Rating: 
Summary: truely a great Documentary
Review: I remember going to the theatrefirst day to see this movie because i thought it would be a great movie. Boy was i wrong.It was an EXCELLENT documentary. i have probably seen this movie more then any other in my collection and i must admit how hard it is too look into the lives of these men and see what they have to go through. Whether you hate wrestling or love it this is a fascinating movie for anyone
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Ok, right now, im 18 years old, i just saw this on starz tonight, and i think that i will buy this. This documentary shows the other side of wrestling;the side that you never see. I was amazed on how bad Jake the Snake ended up. Growing up as a kid, he was an idol to me, along with dozens of others. It was unfortunate to hear that Jake has been in and out of jail and his (bad) habbits. Anyway, as a previous review said, it really shows why Terry Funk kept going, I'm sure that he loved wrestling, but, the simple fact that he never knew anything but wrestling. As far as Mick Foley is concerned, it really showed how the fans just see the show, nothing else. Watching this, i felt extremely sorry for his daughter, watching her father getting hit repeatedly over the head with a chair, crying as it was happening. Anyway, though, Beyond the Mat is excellent, and, I hope they make more of these.
Rating:
Summary: For hardcore fans!!
Review: This is a documentry for only the die hard, true wrestling fans. A previous reviewer made the comment that he wished there had been more of the newer wrestlers and claimed he had never heard of Terry Funk until this movie. NEVER HEARD OF TERRY FUNK?!?! The guys in this film are LEGENDS! These guys have seen it all in the business, so who better to hear war stories from than Terry Funk, Mick Foley, and Jake Roberts!! There are also tons of other behind the scenes interviews with wrestlers out of character such as, New Jack, Spike Dudley, China, Vince McMahon, Droz, Koko B. Ware, The Rock and more! Like I said, if you're a true wrestling fan, or want to be schooled in who the REAL legends of wrestling are, check out this DVD. Better yet, buy it. Its well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond The Mat is great on DVD
Review: ...A lot of stuff is on it that not on the original version, like more additonal footage of interviews with Koko B. Ware, Al Snow, Afa The Somoan talking about how Vince McMahon has treated them. Also ya get more footage from Mick Foley after his Royal Rumber '99 match with The Rock. Ah overall if your a big wrestling fan I would say you have to own this DVD to really learn from some these guys especially Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Its really sad what this man had to endure, and believe I've been watching Jake The Snake wrestle since I was a little kid, this guy was one the best to watch in action and on the mic. I truely believe that the man could done a lot of good for the WWF after his wrestling days were over, he coulda been a writer, executive, he was that good. But he couldn't control his demons and end resulted went down a road of doom. Blaustein really does a good job directing the film, getting into the stuff behind the curtain, traveling with Foley, Funk, and Roberts. Some of the stuff is really hard to believe buts its totally real and that is what makes the DVD so good, its candidness and viewpoint about professional wrestling. I wish they would make more documentaries like this I really do. I really they would make a movie on the life of Vince McMahon Jr. That would be a very interesting film. But even if your not a wrestling fan and have no intrest in the sport what so ever you should at the very least rent the DVD, because at end of watching it, you would feel more aware of what some these guys indure. I'm not sure you rent it anymore, a lot of videostores stop letting it out for some reason around my way. So I say in conclusion Beyond The Mat is without a doubt a great wrestling documentary and one of the best documentarys I ever viewed. So if you don't have pick it up, its worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Beyond The Mat: Director's Cut
Review: Having spent the past 16 years as as wrestling fan, I have often been so caught up in the storylines and matches that I find myself forgetting that these aren't just characters in a real-life soap-opera; They're real people, with families, problems, hopes, & dreams, just like everybody else. Beyond The Mat has ensured that I will never forget that again. The premise of the Documentary is a simple one: Director Barry Blaustein would follow 3 Wrestlers, filming them both in & out of the ring. From this tried-&-true format comes an amazing glimpse into the inner workings of the Wrestling Biz. Blausteien follows Legendary Grappler Terry Funk, who is about to have his retirement match (He's since "retired" about 5 more times), Mick Foley, who at the time of filming was WWF Champion, and about to engage in one of the most sadistic matches in WWF History, his infamous "I Quit" match against The Rock at The Royal Rumble, and the troubled "Jake "The Snake" Roberts, whose toughest matches these days are his battles with drugs & his own demons. There are some truly unforgettable moments in this film for Wrestling fans. Who would have thought that Legendary Wildman Terry Funk was such a nice, soft-spoken family man? Who will ever forget Mick Foley's Wife and Children screaming in horror as he takes 11 brutal chairshots to his unprotected head fron The Rock? What long-time fan could not be horrified and saddened to see how far Jake Roberts has fallen...? There are also some great "Time Machine" moments, such as the brief glimpse of the pre-silicon Stephanie McMahon, and Stone Cold Steve Austin uttering waht may have been his first "What?". We also see the first WWF appearance of the unfortunate Droz, crippled in the ring shortly after the filming ended. The Director's Cut includes some new footage of Vince McMahon, surely one of the most loathsome "Human Beings", and I use that term loosely, on Earth. (I've never bought into the controversy about McMahon trying to keep Beyond The Mat from being released; as evidenced by Legendary Wrestler Bret "Hitman" Hart's struggles to liberate footage and stills of his WWF career from McMahon in recent years, McMahon rules WWF footage with an iron fist. Beyond The Mat uses extensive clips from the WWF archives, and McMahon would never have allowed that if he didn't approve of the film. There is also no mention whatsoever of WCW, The WWF's big rival at the time, another reason I believe that McMahon had more to do with the film than he wants you to believe.) The film is presented in full-frame, which drives me NUTS, but that's the only way it's available on DVD, so I guess it's better than nothing. Aside from Commentary tracks, there's not much in the way of extras.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful Video About Professional Wrestling
Review: This video tells the straightforward, truthful tale of professional wrestling and about many of the greats of the past and the real-life conflicts and problems that they have. They are people too. I would suggest everyone watch this video, wrestling fan, hater, or not. If you haven't watched this video, go out and rent or buy it. I doubt you will still have the same oppinion about wrestling and wrestlers once you're done.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Well Made Documentary.
