Customer Reviews

Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows - 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I still remember when this documentary first aired back in '98 or so (the DVD is the 10-year anniversary of the original DVD, as opposed to when the documentary first aired). I believe it aired on A&E or one of those similar cable channels. Basically, a camera crew followed around WWF (now known as "WWE") wrestler, Bret Hart, filming his WWE professional life and personal life including his contract negotations with WWE owner Vince McMahon. The documentary is somewhat unique as up until this point there had been little done or shown behind-the-scenes on pro wrestling. Further, it just so happened that the year that was filmed led up to...and included...one of the most renowned and "real-life" controversies in the recent history of pro-wrestling "The Montreal Screwjob." (Granted, this documentary may have helped make it one of the most memorable and controversial events...). Since the night of "the Screwjob," everyone involved has had their say on what happened... Wellllll (as "Hawk" would say), on this DVD you'll see exactly who got caught on camera saying what (and lying to Bret's face). If you have an opinion...or interest...you'll want to watch it. If you don't have an opinion or know the full story, you might decide to "wikipedia" it after watching this...there have been various "revelations" made in the years since, including admissions by Shawn Michaels. It's a prime example of how - as strange as wrestling storylines may seem to many - the behind-the-scenes stories can be just as unusual!

Beyond the "screwjob," there's much more covered in this documentary including Bret's struggles to balance his family life and wrestling career, his negotiations with Vince up until the time Bret departed the WWE, and battles with himself trying to decide what was best to do. Some of the "spin" around that time was that Bret and others "sold out" and left Vince McMahon and the WWE in a bind; but again this documentary provides new insight about that - at least as far as Bret goes. I also found memorable a scene with Bret expressing to some fellow wrestlers his true feelings about other wrestlers (such as Michaels and Triple H), and on the direction and storylines the Federation was taking.

Overall, after viewing this I definitely came away thinking that Bret was "old-school" and a "traditionalist" struggling in a business that seemed to be changing from what he believed it was or should be. Bret is an interesting study - he's a hero in Canada, the all-time favorite of many wrestling fans, and clearly drew strong opinions about the changing sport and the way he was dis-loyally treated. But others see him as inflexible and taking things a little too seriously, which may have led to his bitterness. After viewing this the viewer can draw their own opinion...but if you know Bret's full story you cannot argue that he sacrificed all (and paid a very heavy toll indeed) for the sport that he dedicated his life to!

I would add this DVD isn't very redundant even if you've seen the Brett Hart DVD set or read his book (and I recommend those if you're a WWE or Bret Hart fan too).

New to this "10-year anniversary" edition are additional updated interviews ("10 years later..." with Bret and others) as well as a documentary on the life and death of Owen Hart (Bret's younger brother, also a wrestler, who died doing a stunt during a "pay-per-view" event that took place not long after Bret left the WWE...and yet the PPV event continued!!!).

i have watched this documentary over and over it never gets old. bret hart was my favorite wrestler growing up and to see his career in the wwf end like it did was truly heartbreaking. wrestling with shadows is a movie about what goes on behind the curtain,how match outcomes are determined etc.. its a story of loyalty and betrayal. a must have for any wrestling fan. i also enjoyed the bonus dvd the life and death of owen hart it takes you through his whole career leading up to the circumstances surrounding his untimely death in 1999.it was shorter than bret's but i still enjoyed it.

I am a pleased owner of this two disc set and its an amazing documentary. I love documentaries and this is one of my all time favorite films. I don't want to get into a debate of wrestling and its sub plots but lets suffice to say this exposes much of the hype and behind the scenes politics. The back stabbing that went on during this period are legendary in wrestling circles and the actors/athletes that double crossed Brett Hart went on to make a fortune in the game which shows you how little honor has to do with anything anymore. The bonus disc on his brother Owen who tragically died in a poorly planned and ridiculously dangerous stunt in conjunction with another event could be of interest again to non wrestling fans. I can't recommend this highly enough truly a 5 star film.

I have been looking forward to watching this for quite some time now; the documentary "wrestling with shadows" is fascinating enough. I've got to say though, that Bret comes off as being very bitter and full of regret; not the best way for people to remember one of the all time greats. The drama and politicing are very interesting and provide lots of insight into the wrestling biz, but I can't help but feeling that this is a bitter propaganda piece meant to smear Vinnie Mac. The real heart of this set comes through in disc 2, which chronicles the life and death of Owen. It also features interviews with the filmaker and Bret from 10 years after the movie release, which shows Bret in a much more thoughtful (and less bitter) light. A word of warning: this movie is a DVD-R; worth every penny for a die-hard fan, but non-collectors may be a bit put off.

