Grimossfer
Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%
Bea Swanson
This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
Edwin
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
zkonedog
Ever since 1985, when Vince McMahon made the leap from regional operating to national enterprise, Wrestlemania has been THE fixture on the pro wrestling calendar. This documentary gives a great history of the event.The history given in this show is very comprehensive; I never felt as if one time period was given short shrift over another. A few areas like the early few events, the Hulkamania phenomena, the "Attitude Era" (Mike Tyson, Shawn Michaels, DX), and Steve Austin's reign of dominance are touched on more than others, but I never felt as if I were missing anything really important.On a brief note, a bit of gravitas is given to the show due to the narration from David McCullough of Ken Burns documentary fame. There is not better voice for that kind of job.Overall, this is a great piece of history for WWE fans both past and present. I've watched a good deal of these types of shows over the years and can say with confidence that this one is the best so far.
Sean Lamberger
This had the potential to be a really insightful glimpse into the deep personal risks Vince McMahon took in launching the first world-scale wrestling show, as well as the dozens of twists, turns and tidbits of backstage drama that transpired at each subsequent event. Instead, the narration merely grazed the surface of those untold stories before leaning back into a gentle, easygoing fluff piece. The few peeks we get behind the curtains, like Mean Gene cracking up in an interview with William "Refrigerator" Perry or Vince critiquing the art direction during the WMIX build, were my favorite bits. That's the kind of stuff I really wanted to see, not another recap of the wrestlers' favorite main events and some classic lessons in revisionist history. This may have been better served as the story of the first ten (maybe even five) WrestleManias, too, as trying to cram commentary on twenty-five different events results in a monotonous pace and forced ignorance of several legendary moments in the show's dazzling history.
DeBoXL
The WWE has made many documentaries, but this one covers the pomp and the pageantry, the history and the future, the sights and the sounds of the showcase of the immortals, the global phenomenon known as WrestleMania! And boy does it cover it.I couldn't look away during the documentary portion. It's an amazing insight into the wrestlers, creators, and Vince McMahon's minds, and several times throughout, it strengthened my desire and wish to perform at Mania.They do a great job of explaining Vince's mindset and the plan behind nearly all 26 WrestleManias so far. They don't shy away from Hulk Hogan, even though he's in TNA. He receives as much time in it as Vince himself.The only drawbacks are that with 26 years worth of WrestleMania crammed onto the first DVD, each year only received a few minutes to cover the basic information about that particular show. This is likely because there is still a bit of mysticism in the wrestling industry they must protect. The fans shouldn't know EVERYTHING.And another small drawback: limited Undertaker mentions until his own section at the end of the documentary. He also doesn't have any full length matches on the other two discs. He's 18-0, and is likely the biggest legend left in the company.Overall: great show about the greatest show. Worth the buy, and worth rewatching.
