Product Details

• Actors: Roland Alexander, Darren Drozdov, Collette Foley, Dewey Foley, Mick Foley
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004WIDT
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,484 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Beyond the Mat" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Ringside SE" not as good as the original DVD release, March 25, 2004

By	KaneRobot "kanerobot" (Rochester Hills, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Mat (Unrated Director's Cut) (Ringside Special Edition) (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.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The World Behide Pro Wrestling, July 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Beyond The Mat - Director's Cut (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.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a GREAT documentary!, September 14, 2000

By	Che (San Jose, CA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond The Mat - Director's Cut (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.