Documentaries and biographies are tough to recommend, because whether you like them depends on how familiar you are with the subject? Would I have loved "Hoop Dreams" if I didn't grow in the western suburbs of Chicago? Would I have loved "Waiting For 'Superman'" if my mother hadn't been an educator & school administrator? Would I have loved "An Inconvenient Truth" if I had done my research and learned more about the environment? Would I have loved "Beyond The Mat" if I wasn't a wrestling fan?

"Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows" is no exception. I am a fan of televised pro wrestling, especially the WWE (formerly known as the WWF). I've enjoyed this kind of entertainment for as long as I can remember, and I've been fascinated with the behind-the-scenes aspect since about the time this movie since premiered in the late '90s.

This documentary follows Bret Hart, the WWF's then-current champion, in last few months as he's on his way to leaving the company to work for a competing promotion. Hart's career with the WWF has been a successful one, but like most stories from the world of entertainment, there's a darker side. The final months with the WWF are becoming stressful and confusing. Hart's final chapter with the company is to work with a fellow wrestler named Shawn Michaels; both men have an intense dislike for each other.

Even the quiet, tender moments with the Hart Family seem to have an undercurrent of sadness. Bret's father, Stu, was a tough-as-nails father, who trains wrestlers by applying painful holds in his "Dungeon". His mother, Helen, has always hated the fact that the family is involved in the pro wrestling business, and it's been over 40 years! And the 12 Hart children were picked on when they were kids because their father was a wrestling promoter.

It's not all heartbreak, however. In a weird way, Bret Hart seems to be having a lot of fun working with his brother and in-laws with the WWF's current script for him, even when the backstage drama gets frustrating. His son, Blade, travels with him to the shows. The cast of characters are unique and diverse, and seem to get along with Bret Hart pretty well. There's a terrific part of the documentary when the WWF is coming to the Hart Family's hometown of Calgary, Canada, and the whole family gets involved with a tag team match involving 10 guys. The crowd applauds & cheers to a fever pitch.

It's difficult to explain "Wrestling With Shadows" because pro wrestling, unlike movies or TV, spent many years keeping the secrets & tricks away from the general audience. The whole business thrives on a glorified con where reality is questioned? When someone gets hurt, are they faking it? If someone really gets hurt, do the fans even know? When Bret Hart's final performance for the WWF ends in a confusing controversy, I've always questioned whether pro wrestling fans really understood what went down before Bret Hart and WWF owner Vince McMahon addressed the situation to the media. I won't give away the controversial turn-of-events; diehard fans already know what happens, & newcomers deserve to see it for themselves.

But will newcomers and non-fans get into "Wrestling With Shadows"? I personally think they will, although not for the reasons Bret Hart and director Paul Jay claim to. The documentary began partially because they wanted to give a realistic (albeit sympathetic) look at a pro wrestler's day-to-day life. On that level, "Wrestling With Shadows" works, especially because it does a good job of keeping things focused and tight. Many wrestling documentaries tend to make references that newcomers don't understand, so it's a great relief that Paul Jay and his team didn't fall into that trap.

However, when the story ends, I don't think the documentary becomes an indictment of the pro wrestling business. Its cynical look at the business somehow erases all of the pleasant memories from one's mind. What is the documentary trying to say? I don't think Paul Jay really has an answer. I know wrestling fans will get into this because this was the most fair-and-balanced document we had of went down at the Molson Centre in Montreal during Bret Hart's final perofrmance. However, I think people unfamiliar with the WWF are going to wonder what the big deal? Why should they care?

It's my opinion that in "Wrestling With Shadows", Paul Jay acheived the hard part and slipped up on the easy part. He somehow made pro wrestling understandable to the untrained viewer, much like "Beyond The Mat" did. But he doesn't answer the most basic question: What's the point? If the pro wrestling industry indeed has a dark side to it, then why should we care? If Bret Hart's legacy with the WWF isn't a happy story, then what's the aftermath? These are questions I feel casual viewers won't be able to answer, because "Wrestling With Shadows" hasn't prepared them for it. As Bret Hart told the UK Sun in 2009, the filmmakers approached him and said, "We don't have an ending." Seriously, think about "Wrestling With Shadows" without its final act; I'm betting the movie was conceptualized one way, but when the filmmakers caught a shocking different ending on tape, Paul Jay was then forced to merge the two together.

That's just my theory, anyway

I'm giving this 5 stars because I'm familiar with pro wrestling, and I think fans will absolutely love this! However, this is a 4-star recommendation from me, because I think director Paul Jay could've done more to wrap it up.

The bonus disc features "The Life and Death of Owen Hart", another documentary from Paul Jay. In all fairness, it's not very well put together, but I enjoyed it anyway. 4 stars for fans, 3 stars for the rest.

This documentary details a short period in the career of professional wrestler Bret Hart. It just so happens that is filmed during the infamous Montreal Screwjob.

