FanFare

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.
posted by TheophileEscargot on Feb 29, 2024 - 3 comments

Gael García Bernal stars in a biopic of the openly gay luchador Saúl Armendáriz, whose drag queen''exotico'' character Cassandro was known as "the Liberace of Lucha Libre." The movie follows his rise from low-level amateur to international fame, and his relationships along the way. 91/85 at RT, streaming at Amazon Prime and in theaters. Director Roger Ross Williams had previously directed a 14-minute documentary about Cassandro for the New Yorker, available here. [more inside]
posted by mediareport on Sep 28, 2023 - 5 comments

[TRAILER] In the wake of the social unrest caused by the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, two female sumo athletes, Kiku and Tokachi, and an anarchist group called the Guillotine Society, spark an unlikely connection. [more inside]
posted by DirtyOldTown on Aug 17, 2023 - 2 comments

Rewatch! One of the most improbable movie crime fighters of all time is Samson, a.k.a. El Santo the luchador, who here tangles with the undead and the forces of evil. It's "TV's" Frank Conniff's last episode until his guest appearance in Season 10, the last episode of Season 6, and the last episode before Pearl Forrester becomes a regular Mad. Previously.
posted by JHarris on Oct 7, 2021 - 0 comments

Rewatch! Girls wrestle and wrestle and wrestle and wrestle. There's a plot about money laundering. But mostly, girls wrestle. It's pretty skeevy. Since the last time we did this movie, I've learned that it's actually kind of the second in a trilogy, of a set of movies connected by having the character of Umberto Scalli, played by Timothy Farrell. The lady wrestlers are played by real lady wrestlers. Has the short Are You Ready For Marriage, containing 100% more BOING than the standard short! Previously.
posted by JHarris on Aug 11, 2021 - 6 comments

The Peanut Butter Falcon is an adventure story set in the world of a modern Mark Twain that begins when Zak, a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from a nursing home where he lives to chase his dream of becoming a professional wrestler and attending the wrestling school of The Salt Water Redneck. Through circumstances beyond their control Tyler, a small time outlaw on the run becomes Zak's unlikely coach and ally. Together they wind through deltas, elude capture, drink whisky, find God, catch fish, and convince Eleanor, a kind nursing home employee with a story of her own to join them on their journey.
posted by vverse23 on Aug 26, 2019 - 3 comments

Hardened by years in foster care, a teenage girl from Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood decides that wrestling boys is the only way back to her estranged father.
posted by latkes on Apr 20, 2019 - 1 comment

Season 2 of the Netflix hit about the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling will "deviate" from the real-life G.L.O.W., particularly in that critics actually like this version.
posted by Etrigan on Jun 29, 2018 - 58 comments

Still in space, trying to get his ship repaired, Lars get a letter from Steven about the latest happenings in Beach City. Bill Dewey is directionless. [more inside]
posted by numaner on Mar 28, 2018 - 9 comments

The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (also known as GLOW) was a women's professional wrestling "league" formed in 1985. This new Netflix fictionalized version of its inception is fun, thoughtful, and religious in its 80s authenticity. Jenji Kohan is one of the producers. [more inside]
posted by Stanczyk on Jun 28, 2017 - 54 comments

SAMSON VS THE VAMPIRE WOMEN aka El Santo Contra las Mujeres Vampiros. "Solo un hombre de acero... de agilidad de pantera, es capaz de lucar contra las MUJERES VAMPIROS... y ese hombre es... SANTO!" Simply, in which a masked wrestler, who is a genius crime fighter too, struggles against the legions of Hell. This is probably the silliest premise of any MST movie (even Robot Monster's gorilla-with-fishbowl was obstensibly an evil space alien), but in Mexico there were over fifty El Santo movies, and they were wildly popular. El Santo himself was a tremendous figure, an actual wrestler, and even got an awesome pilot in 2010 for his own show on the Mexican version of Cartoon Network despite dying in 1984. But even these facts are overshadowed, to MSTies, by this being not only the end of Season Six, but also the final episode of the beloved "TV's" Frank Conniff. (Well, excepting a special appearance in one later show.) YouTube, with annotations! (1h32m) Premiered March 25, 1995. [more inside]
posted by JHarris on Apr 5, 2017 - 8 comments

After Purple Puma unexpectedly quits Beach City Underground Wrestling, Tiger Millionaire comes up with a new "philanthropist" gimmick which is less than successful.
posted by Small Dollar on Mar 3, 2017 - 10 comments

