Compilations, Best Of's... ... & Bits That Don't Fit Elsewhere

The Smashing Machine: The Life & Times of Mark Kerr £7
This stunning documentary, directed by John Hyams, follows two years in the lives of ex-UFC fighters Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman. The intention was to focus on Kerr's move into the mixed martial arts environment of PRIDE, but the turmoil of Kerr's private life makes for the most painfully fascinating moments in the film. Unable to cope with his status as a marked man, Kerr turns to hard drugs - and it emerges that his girlfriend is a violent alcoholic. There is some incredibly graphic footage as Kerr attempts to stop his life and career falling apart at the seams, climaxing with his admission to a rehab clinic and subsequent return to PRIDE. Compared to the Mark Kerr soap opera, the story of Mark Coleman is a simpler struggle: washed-up and broke, he returns to fighting to support his family. Both men come across as genuine, likeable characters. This is unpoetic and unapologetic about its subject, with prolonged close-up coverage of some brutal fights - and there's no moralising, as the director allows viewers to draw their own conclusions. Not just a must for existing fans of PRIDE and UFC, this is second to none as an introduction to extreme fighting. Highly recommended.

On The Road With The SAT £9
The follow-up to the classic video diary, On The Road With Tajiri & Super Crazy. This time the film follows the most exciting trio on the US indie scene - Jose Maximo, Joel Maximo and Red, collectively known as the SAT. In addition to the anticipated fly-on-the-wall documentary, this includes numerous excellent matches, a shoot interview, and lots of pranks that would, in real life, make you very unpopular in no time at all. Not quite Alan Whicker, then. The journey begins as Red and Los Maximos travel to the Caribbean for the first time; there are five full matches from IWA Puerto Rico, including Red vs Brian XL, and Maximos vs Divine Storm. There's heaps of footage from Taka Michinoku's dojo, which is considerably less manicured than anything shown on Tough Enough. From there it's back up to Georgia, the location for a bite-size shoot interview with all three SAT's and Brian XL, followed by an inexplicable, full-on fist fight between Red and Jose Maximo in the back of their van. There's a visit to Dustin Rhodes' TCW training facility, followed by Los Maximos' TCW match vs Bobby Hayes & Jason Sugarman. The tour ends with two great, high-flying matches from Staten Island: Los Maximos vs Abunai & Devine, and a blinder between Red and Low Ki. Rob Feinstein amuses himself throughout with 'hilarious' gags (did anyone ever like him?) plus cameos by Super Crazy, Shawn Michaels' students, various Baldies, and wrestling's favourite restauranteur - Abdullah the Butcher. Great stuff.

On The Road With Tajiri & Super Crazy £7
The original 'up close and personal' travelogue, following a week in the life of Yoshihiro Tajiri and Super Crazy. This reveals the humdrum existence of wrestlers when they aren't wrestling, as Tajiri and Crazy endure the monotony of motels, rest stops and airport waiting lounges. The footage is unique, with on-screen rivals Tajiri and Crazy trying to stay sane by pulling crazy practical jokes on each other - and their travelling companions, Doug Gentry and Rob Feinstein. This features a raft of rare Tajiri and Crazy matches from ECW, CZW and TCW, with improved picture quality than earlier versions.

An Evening With Johnny Valiant / Luscious Johnny: The Wrestler £7
Two unique commercial tapes. 'An Evening With Johnny Valiant' is a one-man show filmed at a New York comedy club on November 20th 2002 - part shoot interview, part stand-up performance. 'Luscious Johnny' is a video biography, with footage of Johnny with such luminaries as Backlund, Sammartino, Albano, Okerlund, McMahon and Hogan - and his on-screen brothers, Jimmy and Jerry. An interesting look at life after the big time.

Beyond the Mat £7
Quite simply, the greatest wrestling movie ever made. Filmed from 1997-1999 by Barry Blaustein, the main focus is on Terry Funk, Mick Foley and Jake Roberts, although countless other wrestlers and behind-the-scenes sorts appear throughout. The situations caught on camera range from the tragic (a despairing Jake Roberts off his head on crack) to the bizarre (Spike Dudley discussing Shakespeare with blood dripping out of his head), and are always fascinating. This is a rare early version of the film, released for awards consideration. I really don't know why I didn't list it before.