WWE - Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be (2005)

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Media Type: DVD
Artist: WWE
Title: BRET HITMAN HART: THE BEST THERE IS THE BEST WAS
Street Release Date: 11/15/2005
Domestic
Genre: SPORTS Product Description

More Bret Hart DVD's in the future

There have been plenty of reviews written on thsi DVD set, so I don't feel the need to write mine.

I recently asked on Bret's personal web site whether any future DVD releases are going to happen. I was told that Bret is looking to release more DVD's in the future. I also read on a wrestling web site, where it was said that in a Q & A session somewhere during November 2007, Bret said that was was looking forward to release two more DVD's.

I'm honestly really excited at this news. Bret Hart have had so many great matches that couldn't be included in the first DVD set. Hopefully we fans get lots of other matches on the upcoming DVD's. Thanks Bret. October 8, 2008

An interesting but one-sided documentary coupled with excellent matches

THE SHORT: Loads of great matches from one of the best technical wrestlers around, offset by a documentary that is interesting but told all from Bret's point of view. As a fan of Bret's I came away from this dvd set appreciating his talent all the more, while surprisingly also believing some of the criticisms against him a bit more as well.

THE LONG: Either you respect Bret for his unquestionable mat abilities and understand his side of the Montreal screwjob or you don't because you believe that he is too full of himself and got has comeuppance. This dvd paradoxically caters to both sides of the camp. While the matches are entertaining as always, in all objectivity I must admit that the documentary too often comes across as egotistical and self-serving. Let's put it this way- I was shocked that Shawn Michael's dvd was by far the more objective and critical of the two.

Let's cover the documentary first. For the zero people who don't already know, Bret was a wrestler in the WWE for years and left under harsh terms, having been humiliated in a match that stripped him of his championship in a way that he had been promised would not occur. This is the Montreal screwjob as it is known. There are two sides of this event- those who see Bret's departure as a double-cross by a deceitful businessman pushing fairness aside for his own interests, and those who believe that Bret's head had swollen at his own sense of importance and had to be forced down. Though the end result never should have happened the way it did and both sides now admit to as much, there is of course a degree of truth to both arguments.

In this documentary, which runs around 2 hours, Bret does most of the talking as he takes us through his career. For fans such as myself this is very welcome- not only is it nice to see a wrestler narrating his own history for us, but Bret deserves at least that much. His greatest regret had always been not having a satisfying archive of his legacy, and now he does. I say good for him. He quietly and intelligently covers the highlights, and of course the most impactful statements are the most emotional ones, as he describes his rivalry with Shawn Michaels and the loss of his brother Owen. Aside from some random clips of Bret's tenure in Stampede wrestling (which go, unnarrated, for some time and should have been reserved for the match portion of the dvd), this documentary is compelling.

However to objectively appreciate this release one must also realize that there is hardly any critical or open-minded examination of Bret's career, which makes it harder for an objective viewer to appreciate and in fact easier to disregard than it should be. From the moment the documentary starts, Vince Mcmahon magnanimously thanks Bret for having the integrity to return to the WWE to record this dvd release. This is appreciated yet one wonders if this wasn't something Bret demanded. If the dvd was more even-handed it wouldn't be an issue, but as it is one wonders whether to respect this or roll their eyes.

But then began Bret's narrative, and I was a bit taken aback. Bret was always very confident and maybe a bit arrogant at times, but I believe his workrate backed that up and the events of Montreal were in fact completely unwarranted. While I still believe that things shouldn't have happened the way they did, I can't help but admit that Bret's own words on this dvd make me take his side a bit less fiercely. While it's nice to hear him tell his own story, he does so in a way that at times made it clear why there is a camp that considers him self-absorbed and whiny.

A few comments about how great a wrestler he is is fine. He IS a great wrestler, and there's that warranted confidence. But I then started to notice more comments that were hard to defend. There are several occasions where he describes the championship as his own, something he deserved, and his reigns cut shorter than he believed they should have been. Whether I agree or not, it's hard not to prefer the humility of similar stories from people like the Rock or Mick Foley (who, it should be noted, are both fans of Bret). There are other awkward moments as Bret nitpicks on the way the WWE promoted his great 1996 championship bout with Shawn Michaels, complaining that the clips of his training were not as flattering as he wanted while Shawn was filmed looking like a million bucks. And of course when it comes down to Montreal, I don't blame Bret in the slightest for telling the story exactly how he wants to. But without opposing opinions and with Bret speaking so candidly, it does create an aura of complete self-importance at times.

Again, it can be argued that this is the point- this is Bret's chance to have the spotlight and say exactly what he's wanted to say, no holding back. In this respect I have monumental appreciation that this opportunity came about. But by allowing Bret to speak his uncensored mind, I admit this does lay bare comments and opinions that give weight to some of the harsh criticisms made against him. From what I understand, Bret (understandably) required a large portion of creative control over this dvd set, and therefore if I understand the criticisms against him a bit more now, it is his own fault.

