GamerTab That was an excellent one.

Ceticultsot Beautiful, moving film.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Tara and Andrew Beyond the Mat is a very good sports documentary, with only a few things holding it back from being great. This was a movie that we selected at random to watch for our podcast (more on that in a sec), and despite some initial reservations we had going in, we both ended up liking it quite a bit. The documentary follows several different wrestlers over the span of a couple of years, some up-and-coming, others... uh... down-and-going? It sounds rough when it's phrased like that, but you get what we mean. It's a interesting look at the personal lives of these larger-than-life characters and how complicated their profession makes their lives and the lives of the people around them. Barry Blaustein, the movie's director, does a good job of showing portraying them in a neutral light, which sometimes is flattering, and other times not so much. The only negative things we really have to say about this are that the production values are simply adequate, and that Blaustein's narration is not great and mostly unnecessary.ANYWAY, speaking of podcasts (not the smoothest transition ever, but it'll have to do), the two of us review and discussed this movie in episode seven of our podcast, Tara and Andrew Versus The Scarecrow Video Movie Guide. You can find the episode here (https://www.taraandandrewversus.com/blog/2017/9/5/episode-6-beyond- the-mat) or in Apple Podcasts/Google Play/the podcasting app of your choice.

ironhorse_iv A Sport Documentary with Attitude, Director Barry Blaustein focuses on the lives of pro-wrestlers both inside and outside of the ring, primarily Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake the Roberts. These three will make up the bulk of the documentary time focus on them. Mick Foley aka Mankind, Catcus Jack, and Dude Love is a man on the top of his career, famous for taking increasingly risky bumps (Stunts) whom family is worry about his safety. In one famous scene, Mick Foley's family watching ring side is nearly put into tears after seeing their father and husband be beaten up by Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson at a WWE PPV 'Royal Rumble'. Mick can't see that the abuse he takes on his body is hurting his family. Another wrestler focus on is Terry Funk whom can't find himself retiring even with him being 53 years old at the time of shooting and past his prime. Terry Funk represent the man who would die in the ring, rather than quit the business. A Randy 'The Ram' Robinson like personality whom just looking for the next big comeback. Lastly, the film focus on a wrestler who is at his rock bottom. Jake 'The Snake' Roberts whom popularity height reach in the 1980's is now in the late 1990's a crack cocaine addict that estranged from everybody he call family. His daughter wants no part of him, and his father doesn't want to speak to him. Yes, there will be short knit bits of other wrestlers in the film, such as short lived career puking Darren Drozdov, the movie star dreaming New Jack, and two wrestlers Tony Jones and Michael Modest trying to get a try out. The director spent three years endeavoring to understand the mindset of someone who would voluntarily choose to become a professional wrestler. Blaustein interviews a wide variety of wrestling personalities and ascertains their motivations. What the movie lacks is interviews with the big time wrestlers of the time, Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and The Rock. It would be nice to see what their take on the business is. Another problem with the film is while they were able to film both in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federeration, I felt that when World Championship Wrestling refused to participate in the film, it really made the film missing opinions of those wrestlers. The interview questions could have been more driven to talking about more serious key issues dealing with pro-wrestling such as steroids, wrestling union, and the sense of faking- violence. There are a couple of laughs in the movie, but the overall effect is much more depressing than it is humorous. The self-mutilations in the movie might be hard to watch for non-wrestling fans. For the wrestling fans, this is a must watch, so check it out.

vocal_warchild man i loved this film, a real insight into what happens behind the scenes of the world famous wrestling franchise. well all my favourites were here but mostly of not mick foley, i love this guy and to see him in such a candid light was great, also jake the snake roberts, it was difficult to see what a bad state of affairs this once amazing personality has gotten himself into. but on the whole its just a very honest portrayal of what these guys have to go through day by day just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads and those of their families. i also strongly suggest that anyone who likes this movie also read the two mick foley books and also try and find jerry the king lawlers nbook as well as they give a really deep insight into the world of sports entetrtainment. the only thing i didn't like about this film is that it didn't have any info or input by dusty rhodes who is by far my all time favourite wrestler, oh well they did a great job even without the American dream.

mlom99 I've been a big wrestling fan since I was a kid. I always knew, however, the matches were pre-determined, and the violence was staged, but this movie opened my eyes to the other side. The wrestler's personal lives, their familie's re-actions. The film is superbly done, the interviews with Jake Roberts are absolutely hunting. If you're a fan of the sport, I consider this essential viewing.***1/2 out of ****