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Massawyrm gets Ram-Jammed by Aronofsky's THE WRESTLER!!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
As a child of the 80’s, it was almost impossible not to be into professional wrestling at some point in time. Afterall, there were toys, endless commercials and a Saturday morning TV show – which was proceeded for a while by a Saturday morning cartoon starring all of the characters as heroes and villains that drove around in the world’s most awesome monster trucks. Seriously. Only Neo-maxi zone dweebies didn’t like wrestling. And I, my friends, was no Neo-maxi zone dweebie. Hell, if the basic marketing wasn’t enough, you could always go to the movie theater and see professional wrestlers in movies – some of them actually good (They Live and The Princess Bride). But as with most cultural phenomenons, this was short lived and wrestling soon lost its sheen.
But then, despite its fall from the mainstream public eye, professional wrestling slowly made a comeback on cable television. Ratings began to escalate and Ted Turner’s TBS began a war with the long dominant WWF and began to overtake the wrestling giant with its own WCW. Talent began to get stolen left and right, storylines became more brutal and flashy, and it started to become cool to like wrestling again. I admit I found myself caught up in it – but for a completely different reason than before. This time I found myself caught up in the real behind the scenes human drama of what was REALLY going on. Internet chatrooms, newsgroups and fan pages provided a strange backstage access to the story behind the stories that included leaked schedules (which included the winners and surprise guests) stories about contract disputes and the real reasons characters would simply vanish from the show for months at a time (usually drugs, secret injuries or to do lucrative wrestling tours in Japan.) It was fascinating. And with this added new income to the industry came an interest level (and funding for) documentary filmmaking about the subject. And that’s where we the public began to get our first glimpse at the real, ugly, hidden story of wrestling.
Films like Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows and Beyond the Mat exposed us to some very unpleasant truths – the worst of which was the simple answer to the question of “what next?” What happened to these guys when the lights and cameras were turned away from them for the last time? For many, the truth wasn’t pretty. People love their gladiators. But no one wants to think about a broken, old gladiator. A gladiator barely able to get through the day without a high dosage of painkillers. A gladiator not yet done being a gladiator, even though everyone else is done with him. A gladiator like Randy “The Ram” Robinson.
In The Wrestler, Darren Aronofsky does for professional wrestling what he did for drugs in Requiem for a Dream. This isn’t the pretty, glitzy, fun version of the story. It is the seedy underbelly, the horror story, the nightmare. He is going to make you fall in love with Randy only to break your heart as you watch him destroy himself. This is not a feel good movie. It is Aronofsky cleansing all the lovey dovey stuff he had going on in The Fountain. That said, Aronofsky’s greatest gift is his ability to convey his love of the characters to his audience. For all intents and purposes Randy “The Ram” is a jackass. How he’s come to squander all of his fame and fortune is a mystery. Kind of. We’re never told because we don’t have to be. We’ve SEEN that story. This is the story of him trying to get it all back while completely lacking the ability to do so.
He’s a drug abusing, not-so-bright asshole spending each day trying to relive his glory days after alienating everyone he’s ever known. The closest thing he has to a real friend is an aging, broken down stripper (played exceptionally by Marisa Tomei) at the local third string strip club whose story is a stark parallel of Randy’s own. The entire experience has humbled Randy and now he’s aiming to get on with his life. But he can’t.
The Wrestler is an elegant, brutal and simply told tale that shines a light into a very dark and unpleasant place. And it is a very different film than Aronofsky is accustomed to making. Up until now, Aronofsky was best known for making incredibly stylish films. From Requiem’s quick, insane editing to The Fountain’s beautiful, psychedelic expressions of time and space, the LOOK of an Aronfsky picture was often as important as the content. Not so here. In fact, if there is one single visual or sequence that sticks irrevocably in the mind of the viewer, it will be the near unending scenes of Mickey Rourke’s back. Many sequences of the film are told in a voyeuristic “over the shoulder” manner exactly like the famous Bruce Willis apartment walk shot from Pulp Fiction. And if there’s anything that bugs members of the audience or finds itself joked about or ripped into about this film, it will be this. But when the reason for these shots finally pays off, it pays off big by putting us squarely in the head of Randy and illustrating the utter tragedy of his existence in one, perfect 20 second shot.
But the film isn’t going to play to everyone. It’s a slow, brooding film that certainly isn’t going to inspire cheer. It’s not a triumph of the underdog picture. It’s a slow, sad decline into the pit of human despair. That’s not to say it is a depressing film, or like Requiem before it a film many people think is incredible but never want to watch again – but it certainly isn’t the feel good film of the year. It is Hea-Vy.
