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The Wrestler

Achilles

By Achilles
in Yoda’s Swamp

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Pie™ Newbie

Pie™

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Going to see it on Saturday as part of my town's International Film Festival. On Sunday I'll go see Slumdog Millionaire, which won 5(?) Golden Globes.

I'm looking forwards to seeing it, since I liked Requiem For A Dream and loved The Fountain. Still haven't gotten around to seeing Pi though...

MrWally Newbie

MrWally

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Wow, I knew that Pi (I've seen it. Fantastic movie, but a bit strange) and Requiem for a Dream (on my "movies to see" list) were Darren Aronofsky, but I didn't realize that The Fountain was as well, nor The Wrestler. I'm a big fan of The Fountain, so now I really want to see The Wrestler.

Achilles Newbie

Achilles

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This is probably closer to Requiem than anything else he's done, but none of his movies are similar to any other.

 

Mickey Rourke literally disappeared into the role and the camera work was amazing (very similar look and feel to 21 Grams).

leXX Newbie

leXX

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This film doesn't interest me in the slightest. Firstly, I hate American wrestling. How the hell anyone watches that fake crap I really don't know. Secondly, Mickey Rourke looks so ugly I don't think I could bear to look at him for a couple of hours.

 

Now if it was about UFC, that would be another matter...

Achilles Newbie

Achilles

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When I went to see Gran Torino, they had the trailer for The Wrestler. I hope to see it soon.
They showed it before Slumdog Millionaire when I saw that today. It's always kinda weird seeing a trailer for a movie after you've already seen the movie. :D

 

This film doesn't interest me in the slightest. Firstly, I hate American wrestling. How the hell anyone watches that fake crap I really don't know.
It's a character drama about a wrestler. The film isn't about wrestling.

 

Secondly, Mickey Rourke looks so ugly I don't think I could bear to look at him for a couple of hours.
...

 

Now if it was about UFC, that would be another matter...
uh huh.
IG-64 Newbie

IG-64

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How the hell anyone watches that fake crap I really don't know.

You're looking at it the wrong way. That's like saying "why do people watch movies if they're all fake?". Everyone knows it's fake. It's more like a modernized play that people like because it has lots of action and purposefully exaggerated characters. I'm not a fan of pro wrestling myself, but I do recognize the difficulty in simulating an over-the-top fight while maintaining a consistent attitude. Not saying you have to like it, just don't dis. :p

 

As for the movie, I might check it out if I have time between the millions of things I have to do right now. :)

TiE23 Newbie

TiE23

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You're looking at it the wrong way. That's like saying "why do people watch movies if they're all fake?". Everyone knows it's fake. It's more like a modernized play that people like because it has lots of action and purposefully exaggerated characters. I'm not a fan of pro wrestling myself, but I do recognize the difficulty in simulating an over-the-top fight while maintaining a consistent attitude. Not saying you have to like it, just don't dis. :p

 

I'll just leave these here:

 

4lpdppz2.gif

 

1202534411997.gif

 

seriousta2.gif

 

(I ain't got nothing against wrestling, I understand how some are facinated with it. I just don't care for it personally.)

BongoBob Newbie

BongoBob

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I don't make it a point to watch it, but I will occasionally find AAA Lucha on one of the Spanish channels, and it's some of the most rediculous/retarded s***, but god damnit it's so entertaining.

 

Here's an example. Let's count the amazingly entertaining things...

 

0:05 seconds in: Promo for Lucha De Mini, AKA Midget Wrestling.

0:46 in: 4 guys hit with chairs in a row. Fake? Yes. Funny? As all hell.

0:57 : lol gay wrestler

1:00 : Midget White Ranger does flippy move number 46 of the night on a man twice his size.

1:06 : Pink mothra boots midget pink mothra across the ring.

Fast forward...

3:45: Midget White Ranger jumps from at least 4 times his height, and does a hurricanrana on a man below. This is the apex of awesome.

 

Damn good entertainment in my book.

TiE23 Newbie

TiE23

Posted
Posted
I don't make it a point to watch it, but I will occasionally find AAA Lucha on one of the Spanish channels, and it's some of the most rediculous/retarded s***, but god damnit it's so entertaining.

 

Here's an example. Let's count the amazingly entertaining things...

 

0:05 seconds in: Promo for Lucha De Mini, AKA Midget Wrestling.

0:46 in: 4 guys hit with chairs in a row. Fake? Yes. Funny? As all hell.

0:57 : lol gay wrestler

1:00 : Midget White Ranger does flippy move number 46 of the night on a man twice his size.

1:06 : Pink mothra boots midget pink mothra across the ring.

Fast forward...

3:45: Midget White Ranger jumps from at least 4 times his height, and does a hurricanrana on a man below. This is the apex of awesome.

 

Damn good entertainment in my book.

Oh ho ho, Lucha is something different, that **** is undoubtedly awesome. It's so ****ing insane that it being mostly fake is still amazing. Like, it's not even a question of it being real or not, it's just the best choreographed fighting freaking possible. It's just that American wrestling to the non fan is watching two hulking guys shadow punching each other for 10 minutes with some beefy looking grabs and holds. Lucha is just insanity with high speed, crazy costumes, and huge stunts.

 

Mexican Wrestling is all right in my book.

Pie™ Newbie

Pie™

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I just watched it, and it was very good and somewhat touching. Amazing character portrayal by Mickey Rourke, and Marisa Tomei did a great job as well. I think wrestling is the epitome of kitsch and redneck trash, but this movie isn't really about that ridiculous "sport", so I recommend it to anyone.

BongoBob Newbie

BongoBob

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I never really pictured you as a UFC follower leXX.

 

Only UFC I've ever watched have been the 3 Brock Lesnar matches. That being said, I can't wait to see the Lesnar Vs. Mir rematch.

MrWally Newbie

MrWally

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Okay, time for my review.

 

First off: I'm not a fan of wrestling. I never have been, I doubt I ever will be.

 

Secondly: See this film.

 

This is not a "wrestling flick" in the least. It's a character drama about an aging wrestler who's way past his prime, and desperately trying to return to a life of normalcy, which is nearly impossible when wrestling is all that he's known for years.

 

The Wrestler does not glamorize wrestling. In fact, to me one of the most interesting aspects of the film was showing all of the "backstage" work done for the matches, where the fighters pair up and choreograph how each fight goes. I've always held your view about wrestling, leXX. It's clearly fake, and the outcome of each match is predetermined, but when wrestlers fight, when the fall, when they get hit, the contact is still real. The physical abuse the wrestlers put themselves through is ridiculous, and the film really highlights that fact, and the effect it has on Mickey Rourke's character.

 

Speaking of Rourke, he does a phenomenal job. I'm really hoping to see him win Best Actor. He completely disappears into his role--for in essence he's playing himself. Look up a quick biography on Rourke and you'll see what I mean. His character is completely believable, and I found myself rooting for him throughout the films entirety, even when he makes mistakes.

 

As for the technical aspects, I really enjoyed the documentary-styled, handheld camera work. It wasn't all over the place like Bourne Ultimatum, but it definitely gave an intimate feel between the characters and the audience. The fight scenes are brutally beautiful, though sparse throughout the film.

 

Overall, I'd definitely give it Five Stars. Will it win best picture? Probably not. But Mickey Rourke definitely gave a performance that I know I'll remember for years, and an Oscar Nomination is undoubtedly in sight.

 

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

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