some matches. I want to see: Benoit/Rock from WWE - Fully Loaded 2000, the Triple Threat from WWE WrestleMania April 2, 2000, and Benoit/Angle from WWE WrestleMania X-Seven.
Extras Include-
-Disc 1-
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title (Tokyo, Japan 8/19/90)
Pegasus Kid (Benoit) VS Jushin "Thunder" Liger(c)
WWE has done some great with New Japan Pro Wrestling and has gained rights to use some of Benoit's early matches. This match start off slow and with a ton of submission moves. The match doesn't really pick up until the end. Still, it's cool to see Benoit in his early days.
RATING- 7.5/10
Chris Benoit VS Too Cold Scorpio (WCW Superbrawl 93)
This is another one of Benoit's early matches. These two put on a technical showdown. Scorpio is amazing with the way he can counter some moves. The match is really fast paced, but slows down again in the middle. The match was had a 20 minute time limit and actually ended at 19 minutes 59 seconds. Good way to end it.
RATING- 8.5/10
Super J Cup Tournament Semifinals (Tokyo, Japan 4/16/94)
Wild Pegasus (Benoit) VS Black Tiger (Eddie Guerrero)
This is an awesome match between two great competitors. It's a technical showdown much like you would expect. Benoit ends it with a pretty cool move.
RATING- 9/10
Super J Cup Tournament Finals (Tokyo, Japan 4/16/94) (Match of the DVD)
Wild Pegasus (Benoit) VS Great Sasuke
This match was truly amazing. It has the right length for the final match in this prestigious tournament, and is full of amazing wrestling and near falls. Every single moment seems like the end of the match as you get close to the end. Sasuke is a very good high flyer and shows it off greatly in this match. Truly, this is one of Benoit's best matches.
RATING- 10/10
Chris Benoit VS Sabu (ECW November 2 Remember 94)
This match doesn't last long as it's the match that Chris Benoit breaks Sabu's neck in the opening minutes. It's a sick sight to see, but this isn't a match.
RATING- No Rating
Chris Benoit VS Al Snow (ECW Double Tables 2/4/95)
Don't make the mistake that I made and think that this match is a double tables match. It's not; that is just the name of the event. The match starts off with some nice technical wrestling, but eventually just becomes Benoit beating on Snow. It gets better toward the end.
RATING- 7.5/10
-Disc 2-
Chris Benoit VS Eddie Guerrero (WCW Monday Nitro 10/16/95)
This is one of their early matches in WCW. Both excite the crowd with highflying, high impact moves. It's very good as far as Nitro standards are concerned.
RATING- 8/10
Falls Count Anywhere (WCW Great American Bash 96)
Chris Benoit VS Kevin Sullivan
Benoit was a part of the 4 Horsemen at the time, and Sullivan was a part of The Dungeon of Doom. Both brawl through the crowd and into in Men's restroom. Sullivan doesn't know how to sell at all and it get really annoying seeing him pretend nothing hurts him the entire match.
RATING- 8/10
Best of Seven- Finals (WCW Great American Bash 98)
Chris Benoit VS Booker T
The winner of this bout would go on to face Fit Finlay later on in the night for the WCW Television Championship. This is a solid match up, but I felt Benoit dominated a little too match.
RATING- 8/10
Owen Hart Tribute Match
Chris Benoit VS Bret Hart (WCW Monday Nitro 10/4/99)
I feel that this match is over rated by a lot of people for what it stands for. It was a good technical battle, but it's not the best match you'll ever see.
RATING- 8/10
WCW Championship (WCW Souled Out 2000)
Chris Benoit VS Sid Vicious
Benoit was leaving and WCW would do anything to keep him. They even gave him the Championship after he said he was leaving. Benoit would leave the next night. This is a solid match, but it is nothing compared to his next World Title win at Wrestlemania XX.
RATING- 8/10
Chris Benoit VS William Regal (Brian Pillman Tribute Show 5/26/00)
This was a match that has never been seen on national television. Both men give their all and put on an outstanding match. Regal bleeds after a vicious headbutt. Commentator Jim Powers talks about how they match every move count.
RATING- 8.5/10
Steel Cage Match (Raw 6/11/01)
Chris Benoit VS Kurt Angle
These men have had a huge feud and are often considered the best pair you can put together. Now they collide in a Steel Cage. Steve Austin is doing commentary, and he often times involves himself in the match to cost Benoit the victory. Benoit hits an insane diving headbutt, and Angle hits a gruesome Moonsault off the Steel Cage that misses. How could they top this?
RATING- 9/10
WWE Championship (Royal Rumble 2003)
Chris Benoit VS Kurt Angle(c)
They topped it. The match starts off at a mellow pace but builds quickly. Angle takes a DDT on the apron and busts his nose. Once the match picks up these guys are going counter for counter. In the end Benoit loses to the Angle Lock, but he proved he can be Champion.
RATING- 10/10
World Heavyweight Championship (Wrestlemania XX)
Chris Benoit VS Triple H(c) VS Shawn Michaels
Benoit finally, after 18 years, wins the big one. This isn't a WCW Title that was used as a bribe to him; Benoit won this one because he is the best. One of the best matches of that night and a great celebration afterward.
