My title is taken from a line almost at the start of Beyond The Mat, and it's the common stereotypical view of non-wrestling fans. What sort of a person enjoys a ‘sport’, in which people beat each other up, except they don't really, because it's scripted, choreographed, rehearsed, ... Read review
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it ... more
will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment", as it is known. But director Barry Blaustein (aSaturd...
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Beyond The Spotlight, Beyond the Pain, BEYOND THE MAT is a hard-hitting, no holds barred ... more
expose of professional wrestling that the WWF's Vince McMahon tried to ban. Be prepared to be shocked; be prepared to be sickened; be prepared to see things you ha...
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it ... more
will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment", as it is known. But director Barry Blaustein (aSaturd...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Beyond The Spotlight Beyond the Pain BEYOND THE MAT is a hard-hitting no holds barred ... more
expose of professional wrestling that the WWF's Vince McMahon tried to ban. Be prepared to be shocked; be prepared to be sickened; be prepared to see things you ha...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it ... more
will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment", as it is known. But director Barry Blaustein (aSaturday Night Liveveteran who has co-written many of Eddie Murphy's films) goes much deeper than you'd expect in a film that is at once entertaining and disturbing. By focusing on a trio of wrestlers who give him surprising access, Blaustein uncovers human stories that can be wrenching in their stark honesty. That's particularly true of one-time superstar Jake "the Snake" Roberts, whose career has fallen on hard times because of a crack habit; Roberts brings Blaustein along for his first encounter in several years with his grown, estranged daughter. Blaustein also goes into the lives of Terry Funk and Mick "Mankind" Foley in ways that are both revealing and, at times, upsetting. More than just a fan's appreciation, this is that rare documentary that shows you sides of a familiar subject you never knew existed. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Postage & Packaging:free Super Saver Delivery Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it ... more
will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment", as it is known. But director Barry Blaustein (aSaturday Night Liveveteran who has co-written many of Eddie Murphy's films) goes much deeper than you'd expect in a film that is at once entertaining and disturbing. By focusing on a trio of wrestlers who give him surprising access, Blaustein uncovers human stories that can be wrenching in their stark honesty. That's particularly true of one-time superstar Jake "the Snake" Roberts, whose career has fallen on hard times because of a crack habit; Roberts brings Blaustein along for his first encounter in several years with his grown, estranged daughter. Blaustein also goes into the lives of Terry Funk and Mick "Mankind" Foley in ways that are both revealing and, at times, upsetting. More than just a fan's appreciation, this is that rare documentary that shows you sides of a familiar subject you never knew existed. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it ... more
will be an unabashed fan's whitewash of the increasingly bizarre and popular world of "sports entertainment", as it is known. But director Barry Blaustein (aSaturday Night Liveveteran who has co-written many of Eddie Murphy's films) goes much deeper than you'd expect in a film that is at once entertaining and disturbing. By focusing on a trio of wrestlers who give him surprising access, Blaustein uncovers human stories that can be wrenching in their stark honesty. That's particularly true of one-time superstar Jake "the Snake" Roberts, whose career has fallen on hard times because of a crack habit; Roberts brings Blaustein along for his first encounter in several years with his grown, estranged daughter. Blaustein also goes into the lives of Terry Funk and Mick "Mankind" Foley in ways that are both revealing and, at times, upsetting. More than just a fan's appreciation, this is that rare documentary that shows you sides of a familiar subject you never knew existed. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com
Postage & Packaging:£2.69 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Rare behind the scenes footage Disadvantages: Slightly dated
...almost at the start of Beyond The Mat, and it's the common stereotypical view of non-wrestling fans. What sort of a person enjoys a ‘sport’, in which people beat each other up, except they don't really, because it's scripted, choreographed, rehearsed, and fake!
Beyond The Mat is a gritty documentary about life outside of the wrestling ring, the real people outside of their character castings, and the dedication it takes ... ...the future.
Beyond The Mat was the brainchild of Barry Blaustein. Although a wrestling fan for many years, he even states himself that he wouldn't admit watching it to many people. But his fascination with the pantomime and pageantry, the glitz and glamour of it all leads him to seek out the truth. He travels the US to get behind the scenes footage and interviews with past and present stars.
My title is taken from a line almost at the start of Beyond The Mat, and it's the common stereotypical view of non-wrestling fans. What sort of a person enjoys a ‘sport’, in which people beat each other up, except they don't really, because it's scripted, choreographed, rehearsed, and fake!
Beyond The Mat is a gritty documentary about life outside of the wrestling ring, the real people outside of their character castings, and the dedication it takes to make it to stardom. Beyond the mat, behind the scenes, an eye opener for the critics maybe?
I won't kid myself for one minute that those with no interest whatsoever in wrestling would watch and find themselves with a sudden affinity for it. But those with an open mind might just display a little more tolerance of it in the future.