At the time of this documentary in 1997 Bret Hart was the World Wrestling Federation champion. He had somewhat of a falling out with Vince McMahon and decided to leave for a rival promotion. His contract stipulated he had creative control over his character if he decided to leave for the last 30 days of his tenure. Not wanting to drop the title to rival Shawn Michaels in front of his Canadian and Montreal fans, he and McMahon agreed that the match would end in outside interference and brawl in the ring with no real conclusion to the fight. In return, Hart promised to drop the title to Michaels on a later date.

That was how the fight was supposed end. Instead, McMahon and Michaels concocted a scenario where Michaels would put Hart in a submission hold. Hart was supposed to reverse it but as soon as the hold was administered in the ring McMahon came out and had the bell rung to end the fight and awarded the match to Michaels.

All the preliminary angst by Hart of his distrust of McMahon and the aftermath was recorded on film for posterity.

While the Montreal Screwjob was not the only aspect of the ring life of Hart chronicled here, that was the culmination of the film and what makes it a valuable piece.

While this film is very interesting there are some flaws. The main flaw is I felt the scenes with Bret Hart and his wife talking about his contract with the WWF and trying to decide whether to leave seemed very scripted. Also, there really is not a lot of detail on the intense animosity between Hart and Shawn Michaels that is detailed in Bret Hart's autobiography, Hitman.

Nevertheless, it is an interesting look into the world of professional wrestling and a snapshot of Bret Hart's later ring career.

This particular DVD also contains a biography of the career of Bret Hart's younger brother, Owen Hart, and the tragic accident that lead to his death.

In today's wrestling world, Wrestlers are remembered for the great memories they give fans, and others are remembered for events surrounding their careers that place an asterik beside their name. Bret Hart seems to fall under both of these mantles, some very vew wrestlers can claim. He may not have been the flashiest guy, or the most flamboyant, but Bret was dedicated 100% to his career, something that he paid the price for in his personal and family life.

Hitman Hart: Wrestling With Shadows, documents that event caused Bret's career in WWE to come to a controversial end, a double-cross talked to even to this day. Wrestling might be sports-entertainment, but the politics behind the curtains are very real, and often very ugly.

This documentary follows Hart from his return to wrestling at Survivor Series 1996 against Stone Cold Steve Austin, to his final WWE match against Shawn Michaels one year later. Hart is very honest, and very frank about what he thinks about some of his fellow wrestlers, Michaels in particular.

The documentary is very well done, cut very well, and helps offer one insight into what was going through Hart's mind during this time, dealing with changes in mindsets of wrestling fans, Vince's decision to turn him hel, which would forever affect his character and direction in WWE, and the confrontations surrounding Survivor Series 1997 and the infamous Montreal Screwjob.

If You're a Bret Hart fan, pick this up. The documentary on Owen Hart is a great bonus to have as well. Also, look into picking up Hart's autobiography. There will never be another wrestler like Bret Hart. Like Hulk Hogan, Hart was truly one of a kind.

really good dvd.... only thing i dindt like it didnt play in my blu RAY Player ig uess its a differant type of disc? i dont know.. but it pl ayed in my region free dvd player fine :p

Hitman was always one of my favorite wrestlers and after seeing this I appreciate him even more. It is interesting to get a behind the scenes look at the WWF and this documentary delivers. The WWF was at its best in the mid 80's to the Mid 90's and it will never be what it was again. It was always so evident that Vince McMahon systematically destroyed the WWF in the 90's and this DVD shows how it happened. Vince also destroyed the Hitman, which would have been plain to see for any wrestling fan, but it was interesting to see how it happened behind the scenes. Geez, Vince McMahon is such a totally unlikable person.

This two pack had been on my list since I first read about its release. I had watched like many and VHS recorded the original airing of Wrestling With Shadows on A & E when it was doubled up with the Hulk Hogan biography. This was a highly anticipated film which was done with respect and great quality to both Bret Hart and WWE. At the time Vince McMahon didn't want the world to know what the inside story was on Bret getting out of WWE to go to WCW at that time. This documentary serves as a snip-it of one of many situations a wrestler goes through when working for a major organization. It's more than the physical product you see every week. There's the mental preparation, sometimes the walk through of a match/angle, and then like in any other line of work there's contract negotiation issues. This also tells the story of Bret Hart, which is complimented some 10 years later by the WWE released anthology of Bret Hart and the book titled Hitman: My Life In The Cartoon World of Wrestling. It will also be revisited in the soon to be released title by WWE outlining the Montreal incident.

The DVD on Owen Hart wasn't as lengthy as Bret's Wrestling with Shadows. But it gave a fair look into who Owen Hart was with insight from various people within his life. Owen's DVD focuses mostly on his tragic accident from 1999 that costed him his life, and forced his family to be without a father. Both DVDs in this pack are a great watch for anyone who's ever wanted to know about this side of professional wrestling.