Review: This film is about the Professional Wrestling from the Inside Magic of the Bloody Spectacle of the World Wresting Federation and the Extreme Championship Wresting. The film takes you on the Backstage and Interviews with the Carrers and Personal lives of Mick`Mankind`Foley, The Great Years of Terry Funk and the Inner Demons and Rock Bottom life of Jake`The Shake`Roberts. Directed by Barry Blaustein made a Clever, Entertaining True-Life Documentary on the Lives on Real Wrestlers. Even non fans of the Genre will find this Fascinating. DVD`s has an sharp Pan & Scan (1.33:1) transfer and an clear Dolby Surround 2.0 Pro Logic Sound and an Entertaining Commentary Track by Director:Blaustein and Wresters:Foley and Funk. This is one of the most Entertaining Documentaries ever made. Grade:A.
Rating:
Summary: great view insid pro wrestling with one great extra on dvd
Review: I will not add more to the others reviews here. Everybody who ever saw one pro wrestling transmission will be fascinated - even those who don't like the sport (entertainment). Be sure you get this dvd as it not only contains 6+ minutes more but the an incredible (absolutely incredible) audio commentary by Terry Funk who leads you through the whole film and shows just how intelligent and friendly he is. His explanations on Jake Roberts really give you so much more insight - just as if another, deeper dimension to this documentary had been added. The commentary by Mick Foley is interesting, but he only comments his appearances and seems to be wanting to settle a feud with the Rock here. Least, but still interesting is the commentary by the director himself, which again shows a different angle, like Alice explaining how she felt in Wonderland. As all audiocommentaries are seperated, you have to watch the documentary 3 times more to hear them all, as I did - and enjoyed every minute of these four hours....
Rating:
Summary: I wish more documentaries were like this.
Review: If all documentaries were like this, I'd watch them more. It does help that I am a pro wrestling fan. This is a fine, un-bias look at the lives of wrestlers. The life of a wrestler is much more than being slammed around a ring for 6-20 minutes. It's a life time of discipline, sacrifice, and loneliness. I wish more WCW footage could have been used. That's only a personal disappointment. The director isn't trying to promote one company over another. (It doesn't matter anyway since the WWFE purchased WCW,inc.) To be honest, I've only watched the VHS special addition. I don't know how it differs from the DVD. I'd imagine the extras for the DVD are nice. Just remember, extra features are like sprinkles. The movie is the cake, and it's very fine eating. I also don't watch many documentaries. Therefore, I don't know if this is a good docu-film. (ie, The Exorist is a good horror movie. The Haunting is a bad horror movie.) I did like this film, so I recommend it to all wrestling fans. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Want A Peek At Life Behind The Scenes?
Review: Barry Blaustein follows a childhood love for wrestling in this documentary feature. He takes his crew into the backstage areas that few fans ever get to see. The stories are primarily positive. We get to see Mick Foley/Cactus Jack/Mankind as a real life dad. Out of the wrestling superstars, Foley probably comes across as the most "normal". Terry Funk has long been known as "wrestling's original madman" and we get to see the effects that a so-called phony sport has taken on his body. Something drives him to keep doing it, even though he's allegedly retired many times. The feature of Jake The Snake Roberts is the darkest. Here is a man haunted by a past that he can't seem to escape. The contrasts in Jake's early appearances and what he's become due to drugs and alcohol are astonishing. This isn't easy viewing, but maybe this film is the most honest documentary ever produced about professional wrestling.
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