The matches on this dvd set are fantastic, as can be expected of a performer of Bret's caliber. Some have said that the match selections are biased, and they include mostly fights with friends of Bret's. While this is a matter of opinion, it's hard to complain about being offered matches such as Bret vs. Hennig, Davey Boy Smith, Benoit or Owen. It IS true that Shawn Michaels makes nary an appearance here, though most of their noteworthy confrontations are available elsewhere on dvd format. And frankly, I don't really want their iron man match, fantastic though it is, taking up one hour of this set while also on my Wrestlemania 12 disc.

Ultimately, it's like this- if you're a fan of Bret's wrestling, there are plenty of matches here to validate the purchase. Frankly as a fan of talented wrestling I found this alone to be worth the money. And if you are completely on Bret's side of things, you won't have much to complain about. Bret always wanted to supervise a compilation of his career with the WWE, and as a fan of his I am thankful that he was given this opportunity. He did it his way in the end, and I can't disrespect that. I guess the only problem I have is that new fans unfamiliar with the Hitman may look at this and have the ammunition needed to declare him an arrogant whiner.

But at the end of the day, the matches are of him, and the words are his own. It is what it is. And though I hoped for a more affable and humble Bret, I don't have any less respect for him for being himself and letting us be the judge. Now that part's up to you. June 9, 2008

A REAL MAN

I FOUND THIS DVD VERY HONEST AND NO B.S EVERYONES KNOWS THE VINCE WAS THE BAD GUY JUST PUT IT LIKE THIS WAY VINCE DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO AS A BUSINESS MAN BUT THAT DOESN MEAN HE DID THE HONEST THING OR THE RIGHT THING IT WAS THE RIGHT THING BUT FOR HIM VINCE COULD IT JUST STRIP HIM OFF THE TITLE WITH OUT GOING TO SURVIVERS SERIES BUT NOOOOOOOO VINCE HAD TO HUMILLIATE IN FRONT OF HIS COUNTRY HIS FANS AND VINCE BROKE A PROMISE TO BRET ON HOW THE MATCH WAS GOING TO END THATS WHY BRET WAS WIRED TO EVERYONE COULD HEAR HIM SAY ON HOW THAT MATCH WAS GOING TO END IT ON AN INTERFIERENCE BY HHH BECAUSE OTHER WISE PEOPLE WOULNT BELIEVE HIM I SEE THE OTHER PEOPLE COMENTIONG AND THEY ARGUING ABOUT BRET NOT PUTTING HBK O HHH OR OTHER WRESTLERS YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT GOING TO SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT HIM SPECIALLY THOSE 2 OR OTHER WRESTLERS AFTER ALL THEY ARE NOTHING BUT STOOGES OF VINCE JUST PUT THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR DVD NOT EVEN A ONE WRESTLER MADE A GOOD COMMENT ABOUT HIM THE WARRIOR I MEAN NOT EVEN ONE THAT DVD WAS TO MOCK THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR YOU DONT WANT THOSE PEOPLE ON A DVD JUST TO RUIN IT DO YOU?????THATS WHY BRET PUT ONLY VINCE BECAUSE THATS THE BOTTOM LINE BRET AND VINCE OTHERS JUST DONT MATTER EITHER YOU TAKE VINCE SIDE OR BRET SIDE THIS DVD IS THE REAL THING AND THE BEST DVD THAT A WRESTLER HAS EVER MADE I RECOMMEND IT AND I GIVE IT A FIVE STAR May 18, 2008

Portrait of a paragon

This outstanding documentary reminds me of John McPhee's early works profiling athletic paragons like Bill Bradley and Arthur Ashe. Through the articulateness of its subject, even those who don't follow the sport can understand the deep level of craft - a level approaching artistry - achieved by these intelligent hard-working men. It's hard for me to imagine even someone who condescends towards professional wrestling watching this DVD and not coming away respectful of the character and accomplishments of Mr. Bret Hart.

But anyone who is interested in what lies beyond the gaudy surface of America's most ridiculed yet enduringly popular forms of performance art should consider this essential viewing.

May 2, 2008

The Best dvd there was, is, and will ever be.

I must admit, when I bought this dvd, I didn't expect much. I knew he was good but I was never much of a fan of his. I came in during the USA vs Canada feud so naturally, I didn't take kindley to him. What makes the review and star rating even more shocking is that my favorite wrestler of all time. . . .is Shawn Michaels. This dvd is phenominal. They had Bret Hart talking about his experiences but they also had other wrestlers talking as well. The detail in this video is awesome. You feel like you were watching an underground troubled teen movie or something. They had all of his great interviews, the best bits of his matches, and showed every emotion that he had at the time. It was like you were watching his greatness all over again. Because of the dvd and the special features, I have to say, Bret Hart is the excellence of execution, and will always be remembered, as the greatest technical wrestler of all time. Buy this dvd, you will not be unsatisfied. Guarenteed. April 2, 2008

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