That said, I thoroughly loved it. The further away I get from it, the better it becomes. And I am beginning to get eager for another screening. I want to see this again and drink in the richness of Randy’s story. Rourke’s performance in this film is incredible. And while I’m not certain that it is the revelation that others are referring to it as (he’s been pretty damned good for a long time), I think it is the perfect culmination of his life’s work, a sister film to JCVD in which he is offered the opportunity to lay his soul bare about the highs he once achieved and how hard he now has to struggle to recapture even a small part of what he had. Some may contend that this is his single best performance, and while I personally disagree (I think he gave his career best in the little known Animal Factory in which he was almost entirely unrecognizable) I have to cede that this is easily in his top five. He lays everything out on the table in this and clearly holds nothing back. While I’m not ready to say he’s an Oscar shoo-in, I can say he’s a dark horse for the fourth or fifth slot – and no one’s going to scratch their heads if he gets it.
This is the Aronofsky film for people disappointed with The Fountain. Those that love the dark, raw grittiness of his other films will find this a welcome return to form that never once sounds like he’s repeating himself. It is every bit as profound as his previous efforts without all the bells and whistles. There are those that will find it to be his finest film. I’m still torn and need to see it a few more times before I decide quite where to place it in his filmography. Either way, it’s a powerful film that is every bit as good as you’ve heard. This comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
Got something for the Wyrm? Mail it here.
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Rourke is the man baby!
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a new Charlie Kaufman film. Always interesting stuff.
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Arnofsky's ability to depress me while enlightning me at the same time is why I will be seeing this movie. Bring on the tears.
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You, sir, are a revelation.
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The inspiration for my nic.
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thanks for not crucifying pro wrestling, like I expect most of the talkback to do. I've been watching it since I was a kid (for almost 20 years now!), and still enjoy watching it casually as an adult (and hey, i'm not even from the south!). Yeah, its a bunch of half naked dudes rolling around on a mat (which is also what MMA is), it's predetermined, the storylines are mostly pretty retarded, but it's still all pretty fun to watch for the most part if you aren't taking it seriously.
That said, I can't wait for this film to be released near me. Much like Massa, I've been more interested in the backstage stories of the wrestling world than that of what takes place in the ring. I've read numerous books by ex-wrestlers, and most of them tell tragic tales of either themselves or others, much like that of Randy The Ram. I'm glad that Aronofsky decided to take on this subject matter, because it really is a sad business to be a part of. The loneliness of the road, the constant pressure to be in top physical condition, and the endurance of the pain night after night. I'm really excited to finally see someone's realistic take on that world. -
I completely agree with 40ozToFreedom. While I've only been watching for seven years, I will pay to get my hands on any of it. Japanese, Mexican, European, and the Indies. I even still watch mainstream wrestling, even though most of it is driven by merchandise sales, not compelling stories.
You did a great job talking about wrestling and what it does to people without making it out to be stupid or evil. I fully look forward to this film and can't wait to see guys like the Necro Butcher (indy wrestler) in it. -
but maybe if I was 8 y/o, it would have captivated me more. Anyway, Aronofsky has a lifetime pass from Requiem for a Dream, so I'd check this out.
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I'm no wrestling fan or anything, but that documentary is really good material for you guys looking to find out what a wrestlers life is like. With that said, I can't wait to watch this movie, I have not read the review cause I wanna be unspoiled as possible when walking in. Sorry Massa.
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nice to see that you're a wrestling fan yourself, or at least were at some point. Really wanting to see this, hopefully it will come out here soon...
Anybody think that Mickey Rourke will end up winning a real World Title at a pay-per-view because of this movie? It worked for David Arquette! ...........obviously I'm kidding, that was one of the lowest point in wrestling history. -
Beyond the Mat is a great doc, as is Wrestling with Shadows. Both are the only two serious takes on the subject matter that I am aware of, mostly because only until recently was the business so viciously protected by those who are a part of it. or maybe nobody really gave a fuck enough about it to take it seriously in this format until now.
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Nov 30, 2008 9:24:12 PM CST
I want to see this movie so I will not read Massawyrm's review.
by leafar the lost
After watching the trailor I am determined to go watch The Wrestler, so I encourage everyone not to read Massawyrm's review. Somehow he is able to completely miss the point of every film he watches, and then write long reviews that make no sense. I read the first few sentences of this review by accident, and then I forced my eyes shut as I scrolled down to the Talkback form. There is no way in Hell that I will allow Massawyrm to ruin this film for me. Whatever Massawyrm wrote is wrong. Do not believe a single word of this review. See the film for yourself, and don't allow yourself to be influenced by his almost incomprehensible reviews. I am amazed that Massawyrm can even wipe his own ass, because he is unable to string together sentences into coherent paragraphs.