AKA Pin-Down Girls "The Strange LOVE-LIFE of a WRESTLING GAL!" "SEE...Intimate Scenes of Gorgeous Girl Wrestlers with the Naked Eye of the Camera!" Less a coherent narrative as an exhibition. Ladies wrestle. Their manager uses his business to launder money. But, primarily, ladies wrestle. With short Are You Ready For Marriage?: Two young lovers plan to drop out and get hitched, but a councilor warns them about the terrible possibility that they might BOING. I've heard it said that women wrestling is to this movie as jets refueling is to The Starfighters, which is a hell of a warning. By the way, there are just 14 Comedy Central episodes left in our tour. YouTube (1h32m) Premiered November 26, 1994. [more inside]
posted by JHarris on Feb 9, 2017 - 11 comments

Blockbuster inspirational sports drama based on a true story: former wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat decides to teach his daughters to wrestle. Indian film star Aamir Khan stars -- and produces it, along with Walt Disney Pictures. Dangal is "the second highest grossing Indian film of all time". [more inside]
posted by brainwane on Jan 24, 2017 - 4 comments

Jane struggles to embrace acceptance of her break-up with Rafael by focusing on co-parenting with him and flipping her breeched baby. Alba does not want to pursue criminal charges against Magda because of her illegal immigrant status, so Michael and Jane work the investigation on Alba's behalf, while Alba struggles with her feelings for Father Edward. Xiomara is also struggling with the end of a relationship this week, and she finally gets a chance to speak with Rogelio about her mistake. Luisa returns and pushes for the Marbella to host a wrestling match. [more inside]
posted by joan cusack the second on Apr 29, 2015 - 1 comment

(1973, Color, Japanese, Godzilla, Kaiji, Classic) "Giant Against Giant... the Ultimate Battle!" A scientist, his guyfriend, and the shrill little boy they hang out with send the robot they made, Jet Jaguar, to get Godzilla to defend against the guardian monster of the Kingdom of Seatopia, who are angry because of nuclear testing. One of the best of Mystery Science Theater 3000 of all! The movie is ridiculous, the riffing hilarious, and it has some of the greatest host segments too, including the infamous Orville "Popcorn" Redenbacher sketch. But, unfortunately, this episode is very difficult to find these days, thanks to the legal machinations of Godzilla's owner, Toho. Unavailable on YouTube. First shown January 19, 1991. [more inside]
posted by JHarris on Mar 25, 2015 - 14 comments

I'm wondering if enough people to make it interesting are following Lucha Underground. A quick synopsis for those not already watching it: It's a lucha libre show, produced by Robert Rodriguez, that plays to its being a TV action series rather than a sporting event in arenas. [more inside]
posted by frimble on Feb 18, 2015 - 4 comments

In the first RAW of 2015, The Authority returns, bringing bad news (and Bad News) to your favorite faces. In action tonight... Ziggler/Barrett, The Ascension/nobody we know, Reigns/Show, Nattie/Nikki, Harper/Rowan, Ambrose/Wyatt & an ambulance, Usos & Naomi/Miz, Mizdow & Alicia Fox, Ryback/Rollins & Kane, Big E/Adam Rose. [more inside]
posted by kimberussell on Jan 6, 2015 - 32 comments

Steven sneaks after Amethyst to Beach City's underground wrestling ring, where the two team up as heels: the Purple Puma and Tiger Millionaire. [more inside]
posted by JHarris on Jan 1, 2015 - 3 comments

We learn about Sidao and Mei Lin’s history. There are missions for Marco and Hundred Eyes. Khutulun goes stone cold. Preparations for war. [more inside]
posted by unliteral on Dec 22, 2014 - 1 comment

Wrestler Mark Schultz forms a relationship with his new sponsor, millionaire John du Pont, as they train for the 1988 games in Seoul - a union that leads to unlikely circumstances as both men feel inferior to Mark's revered brother, Dave. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Nov 13, 2014 - 10 comments

Wyatts, Bellas and Vipers, oh my! Plus an appearance by the NXT kids and Jerry Springer. Yes, Jerry Springer. [more inside]
posted by kimberussell on Sep 9, 2014 - 20 comments

*takes deep breath* Okay, this is at least my third time suggesting this. I promise it will be the last. Professional wrestling, particularly the WWE product, has a few fans here on MetaFilter, and the last few FPPs that were more focused on the actual product drew dozens of comments from more than two dozen MeFites who are clearly regular viewers. There are lots of shows on FanFare that draw many fewer commenters, and there are shows that are non-narrative (Cosmos, Last Week Tonight). [more inside]
posted by Etrigan on Jul 22, 2014 - 4 comments