Beyond The Mat was the brainchild of Barry Blaustein. Although a wrestling fan for many years, he even states himself that he wouldn't admit watching it to many people. But his fascination with the pantomime and pageantry, the glitz and glamour of it all leads him to seek out the truth. He travels the US to get behind the scenes footage and interviews with past and present stars.
Between cuts of back stage at WWF and ECW, Blaustein visits a wrestling school where a $500 deposit is required just to get started. These wrestlers rarely make the professional circuit and, according to some that he spoke to, are paid only if they perform well on the night - even then, just a pittance of between $20 and $30.
He tracks down ex WWF star Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, supporting a cocaine habit and estranged from his family, and Terry Funk, a veteran of both the US and Japanese wrestling circuits whose addiction is to wrestling itself.
The most interesting 'profile' to me though was Mick Foley - aka Cactus Jack, Mankind, and Dude Love. A man renowned for pushing himself to the outermost limits to give a performance people will remember him for. Such a down to earth guy, he doesn't see himself as anything special - just a regular guy that can withstand more pain than most people.
As a family man, the interviews aren't just with Mick himself, but with his wife and kids. You see that despite getting totally distraught as they watching Mick wrestle, they're still supportive - behind him and everything the profession means to him - and very very proud.
Beyond The Mat doesn't gloss over the parts that fuel the cynics. You see the scriptwriters explaining what they really want from a scene, the wrestlers rehearsing moves and feigning their pain, but you also see the reality of it all - real success, failure, blood, pain, and career threatening injuries.
Two guys from the featured wrestling school get a WWF trial. They're put before a full arena of wrestling fans to do their stuff. It's filmed and played back, critically analysed behind the scenes. They never get a call back, so it's the end of that particular dream for them.
It's also admittedly humorous, OTT, and typically 'showbiz' in places - one clip shows an interview between Vince McMahon (WWF owner) and a man whose main talent is the ability to throw up on demand. He's taken on, with the apt name of 'Puke'.
You get to see a cross section of wrestling life, the good, the bad, and the ugly so to speak. Call it sport, or just a glorified soap opera, it's enlightening if nothing else.
Whilst I wouldn't rush out and buy the video, I'm glad I caught it on TV. It didn't shatter any illusions for me, I did already know it was 'fake' for want of a better word. If anything, it increased my admiration of these guys who will put their bodies through hell to entertain time and time again.
I've been asked before would I like my son sitting down in front of the TV watching wrestling? Well, I know that it's not as productive as sitting at a desk learning his times tables, but he could be doing many far worse things.
Beyond The Mat is a 1999 production, a 98-minute documentary with a 15 rating (no doubt due to the sometimes violent scenes and rather colourful language). It's an eye opener to those who are prepared to give it a chance.
I'll leave you with one final thought in answer to my title question. Can you imagine the level of a mind that watches wrestling? It's not a level of mind; it's a state of mind, simply an open mind!
Advantages: No holds barred look at wrestling Disadvantages: NA
Beyond the mat is a documentary style film by Barry Blaustein, who confesses to being a big wrestling fan and has been for years. the documentary mainly covers 3 particular wrestlers, for those reading this who are not that knowledgable on wrestling, i will explain some background on the wrestlers: Terry Funk: a wrestling legend who first announced that he was going to retire in 1983 and remarkably is still wrestling today in 2003! Funk is a hardcore ... ...outcome of the match is still decided before the match takes place but they use various weapons sich as, barbed wire, thumbtacks, glass and fire! and any thing else they lay their hands on really. a lot of these matches take place in Japan but some in the USA as well. he also has wrestled in WCW and WWF so he is a very well respected wrestler. Jake the snake Roberts: most fans will have heard of Jake, he was one of the leading wrestlers in the WWF ...
pdogg 08.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Beyond The Mat (DVD)
Advantages: an large eye-opener, brutal and disturbing, amusing Disadvantages: none
...do defy logic. Beyond The Mat is a documentary that goes behind the scenes of the 'sport'. It mainly focuses on three wrestlers at different stages of their lives and careers. It also shows that not everything is the big event show that the WWF produces. The first wrestler featured is Mick Foley, a man known as a hardcore legend as he puts his body through some amazing pain just for the show. He also loves his profession but aside from grappling ... ...a worrying wife. We get his family's point of view on his profession as well as seeing what he goes through in the ring. One part of the film shows him in a main event with his family in the front row. What occurs drives his wife and daughter to tears and later we see him with a large gash on his head. The second wrestler is Terry Funk, a wrestling legend respected by everyone and one of the oldest guys in the game. We see his family life as very ...
