Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 6, 2016

As far as wrestling royalty goes, the name "Hart" is amongst the most prestigious. It carries a significant amount of esteem and a lengthy list of in-ring accomplishments and out-of-ring respect. Much of that is thanks to the legendary Bret Hart, the five-time WWF Champion and 2006 Hall of Fame inductee. But not to be forgotten is the late Owen Hart, Bret's younger brother and, before his tragic passing, one of the most beloved superstars of his, or any, era. A hard worker, a flamboyant entertainer, a terrific in-ring performer, a practical joker, a great friend, a loving sibling, and a fan favorite, Owen battled the odds from a young age and molded himself into what he always wanted to be: a professional wrestler. While his dream would ultimately cost him his life, his legacy as one of sports entertainment's top talents lives on, and his story is now accessible to wrestling fans, new and old alike, in the excellent Owen: Hart of Gold, a traditionally crafted WWE documentary that tells the wrestler's story alongside a collection of the top matches from his short-lived but storied career.

Remembering.

The film covers Owen Hart's life and career in detail, beginning with stories of his youth where he learned to wrestle with a cat and a stuffed monkey. It examines his early professional career and move to WWF where a character arc turn that saw him feud with his brother Bret led to several memorable matches and moments, including Owen's victory over his brother at WrestleMania X and Bret's victorious championship fight later that same night that came to symbolize the rivalry. The film looks at Owen's pairings with other stars, his creative use of his Slammy Awards, his role in the Hart Foundation and a dream Pay-Per-View in Calgary, his reaction to the infamous "Montreal Screwjob," his "Blue Blazer" character, and his tragic passing in May 1999. The story is woven through vintage photographs and video highlights as it's told by a number of WWE personalities, including, but not limited to, Ron Simmons, Triple H, Jerry Lawler, Scott Hall, Lex Luger, Mark Henry, Mick Foley, Natalya, Edge, Ted DiBiase, Kevin Owens (whose son's name, and his in-ring name, are in honor of Owen Hart), and, of course, Bret Hart and other members of the Hart family.

What's most striking about Owen: Hart of Gold isn't the wrestler's story -- that part is already rather well known -- but instead the impact he had on the wrestling community -- and beyond -- and how the legacy and memories still hold firm in the minds of those who knew him best. The emotion is palpable in almost every interview clip. From Natalya to Mark Henry, Owen holds a treasured place in the minds and hearts of the WWE's finest. The participants open up and reveal honest emotions that still move several of them to tears even today, well over 15 years since his tragic passing. The film doesn't so much impart a newfound respect for the man but rather a newfound respect for what his life meant to those around him and demonstrates the staying power of a positive, fun-loving, and big hearted individual, even in an arena where the quest for personal gain can sometimes overwhelm the importance of family and togetherness. The film is presented in traditional WWE Home Video style, running just a little over an hour but telling a satisfyingly complete and complex tale that paints the broad picture not on the surface but explores so much more just underneath where the real story of Owen Hart is found in the words of his closest friends.

WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Owen: Hart of Gold presents the main documentary feature at a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Vintage footage from the SD 4x3 era has been reformatted to match the new interview clips. All older matches presented elsewhere on the disc retain their original aspect ratios. The newer interview footage is a mixed bag of quality. At its best, details feature prominently and with exacting precision, revealing the finest facial pores and hairs. However, these segments also push very warm to the point that skin is practically turned red. Other interview segments appear noticeably soft and mildly blurry. Others feature severe macroblocking and hopelessly washed-out blacks.

WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Owen: Hart of Gold features a terribly basic Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Dialogue presents from the center channel with acceptable clarity, though hardly much authority. It's fairly well prioritized over the music that plays underneath. Said music drifts through the stage and into the rear. It's supportive in nature only, not doing much to offer lifelike reproduction. A few scattered in-ring and arena details feature well enough but are limited to the lesser quality of the era from which they were captured.

WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Owen: Hart of Gold contains two "bonus" tabs beyond the main program: "Stories" (disc one only) and "Matches" (found under "Chapters" on disc two). The stories are, essentially, deleted scenes from the main feature that further color in the life and career of the subject. Matches are presented in their original aspect ratio. Below is a list of what's included. Note that disc two also features several additional extras exclusive to the Blu-ray release, and are marked below as such. All extras are presented in 1080i high definition.

