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Submitted by Wevv Mang on Monday, September 19, 2005 at 1:41 AM EST
101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler 101 reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler is not your standard wrestling DVD. In fact, the title of the film is a bit misleading. The film is a documentary. It’s a collection of questions asked of various wrestlers, and their responses. The theme of the DVD is not to persuade the viewer to not become a pro wrestler, but is simply an interview piece. It’s a fascinating look at the business of wrestlers and a collection of opinions by those who actually work in the industry. It’s a really good film that asks some very tough questions. And lets the wrestlers answer them. In their own words. The interviewer never appears on camera and the shooting style is straightforward. The wrestler appears on the camera and that’s about it. Most of the interviews appear to take part in parking lots of an independent show and backstage at events. Nothing appears staged. In other words, where the wrestlers are working. The only exception is New Jack, who seems to have flown in just to do the film. Yet the setting seems natural. The wrestlers who are interviewed on the film are: New Jack, Joanie Laurer (Chyna), Fatu (Rikishi), Diamond Dallas Page, Predator from Zero-One, Psichosis, Sean O’Haire, Tylene Buck (Major Gunns), Vampiro, Konan, and Babi Slymm. There are also a few interviews with fans from the shows, and Taylor Rain makes an appearance. The Chapters The chapters are also the theme for the questions and they are: 1) Intro 2) The Wrestlers (10:59) The wrestlers introduce themselves 3) Politics In Wrestling (14:15) 4) The Death Of A Company (23:35) – Opinions on the demise of WCW 5) Bad Romance (33:20) – Chyna talks about her relationship with Triple H 6) Backstage Heat – (36:43) – Tylene Buck has some interesting comments 7) Creativity In Wrestling (47:9) 8) Losing Your Job – (51:21) – All handled professionally 9) The Traveling (55:29) 10) Commercial Shoot (59:03) Great DVD feature. The actually shooting of a commercial 11) Backyard Wrestling (1:09:24) 12) Ribs (1:15:29) Practical Jokes played by wrestlers 13) New Jack In Hollywood (1:21:57) 14) The Internet (1:24:26) 15) Wrestling and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) (1:33:56) 16) Mexico and Japan (1:37:34) 17) The Business (1:42:34) 18) Drugs (1:49:34) 19) Starting The Party (2:04:00) Chyna and Taylor Rains and some other guy go the trunk of Chyna’s car to start drinking. 20) Injuries (2:09:05) 21) New Jack Beating (2:13:00) A New Jack match from an Independent Show 22) Goals and Dreams (2:21:07) 23) Drinking (2:20:29) The party is under way at the trunk of Chyna’s car 24) Trying To Get A Job (2:23:09) 25) Unions (2:33:56) 26) Vince (2:46:11) – As in McMahon 27) Reality Check (2:48:10) – Konan is right. 28) The Finale (2:51:42) From the topics alone, you can see a wide range is covered and the answers given are varied, depending on whom you ask. Yet no one really shies away from the question, and they appear to answer honestly. Special Features The DVD offers 2 hours of extras. Extended interviews and bonus footage. The extras are: - The Bonus – More footage of wrestlers - Bonus Talk is more in-depth answers from wrestlers - Backstage - Various footage shot from backstage at an Independent show and more - More Backstage The Diamond is about DDP and offers more footage of Diamond Dallas Page New Jack Full - More footage and commentary from New Jack Vampiro Full – Extended scenes of Vampiro Joanie Laurer – Extended scenes of Chyna Sounds and Visuals The start up menu layout is easy to navigate, the graphics are easy to handle and the music gives one the impression of deep thought. The chapter menus are simple and easy to use, and have multiple pages, due to the large number of chapters for the individual topics. The video quality has a home video feel, as it appears to have been shot on DV video, but as part of the film itself, lends an air of close contact and a personal feel. The sound quality varies, as the interviewer question is quiet, but the wrestlers voices come through clear. The promotional copy I received to review had some sound and image issues, but the producer of the film assures me that they have improved them. Packaging and Layout The DVD is a single DVD. But it is loaded with content. The packaging is fairly basic, with a wrap around cover and pictures of the more well know wrestlers featured in the film on the front. The back offers a description of the film and screen shots. Final Thoughts As a wrestling fan, there are questions that come up about the business of wrestling. This film offers great insight and answers many of those questions. The answers given do not sound as though they come from the legal department of from a PR person. These are real answers to real questions. And lots of answers from a wide variety of people. People who have been there and done that, from jus brief flashes on TV to lifetimes dedicated to the sport of professional wrestling. The film is a great insight into the realities of wrestling, but also offers a personal touch. All of the wrestlers come across as real people and characters on TV. New Jack in particular stands out. Rikishi is the consummate professional. DDP is DDP and that’s a good thing. Tylene Buck is a former Divas who ahs moved on from the world of professional wrestling. All of the wrestlers interviews contribute to the movie and have something to say. The film is a great addition to any wrestling fans collection. It’s not a film about the making of a wrestling show, as it is a profile of those who decide to become wrestlers and sharing the lessons they have learned to get where they are. It shows that they are just like us. People. And that is something that happens all too rarely in wrestling. For the collectors, it’s a must own. For the casual fan, it’s something they should see. It won’t shatter the carefully crafted illusion that surrounds pro wrestling, but it may broaden their appreciation of who those people are who appear on TV, and what they go through to give you that performance. 101 Reasons Not To Be A Pro Wrestler is a truly great film for any wrestling fan. The DVD 101 Reasons To Not Be A Pro Wrestler can be purchased from the website. 101 Reasons To Not Be A Pro Wrestler DVD Scores DVD Score: A + Audio/ Visual Score: B – Packaging and Layout: B Special Features: A Overall Score: A+ Upcoming DVD Reviews: Greatest Wrestling Stars Of The Eighties Until Next Time, Thanks For Readin' and Thanks For Ridin' Wevv Mang mrwevv@mac.com Please label all email DVD FEEDBACK. All Your DVD Review Needs can be filled at : DVDFANATIC.COM
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