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Nov 30, 2008 9:28:26 PM CST
THE WRESTLER HERE IN BRAZIL IT´S PROBABLY GONNA BE RENAMED AS...
by wilclas
"Lessons of a Lifetime" or something. Seriously, would you guys believe that "CLOVERFIELD" in here was renamed "THE MONSTER"?! Shit!
By the way, this movie looks and sounds amazing... -
You didn't quite say much about the film itself, didn't ya..? Anyway, I'm gonna watch it, opening day. You bet.
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That title actually makes more sense than cloverfield...
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At first I thought you were just some dumbshit - but now I know you've got to be a buddy of mine. Seriously, e-mail me and cop to it. No one is seriously that gigantic a douchenozzle. You had me going for a while though - I'll admit that publicly.
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as an AICN staffer, you should know by now that talkback knows no limits to doucheness
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I saw an MTV doc about 10 years ago on wrestling. One of the segments was on Tony Atlas: former bodybuilding champion and A-list 80s WWF wrestler. He was a broken down guy wrestling at high schools and VFW halls trying to scrape a living. Very sad stuff and definitely a worthy subject.
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I liked that you didn't tell us everything about the film but conveyed how great it is.after seeing the trailer i know i'm gonna love this film.I also was an 80's child and loved wrestling till i was about 13 i saw my first telivised match when i was 5 years old.Imagine a little 5 year old boy seeing 3 hours of wrestling packed full of legends.Shit the main event was hulk hogan vs king kong bundy!this story definitely reminds me of jake the snake roberts in beyond the mat.I to remember seeing that mtv doc with Tony Atlas and feeling a real sense of sadness when i thought about what had probably become of some of my favorite wrestlers
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Looks good. I didn't really care for Requiem...but I just watch the Fountain the other night and enjoyed it somewhat. I don't think it deserved the hateful reviews it got. It was kind of nice to see a film deal with existential issues in a pretty cool way, instead of the normal crap Hollywood turns out.
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Immediately !
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Nov 30, 2008 10:17:05 PM CST
If anything, the Wyrm gives the BEST reviews on this site.
by pissed off and bitter
Seriously, every review of every movie I've read of yours over the last year or so has been right on. I think Massa is the most honest reviewer here at AICN. Some of the other guys are biased and we seem to have lost Harry who is now pussy-whipped enough to give Twilight a good review.
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check yer fuckin urban dictionary.
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He's the poor man's David Fincher.
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I have never seen a Micky rouke performance I did'nt like. As far as playing a hard core bad ass, NOBODY does it as convincingly as Rouke except maybeye Danny Trejo (I think thats how you spell it.) Want a actor to play the Spirit of Conan and not a pretty boy with gym abs? Hire Rouke and make fanyboy history.
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He's managing Mark Henry. For anyone who doesn't watch wrestling, search Santino Marella and fall in love.
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Hes perfect for the part.
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I'd rather they give the airtime to someone with actual wrestling skills instead of this useless clown.
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This strikes me as another movie everyone will fall in love with until they actually see it and then it will become meh.
Rourke has seen his better days and although some of his recent offerings have been interesting have we really all forgot about how shaky he is in a lead role? I'm not sure where the love for Angel heart comes from, to me it seems like a higher class M Night film, but just barely. -
Nov 30, 2008 11:11:11 PM CST
Yeah Wilclas what is up with the Brazilian movie renaming??
by dogmatic
I have spent over a year living in Brasil off an on and it always boggled my mind abou changing titles. Friends tell me they do it b/c Brasilians put a lot of stock into the title of a film as to whether they will see it or not whereas Americans go more by trailers. But it seems like they make the titles worse sometimes....and I dont know how many different combinations of words like Crime, Danger, Violence, Gangster, etc. tey can use before they start duplicating a lot of titles. I remember NO Country For Old Men was like The Killers and Atonement was Pride and Revenge and the worst Saw was simply Games of Death....so generic all the time! But dont get me wrong! I love Brasil! My wife is from there after all!
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Sorry, like the guy but he was a retard and fucked up his face. I dunno why, wasn't anything wrong w/ his old one. Hopefully he keeps getting good role tho - looking forward to Killshot too.
