User reviews

1st watched 5/16/2002 - 3 out of 10(Dir-Budd Boelticher): Lifeless documentary on the great times of a bullfigher named Carlos Arruza(a legend in Mexico) who was killed in 1966 in a car wreck. I suppose if you like bullfighting you'll appreciate this, but there is very little dialogue and explanation as to why this man was so great at what he does and not even much about the real man Arruza or his family. I guess we're just supposed to accept it that he's one of the best and watch him work and watch his admirers and family enjoy his presence. I'm sorry but there is much missing here to make a good documentary in my opinion.

This movie talks of a man, who was masterful in not one but two discipline of bullfighting as matador and rejoneador(The art of bullfighting on horseback). Carlos Arruza was the best Mexican matador, whose only rival and best friend was Manolete, who was tragically killed by a Miura bull named Islero. In this movie , it talks about the journey of a man from a superior matador to a successful bull breeder and top-rated rejoneador. Yes, they could have done more about him, however, the film shows him as his best, and that is in the bullring. He is one of few in this profession, who was able to accomplish this feat and in of all places, Mexico(whose people are one of the strongest critics, other than the Spanish and Portuguese, who know this profession very well and can be unforgiving to poor performing matador). To appreciate the film, one has to look closely the smoothness and great confidence, which Carlos Arruza show as he performs with his deadly bovine partner. The film work was excellent and one will never find a film of this caliber. Arruza's documentary and biography is a true work of art, and gives the viewer, an deep inside look into the art of bullfighting and rejoneador. For aficionados, this is one to have in your collection, because I own a VHS tape of this film, which I found at second hand store. You will not be disappointed in the film and the great man, which this film talks about. This master brought the profession of bullfighting to a new level, and never will anybody see again such a high caliber of a matador, who is "el numero uno": Carlos Arruza.