5 Ups & 2 Downs From HBO's André The Giant Documentary

Ups...

5. The Touching Exploration Of André's Childhood

Now, the positives.

Even the most ardent André The Giant fans will find something new to see in HBO's film. The opening stretch (after some highlights of André's in-ring career) is a touching look at how one of wrestling's biggest presences started out as a humble child in rural France.

André's siblings get the interview treatment, and their subtitled words lend credibility to the story of trading farm life for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden. This is as far away from WWE hyperbole as you're likely to get. André's brothers, in particular, don't view André like everyone else, because they knew him before he was so famous.

A story about one conversation André shared with his father is special. To the youngster, living on the family farm for the rest of his days was inconceivable, and it's that childlike yearn for something greater/more spectacular that opens up André's real personality.

Albeit brief, this is wonderful stuff.