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The guy is great on the mic and is a semi-professional MMA fighter. It’s a shame Vince cut off his nuts and turned him into a clown because I think the guy could do a “goofy, dweeb, kick-ass” Kirk Angle character perfectly and be a superstar.
Oh, and great review again Massawyrm. I will be checking this movie out. -
The 2008 "Double Team" soul-baring trifecta would have been complete.
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Haven't seen the flick yet-but really a *real* barbarian would actually look like hammered S#@$
I'm just saying...
Also to the above poster who said "Requiem For A Dream" was depressing- what up yo?
That was an awesomely uplifting movie for people who like *metal*!!!
=^_^=
-dethklok rules!
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That's a shame, because I was thinkingI might like to see this based on Massawyrm's positive review, but I guess it makes more sense to listen to some random confused talkback whiner (that would be you) so I guess I won't see it after all.
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hitman hart was an absolutely sensational doco. and unfortunately like so many other documentaries it just wasnt given a look in by many people because of the subject matter, but jeez its a fantastic insight into an industry that was, even whilst at its zenith, mocked mercilessly. the commitment, talent and trials everyone involved goes through were eye opening. really looking forward to 'the wrestler' because of all this.
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It just occurred to me-I just called it!
Gravitas, all that acting stuff:
Mickey Rourke will be Thor!
-MLB -
Rourke will be THOR!!!
For this, I hate you uberman!!!
-MLB -
Dogmatic, the impression that I get is that the movie distribution companies in here think people won´t see the movie if they don´t know exactly what it is about by reading it´s title. It´s stupid. A few examples: "THE TRANSPORTER" was renamed "EXPLOSIVE LOAD". "GIANT" (1956) was renamed something like "AND SO THE HUMANKIND WALKS"!! Fuck´s sake...
And it get´s worse: sometimes they try to draw audiences by changing the movie name into something that relates to the actor´s previous works! For instance, "TOTAL RECALL" in Brazil was renamed "THE TERMINATOR FROM THE FUTURE"!! Hard to believe, but true... -
Nicholas Cage was supposed to be Randy The Ram but apparently Rourke was Aronofsky's first choice. Cage stepped aside because he knew Aronofsky wanted Rourke first and he realized that Rourke would be better for the role. I think that's pretty classy and Cage should get credit for that.
BTW -- Bret "Hitman" Hart's autobiography is the perfect companion piece to The Wrestler. I've read it and it really gives you an unvarnished look at what wrestling is like from one of its key players. Well written too. -
Dec 01, 2008 9:22:01 AM CST
Massa...did you ever read a wrestling website caled SCOOPS?
by magic rat
it was around back in the late 90s. I used to write for that site.
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You can be too artsy-fartsy. A film has to make sense, and that pile of shit didn't. "Requiem" was a stylish, antidrug movie. I get it, Don't Do Drugs. I saw it on satellite (because I actually have it) and it wasn't something I would pay money to see. I will seek out and pay money to see "The Wrestler" because of the trailer and the promise of a Oscar worthy performance by Rourke. He has always been a great actor, but he has also always been the biggest asshole in Hollywood. Hopefully he has aged out of that assholeness. Oh, I really am that big of an douchebag. My wife, kids, and dog probably agree with you there, Massawyrm. However, I really do think your movie reviews suck monkey balls. I think you missed the point about the Fountain and Requiem. Try again...
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and I'm from the Midwest, and I've never watched professional wrestling...because it's FAKE. It's for mouthbreathing, knuckledragging hillbillies with not one usable brain cell for any purpose beyond life-support. And fuck Mickey rourke's right-wing Republican ass.
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"I've never watched professional wrestling...because it's fake!!"
Why are you even on a movie site, movies are fake? Could it be you're actually a moron?
I've known wrestling was fake since I started watching in 1994, yet I don't give a shit, because when a match or angle are put together just right.....the results are spectacular.
Frankly I doubt you'd be calling it fake if you actually tried to take a bump in a ring, or received mat burn or had the wind knocked out of you by landing wrong.
You say it's for idiots. You're the idiot my friend for taking great pains to point it how fake it all is, as if it's new information. Wrestling fans have been in on the joke for years and still go to be shown a good time, while bitter little assholes such as yourself sit at home and look down on people for enjoying something you don't like. Well fuck you buddy, enjoy watching nothing but doco's for the rest of your days, after all, everything else is fake right?? -
Read a book dumbfuck. you'd be betetr for it. I would hardly call two sentences taking "great pains" to point out how fake pro wrestling is. And matt burn...really? Oh, well excuse me then. Hardcore my friend. Hard. Core. Try not to paralyze yourself in your backyard while reenacting a wrestling move with your other brain dead friends. Enjoy the steroid-pumped, sweaty men in neon spandex.
