Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

there was no "The Sopranos" ending in anyway. i don't understand why, now, because we don't have a definitive happy or sad ending and is somewhat ambiguous that we equate it to bad or lazy film making or "Made in America" which was still an excellent series finale. many movies prior have gone this route, many.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

just watched this since it was a rain day here. really enjoyed it. in reference to the end, i kind of expected, but i did still like it. very good movie all around, IMO. and marisa tomei looked great as i am sure others have said. :up: :up:

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

That doesn't mean everyone has to like it.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Well, it was obvious what was going on during that last fight...

****SPOILER***


The "ringing" noises - which happened during his first heart attack. He knew he was going to die and went out doing what he loved. He had no one. His daughter told him to fuck off, his (supposed) girlfriend (altho she really never was) walking out like that - after telling him to fuck off also. He just said "fuck it" - knowing if he fought again, it would kill him.

I thought it was pretty good movie too. Altho I'm not a wrestling fan and didn't realize they beat each other bloody like that with barbed wire and glass in the fights.

I guess I'm just used to "old school" wrestling where they just pin each other to the mat to win.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Mickey65,

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I watched this (1st time) with my gf and overall thought it was an okay movie. I was pretty shocked at how graphic the wrestling scenes were. The other thing was that I was just taken aback at how different Rourke's look had changed (not in a good way). I also didn't feel that this character was a big acting stretch for him based on his real life experience. That being said, I definitely felt the acting was good, and seeing Tomei dancing topless was a huge plus. I think I may appreciate this movie more on a 2nd viewing.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I agree with this but.


Graet great movie.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

that is how i read it. he might have wished he could have both, but he had to go with his true love in the end.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Same. Most people i've talked to see it this way as well.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

One technique that the movie showed was blading. A lot of people don't know about blading. The wrestler will hide a razor blade and then cut their forehead to make themselves look beaten bloody. It's a dangerous practice as some wrestlers have cut too deep, and it leaves scars.

I get very annoyed when people say wrestling is fake. Yeah, the outcomes are predetermined, but the pain is real, and these people do it because they love it even though they are wrecking their bodies. The Wrestler reminded me a lot of Jake the Snake Roberts, once a huge star, now hooked on drugs and doing backwater wrestling shows. Wrestling was the only place where he felt like he had a family.

Real life wrestlers like Roddy Piper were moved to tears by this realistic film.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

well, you can't really call it a sport if outcomes are predetermined. sure they take abuse and some injuries are quite real, but "The Wrestler" certainly proved it is for the most part fake. it is merely entertainment, a staged production in every sense of the word. matches are indeed real if you think in terms that they are fictional plays, but the last time i checked fiction = not reality.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Personally, I think "fake" is just an inaccurate word to use to describe it. Pro Wrestling is what it is, and pre-determined outcomes are a part of it and that aspect of it isn't a secret (anymore, at least), nor does anyone even argue that it's a sport. It would be akin to describing any other TV show as being fake because the people on there aren't real doctors or cops.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

It is a sport in the sense that these wrestlers have to be in amazing physical shape to pull off their stunts, and it requires a lot of training and pain endurance. Honestly, there is no way wrestling could not be predetermined. Guys would get killed in the ring.

The wrestlers have to protect each other to a certain degree. Several years ago, D Lo Brown botched a tombstone move and he broke the neck of Droz who is paralyzed for life.

I guess where the line gets blurry for me is when wrestlers feel like they accomplished something by winning belts and getting inducted into the hall of fame.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Exactly. This discussion comes up every so often and it's always the same. Everyone agrees on the important things: The outcome is predetermined, that these guys work their asses off in the ring and in the gym and while they do their best to protect themselves and their partner they're still getting banged up doing so.

Then the rest of the discussion is simply if the word "fake" applies. But as you said, pro-wrestling just is what it is.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

you can make up your own definition of "sport", i guess. but in no way is "pro wrestling" recognized as a legitimate sport lumped in with the basketballs, footballs, baseballs, tennis, etc... i do agree that "fake" would be inaccurate as fuman pointed out.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Ugh, your avatar always gives me a headache lol

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I wouldn't call it a competitive sport, but I would definitely consider it sport, in much the same way that I would consider exhibition (non-competitive) figure skating a sport.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Do you like gladiator movies?

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I don't consider Wrestling a sport. It's entertainment at it's basis of existing. I don't count Nascar as a sport either, though I respect the endurance of driving fast but...uhm...you're sitting down the whole time going in a circle or oval.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I'm sorry, a movie was 'the proof' that wrestling is fake? Couple things:
1) Movies aren't real, I would not use a work of fiction as proof of anything.To use your own words "the last time I checked fiction = not reality"... I guess unless you are using fiction to disprove other fiction? :) Do you not see the irony in your statement above? If not, let me spell it out - The Wrestler is also a staged production!
2) Did you not realize what wrestling is before you saw this movie? :)

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Wrestling is fake. Now, the pain that these guys feel is very real. Yes, they work very hard at it and it's very dangerous but it's still fake. I just can't see how something that's essentially choreographed isn't fake.

Wrestling is pretty much ballet.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

It's a "show". It's not fake. It's a show. If you go in thinking that these guys really want to kill each other, I guess I can see how you would consider it fake after finding out they probably hang out after the show for the first time. But realize that it's just entertainment, it's a show that they put on for the audience.

Would you call a ballet "fake"?

= J

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Wrestling was very popular in the 90s though because the storylines blurred reality with fiction. For example when paramedics came out and carried an injured wrestler off, was this fake or real? When Owen Hart fell from the rafters to his death, many people in the audience that it was part of the show.

The Montreal Screwjob with Bret Hart was mostly real. Mick Foley and Ric Flair had a real life feud.

Wrestling is perhaps the most dangerous sport of them all. So many wrestlers including Edge and Stone Cold have suffered broken necks. Hogan limps around with an artificial hip, and Shawn Michaels still manages to wrestle despite having several herniated discs in his back. I really don't see how these guys do it.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

Pro-Wrestling is fake refers to its status as a competitive sport. The competition aspect is non-existent, the match winners are pre-decided, it's a soap opera for guys. As such, yes, it's fake and scripted.

Doesn't mean people aren't getting injured.

Re: 'The Wrestler' D:Daron Aronofsky, w/Mickey Rourke
 

I believe most here are in agreement that it is not a sport, but rather an entertainment show.

= J