RATING- 9.5/10
The Neck Injury
Crossface Collection
Raw Magazine Cover Shoot
Easter Egg- Hold down right on the 2nd page until it goes to the tooth. Benoit's father tells the story of how Benoit lost his tooth.
Movie Review: 'Innocence' lost.
Summary: 5 Stars
Chris Benoit was the greatest wrestler of his generation, a two-time World Heavyweight Champion in the two biggest promotions the industry has ever seen, and a man who managed to get almost every single fan on his side with no gimmicks and through nothing more than being the very best at what he did. His career has seen a myriad of legendary contests - his Best of Seven series with Booker T in WCW, his matches with Dean Malenko and Eddie Guerrero in WCW and ECW, his ladder match with Chris Jericho at the 2001 Royal Rumble, his matches with Kurt Angle in 2001 and later at the 2003 Royal Rumble, and of course his run in the early part of 2004 that saw him sky-rocket his way into legacy status. The death of Guerrero (and, later, Mike Durham) in November two years ago may very well have gone some way towards robbing Benoit of his marbles, but you'd have to believe that the tragic double-murder/suicide that Chris supposedly carried out in July of this year was the result of concussions and injuries sustained in the ring. And, when you see just how much he put into every single appearence he made, it's not difficult to understand. Here's a man who jumped face-first out of the ring straight through a chair and into the barricade. A man who broke his neck in 2001, and whose primary finishing move was a headbutt from the top rope. Benoit gave it all to the profession he loved, and in hindsight he gave too much. His departed wife and son are the proof of that. I miss Benoit deeply and I wish he'd never left, but more to the point he has two remaining children who've just lost their father, stepmother and half brother this year. Do you really think it helps them when they see hot-headed, arrogant and idiotic comments made about how Benoit is in hell or was 'cold-blooded' from people who never met him and have done absolutely no research? No, it doesn't. And those that continue these attacks are of a more distinguished and detestable evil than Chris has been made out to be. If any good has come out of this, it's that it is now easier than ever to tell the difference between someone who's legitimately concerned, and someone who's using events to their own narcissistic advantages.
Anyway, I've rambled for a bit too long, so I'll wrap this up. Buy the DVD. Show the WWE that they can do all they want to pretend he never existed, but they'll never take away the memories or the respect. Survivor Series proved this, as the crowd cheered and a small but noticable section chanted 'Benoit' when Shawn Michaels applied the Crossface to Randy Orton. If you want this DVD, and you want to appreciate the most amazing of careers, do yourself a favour - make your own mind up.
Movie Review: I Can't Believe It!
Summary: 4 Stars
When I heard of the Benoit family tragedy, at first I thought maybe it was a robber might've broke into their house, or maybe carbon monixide poisoning, But I never would've thought that Chris killed his family, then hung himself!!! Even though WWE wants to erase benoit from their company, they cannot deny the fact that Benoit worked very hard to bring us fans great matches & this dvd showcases them. He tells his story as well, which I thought was interesting. Even though I feel disguisted about this whole tragedy thing, I still think Benoit was one of the best wrestlers. Shame he ended his life & those he loved.Movie Review: Amazing collection for the Benoit fan. Not extraordinary for the non-fan
Summary: 4 Stars
Immediately in the documentary, you know Benoit is not a storyteller. Luckily, the WWE seems to recognize this, and has most of the story be told via pictures, videos, and other people. The documentary I found to be astounding not just because of the career of Chris Benoit, but because it showed me a Chris Benoit I had never seen before, and while I was already stunned when he killed his wife and son and himself two months ago, watching the documentary only made it that much more unbelievable. To me, it would be the equivalent of finding out Mick Foley is a pedophile and drug addict.
While I am not necessarily a Benoit fan (even before the murder-suicide) I apparently didn't get as much out of the documentary as a true fan might. It just seemed to me to skip about from place to place, from his days in Japan, to suddenly bolting to ECW, with brief mention of his WCW days before ECW, to his return to WCW and come to WWF/WWE. Benoit seems to be too shy of a person to really have enough charisma to do his story justice, which is why it's best to have other people telling most of the story for him.
The bonus matches take up a good 60 to 70% of the DVD collection, featuring matches from IWGP, WCW, ECW, WWF (though edited due to WWE), and his match at the Brian Pillman tribute show in 2000. Most of the matches are excellent displays of Benoit's talent, from the match against Eddie Guerrero on Nitro, to the match against Kurt Angle in June 2001. Some of the matches, though, are duds, such as the Brian Pillman tribute show against William Regal. The commentators claim that Benoit and Regal are pulling off a perfect technical wrestling match, ignoring the fan's cries for more action, but after 7 or 8 minutes of it, I just couldn't take it anymore. It was just lock after lock after hold after 3 pinfall attempts in a row and it was trash.
Mostly, the DVD is a well-put together documentary retrospect on the career of Chris Benoit. And I don't think the murder-suicide of Benoit and his family taint his legacy or this DVD collection at all. If anything, I believe this DVD makes him appear a tragic figure, a hero to many and a shy, good-natured man. The real Chris Benoit fans would greatly enjoy this. Not being a Benoit fan myself, I enjoyed it.