utero 17.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Beyond The Mat (DVD)
Beyond The Mat is a video documentary which tells it how it really is inthe world of wrestling. of course most of us intelligent minded adults will immediately turn up our noses and laugh at this kind of thing, we grew up with it being fake and looking at it now, it looks even worse than ever. Interesting to note when watching this video then that its not all quite as fake as we all first thought. I have to say that I am not a fan of wrestling, and ... ...inmy household decided that they might like to watch it. They are a fan and I sometimes get to sit through the ridiculous pagaentry which is WWF. This video doesn't however focus on the big stars of the current WWF but rather follows the hopes and fortunes of some of its big names form the past such as Jake The Snake Roberts and Terry Funk...two names which meant nothing to me until I saw this documentary. It also looks at the grass roots of wrestling ...
wampyrii 02.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Beyond The Mat (DVD)
Advantages: An unusually frank look behind the scenes at the usually secretive WWF; in-depth looks at how wrestling affects not just the performers, but their families. Disadvantages: The film was in production for a long time, so some footage is dated.
A documentary about wrestling? But how can you make a factual film about something that's fake? Look closer and you will see that behind the scenes, or, if you will "Beyond The Mat", there is far more to this "sport" than meets the eye.
Everyone knows that wrestling is not a "legitimate" sport, and Barry Blaustein never sets out to convince us that it is. Instead, this is a look into the inner machinations of a business that has for decades been ... ...time backstage at WWF events, including the headache inducing scenario of one prospective wrestler being offered a contract purely because of his ability to vomit on demand, whilst two others put on an impressive match before a TV taping, and never hear from the Federation again. But, as many fans know, that's wrestling. The fact is, though, that Blaustein has managed to create a piece which will interest even people who have no predeliction for ...
spacemonkey 12.07.2001 (08.03.2002)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Beyond The Mat (DVD)
Advantages: Easy to follow, simplistic Disadvantages: No storyline, a lack of cinematic techniques
...book he metions the film Beyond The Mat. It was this metion that made me want ot go and buy the film, so when i finally found a copy of it i bought it. When i started to watch the film I thought that it wouldn't be able to surprise me with it's contents but to my surprise it was a fairly in depth look at the wrestling industry from the viewpoint of a lifetime fan of the sport, Barry Blaustein. The film opens with Barry sitting in front of a TV with ... ...the sport. Then it dives into the details of the corporation known as the WWF. Although it does show the inner-workings of a business which is known for being 'fake' as far as that term will carry. However, this image of wrestling not hurting is soon put down as Blaustein shows in-depth segments of the careers of wrestlers such as Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and other not so well known wrestlers. In the middle section of the ...
Craggles84 11.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Beyond The Mat (DVD)
Documentaries & Biographies - Entertainment Documentary
Classification
18 years and over
Production Year
1999
Running Time
1 hour 45 minutes
Plot
A no-holds-barred expose of prosessional wrestling with no script for what happens outside the ring and no script for what happens in this video... Features Mankind, Terry Funk, The Rock, Vince McMahon, Chyna and Jake 'The Snake' Roberts.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK; UNIVERSAL MUSIC OPERATIONS
Release date
18/09/2000
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
078 070 2
Barcode
0044007807026
Screenwriter
Barry W. Blaustein, Ron Howard
Editor
Jeff Werner
Composer
Nathan Barr
Featured
Mankind, Terry Funk, Vince McMahon, Jake The Snake Roberts, Jesse Ventura, Ron Howard
"...Spirited....[Wrestling] nonfans will be simultaneously appalled and fascinated..." -- 3 out of 5 stars -- A Satisfying Rental (Premiere, p.88, 01/10/2000)
"...There is something moving, challenging and surprising about these men's lives..." (Sight and Sound, p.38, 01/09/2000)
"...An emotional and evocative document of the professional wrestling scene....A gently and genuinely observed film..." (Variety, p.38-9, 25/10/1999)
DVD Description
Filmmaker Barry W. Blaustein takes a look at the professional wrestling game at every level, from the hopeful, perhaps deluded beginners who spend their money on wrestling schools, to the lower levels of the profession, to the pinnacle of wrestling success: national fame in the WWF. Particularly fascinating are Blaustein's examinations of Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Mick "Mankind" Foley. Roberts was once a superstar in the WWF, but evidently drugs and alcohol destroyed his career, and left him a broken and bitter man, wrestling on the outer reaches of the pro circuit. In a poignant scene, Blaustein captures a painful reunion between Roberts and his adult daughter. Foley, on the other hand, is a tremendous success in the WWF and a devoted husband and father. But the violence of his profession still threatens to tear his family apart. Blaustein makes no bones about his perspective in making his film. He's a wrestling fan. That said, the film offers an honest view of the outrageous and controversial world of professional wrestling. Though the outcomes of matches are usually predetermined making it a different kind of sport, pro wrestling is certainly a demanding and brutal way of life.
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