Disc One:

• Stories (45:57 total runtime): Helpful Brother, 1st WWE Match, Bad News Prank, Blue Blazer Is Owen, Thermostat, Hacksaw Gym Call, Hundred Dollar Goulet, Shaving Cream, Eeyore Hall, Getting Pulled Over, Battle Royal, Luger 50, Sumo Bulldog, WrestleMania 12 Fan, Nuances, Role Model, European Title Match, Slammy Beth, Spirited Scottish Call, Clown Nose, Embracing the Nugget, Venis Superfan, Popcorn Match, Thrifty Owen, Fan/Uncle, and Owens' Birthday.
• Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship Match: Owen Hart vs. Viet-Cong Express #1. Stampede Wrestling -- December 5, 1986.
• North American Heavyweight Championship Match: Owen Hart vs. Makhan Singh. Stampede Wrestling -- May 1988.
• Career Match: Blue Blazer vs. George South. Wrestling Challenge -- September 10, 1988.
• Career Match: Blue Blazer vs. Mr. Perfect. Meadowlands -- May 8, 1989.
• Career Match: Owen Hart vs. Mark Kyle. World Championship Wrestling -- March 16, 1991.
• WWE Intercontinental Championship Match: Owen Hart vs. Shawn Michaels. Wrestling Spotlight -- August 28, 1993.
• Career Match: Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart. WrestleMania X -- March 20, 1994.
• King of the Ring Finals: Owen Hart vs. Razor Ramon. King of the Ring -- June 19, 1994.
• Lumberjack Match for the WWE Championship: Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart. Portland, ME -- August 17, 1994.
• Exhibition Match: Owen Hart vs. Nick Barberri. WrestleMania 11 Warmup -- March 28, 1995.

Disc Two:

• WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Owen Hart & Yokozuna vs. The Allied Powers. In Your House -- July 23, 1995.
• #1 Contender Match for the WWE Championship: Owen Hart vs. Shawn Michaels. In Your House -- February 18, 1996.
• Career Match: Owen Hart vs. Mankind. RAW -- January 6, 1997.
• WWE European Championship Tournament Finals: Owen Hart vs. British Bulldog. RAW -- March 3, 1997.
• WWE Intercontinental Champion Match: Owen Hart vs. Rocky Maivia. RAW -- April 28, 1997.
• Career Match: Hart Foundation vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust & Legion of Doom. In Your House: Canadian Stampede -- July 6, 1997
• WWE European Championship Match: Owen Hart vs. Goldust. RAW -- January 26, 1998.
• Dungeon Match: Owen Hart vs. Ken Shamrock. Fully Loaded -- July 26, 1998.
• Career Match: Owen Hart vs. Edge. Breakdown -- September 27, 1998.

Disc Two Blu-ray Exclusives:

• Career Match: Blue Blazer vs. Red Roster. Madison Square Garden -- December 30, 1988.
• Career Match: Owen Hart vs. 1-2-3 Kid. King of the Ring -- June 19, 1994.
• Tributes: Various WWE Superstars offer their thoughts on Owen's passing from the May 24, 1999 episode of RAW. Included are Tom Pritchard, Goldust, Road Dogg, Savio Vega, Bradshaw, Droz, D-Lo Brown, Mike Chioda, Terry Taylor, Val Venis, Hugo Savinovich, Gangrel, Bob Holly, Mick Foley, Howard Finkel, Triple H & Chyna, Edge, Gerald Brisco, Paul Bearer, Ron Simmons, Christian, Test, Pat Patterson, Bruce Prichard, Tony Garea, Debra, Prince Albert, Teddy Long, Jeff Jarrett, Dave Hebner, Mark Henry, Brian Christopher, Blue Meanie, Sgt. Slaughter, Maria Felipe, X-Pac, Al Snow, Michael Hayes with Matt & Jeff Hardy, Tim White, Big Show, Scotty 2 Hotty, and Jim Dotson.

WWE: Owen - Hart of Gold Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Owen: Hart of Gold is a moving portrait of a man whose life was taken far too early. Beyond his wrestling skill and in-ring personas was a man held in high respect, who could always be counted on for a smile in the good times or an ear and open heart in the bad. A film fit for Owen Hart's fans and newcomers alike, this is a release that's a must-own for every WWE fan.