Beyond The Mat - Director's Cut
 
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Beyond The Mat - Director's Cut (2000)

Rated: NR | Format: DVD
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews) |

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Product Details

  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • DVD Release Date: August 22, 2000
  • Run Time: 108 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004U8H3
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,457 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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  • Learn more about "Beyond The Mat - Director's Cut" on IMDb

Special Features

  • Feature Commentaries by Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Barry W. Blaustein
  • Director's Cut featuring 6 minutes of Deleted Footage

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

At first, this behind-the-scenes documentary about professional wrestling seems as if it 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 (a Saturday Night Live veteran who has cowritten 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

Product Description

Barry Blaustein's critically acclaimed documentary about wrestling takes viewers beyond the ring and into the lives of the men and women who inhabit this colorful, competitive, and surprisingly complex world. During the five years he spent working on the film, Blaustein discovered that the control wrestlers exert in the ring is often contrasted by the lack of control they have in their own lives. Some pursue dreams--others are pursued by personal demons. Always relaying his love and respect for his subject matter, Blaustein travels on the open road with the wrestlers, shares their most intimate moments with their families, and witnesses their victories and defeats in the ring. 108 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I purchased this under the impression that all the features from the first disc would be retained, in addition to adding a new commentary with Jesse Ventura and Mick Foley and an interview with them as well. The new Ventura/Foley commentary is nothing special as they only talk for a total of about half the movie, and for some reason it's an intrusive video commentary where the disc pauses to switch tracks every time it comes on - would have been much better to just let them talk the entire time and leave it as an audio only track.

My problem here is, they removed the director only commentary and also the Mick Foley solo commentaries from the previous disc. I don't see why this happened, as the Terry Funk & director commentary from the previous disc IS still on there. It's not like they couldn't have fit all of it on one disc.

A very solid documentary that everyone should check out if they have not already, but I'd advise picking up the previous release, as the special features are stronger.

For the sake of completeness, I'd give the original DVD relase 4 stars.

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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
This movie takes an inside look at the world of pro wrestling. You see the stars of today's wrestling world as you have never seen them before, the personal side. Featured in the flim is best selling author and hardcore icon Mankind (or Mick Foley). In one scene you see Mick's wife break down into tears, as she shields the couple's children as Mick gets cracked in the head a whopping 10 times in the head with a steel chair. Also doucumented in the film is Jake "The Snake" Roberts and his battle with personal demons. Hardcore legeng Terry Funk is also showcased. This is not just a movie for wrestling fans as it is a story of human emotions and insterst and not a vechile to promote the sports entertainment industry.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
What a GREAT documentary! September 14, 2000
By Che
Format:DVD
Beyond the Mat is a documentary of professional wrestling. It shows behind the scenes footage and lives of wrestlers. People from independent wrestling organizations to Extreme Championship Wrestling to the greater then all World Wrestling Federation (sorry Turner, no World Championship Wrestling in this movie!). It was great because it was non-biased. It's cool to see wrestlers at ease behind stage. Talking and hanging around with one another knowing that they have to wrestle each other in a few minutes! The movie has some footage of Vince McMahon, owner of the WWF. It proves once and for all that he is "THE MAN", and that he can make you or break you in the industry. The movie focused on the lives of 3 wrestlers, Terry Funk (now 56, has retired and come back as much as Ozzy!), the once famous Superstar Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Mick Foley (aka Cactus Jack, Mankind, Dude Love). I don't want to spoil the movie by going over their lives. I'll tell you one thing though, the shocker for me was Jake the Snake! Once the biggest star of the WWF, now turned into a has-been crack addict. Wow, what a story! That's just a part of his life, you should see the rest of it, it's pretty sad! The documentary also talks about the struggles of trying to become a pro wrestler, pretty much getting payed nothing. You have people that work as an airline mechanic, a kindergarden teacher etc. It's a great movie, even if your not a fan of professional wrestling. This is one of the best documentaries that I've ever seen.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
ooohhhh what a rush.
If you like wrestling (WWF) then check out this video. Some great behind the scenes stuff. Follows wrestlers from a few different eras, my favorite was Mankind (who turns out to be... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jeremy Ogre
Skip Rourke's Wrestler, Watch This Instead
A few years ago, I was very excited to watch Mickey Rourke's film "The Wrestler". However, upon viewing the film, I was left feeling disappointed with the project but couldn't... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Zachary Koenig
Beyond The Mat is Real, Intense and will make you look at pro...
Beyond The Mat

This was another movie that just took me way too long to see. I have heard nothing but good reviews about this movie and now I can see why. Read more
Published 17 months ago by alex fryling
Beyond The Mat
Excellent film, well done, fast paced. It is both happy and said as we see some living tragedies and triumphs.
Published 17 months ago by skipper
Good movie!
A must have for any wrestling fan. Beyond the Mat gives a pretty detailed look into the world of professional wrestling. It even shows a brief clip of a wrestling school. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Aaron
Theater for the Masses
Beyond the Mat is a documentary that looks at life on the pro wrestling circuit. Filmmaker Barry Blaustein grew up a wrestling fan. Read more
Published 23 months ago by stoic
Like 'The Wrester', but for real
This is an entertaing documentary about what happens behind the scenes in pro-wrestling. Images like Mike Foley's kids watching his dad being hit with a chair are haunting but I... Read more
Published on April 4, 2010 by Keyzer Soze
my darling clementine
geat movie to begin with , love the extras great bonus i didnt count on getting. commentary is great, and frontier sherriff is a great flick as well.
Published on January 10, 2010 by Eugene Giunta III
Fantastic analysis of Soap Opera for Men
A true life version of the Wrestler - much better than the imitation. This covers the Real Life implications of a very physical form of Entertainment. Read more
Published on July 25, 2009 by therosen
A true look into the world of Professional Wrestling
This video goes into detail about how real the wrestling world is. As far as documenaries go, this is a great look into Professional wrestling. Read more
Published on June 7, 2009 by Richard Pellegrini
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Why rated R? 0 Jun 27, 2007
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