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Just wanted to say that I totally enjoyed this review. I am very eager to see this film as a fan of Rourke and Aronofsky.
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...I'm a Platt fan of course but even with his misplaced thespian skills in R2R, I had trouble seeing him as a professional wrestler. Of course, watching Martin Landau kick Sid Viscious's ass is just classic cinema any way you slice it. Plus, Rose McGowan always looks good.Rourke is a HORRIBLE choice for Conan. It's not the physical thing but the context thing...I don't remotely get even the faintest notion of "fantasy, sword and sorcery" from Mickey Rourke...he's far too "real" for such a fantasy-based character (I'm not saying he doesn't have the talent, he does by leaps and bounds but there's no way I'm gonna watch a Conan movie with Rourke and not think it's Mickey Rourke...I mean fuckin A...that's Motorcycle Boy swinging a sword!)
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Aranofsky's not the only person responsible for this being a great flick.
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Dec 01, 2008 12:36:30 PM CST
MICKEY ROURKE SIGNS FIVE-PICTURE-DEAL WITH DISNEY!!!
by half-baked-goggle-box-do-gooder
"The Pacifier, Pt II" in theaters for Easter! Just you watch.
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I'll watch this for Evan Rachel Wood. And Marisa Tomei. Mickey's face scares me.
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it was unusual, singular, unexpected, daring.
so was 'requiem' in its own way, though at some point i felt i was being tortured (probably ellen on the gurney was the breaking point).
i'll probably see this even though i know it's a kick in the crotch.
marisa tomei, you will be mine. -
are kind of creepy. sorry.
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...Reese Witherspoon in his next picture. NOT! You know, this movie will not be a career resurrection for Rourke. He will not start getting paid $20 million a picture. He will not get a 5 picture movie deal with anyone. "The Wrestler" just proves what we already knew; Rourke is a great actor. If he wasn't such a fucked up asshole, then he could have been considered one of the great actors of our time. HOWEVER, like the character he plays, he had it all and lost it all. Rourke should be happy that now he can have a steady career in Hollywood. HOWEVER, we all know that Mickey will find a way to fuck it all up. God bless him...
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"Plus, Rose McGowan always looks good."
Nope, she does not anymore. Check out recent pics, McGowan's face is almost as bad as Rourke's now. -
I'm not a knuckle-dragger by any means and I dig wrestling. Particularly when it's done well (classic ECW, Ring of Honor, etc). The enjoyment of the entertainment has nothing to do with the fakeness/realness. It just doesn't. Maybe in the early days, but not so much now. Particularly not for the people who will see the film out of an interest in the subject. I'm not always proud of the "typical" wrestling fan. Many of them do conform to your rant. But many of them don't. Me being one of them.
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Wrestling is fake
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John Stossel and his moustache respectfully disagree.
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what is it about wrestling that you enjoy? whenever i've flipped past it i can stand about 5 minutes as ironic comedy, then it starts to feel overly dumb. all the moves are pretty much what they've always been, and the storylines too. can you convince me otherwise?
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Dec 02, 2008 9:35:14 AM CST
This is yet another brilliant but uncomfortable film to watch...
by fuckmichaelbay
...Rourke was very good, but Langella as Nixon was superb.
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Let me loosen you up before I give you the jackpot. ~ Tom Arnold.
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No, I can't convince you. You obviously don't want to BE convinced, you just posed the challenge to be a douche. I will say that "all the moves are pretty much what they've always been" is not at all accurate, particularly if we're talking about the two organizations I mentioned (old ECW, ROH). WWE programming, which I assume you mean by "flipped past" IS limited in the moves that their wrestlers perform. Which is one reason I tend to dislike WWE. Starting to feel overly dumb is the other big reason I dislike WWE: a single-minded focus on the "entertainment" aspect of "sports entertainment". Again, this is not as much an issue in the old ECW and ROH. The old ECW HAD a television show and did do storyline segments, but they were much better-written and performed. Largely due to the influence of Paul Heyman, their owner/head booker. ROH also involves story, but it's 99% handled in the ring. TNA, which is also televised, limits their performers less in the moves that they are allowed to do, but they also are far too concentrated on the "entertainment" aspect. And their writers are woefully inconsistent. Sometimes it's okay, but most of the time it's terrible. I know, pretty cogent for a "knuckle-dragger" fan of a "fake" entertainment...
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