The "rar" USE-flag of media-video/mplayer requires app-arch/unrar though there is at least one another full-functional rar unpacker: app-arch/p7zip (built with "rar" USE-flag) Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install app-arch/p7zip (switching on "rar" USE-flag); 2. Uninstall (if installed) app-arch/unrar 3. Try to install (or rebuild) media-video/mplayer (with shitched on "rar" USE-flag). Actual Results: Portage wants to install unnecessary app-arch/unrar. Expected Results: Portage is satisfied with rar-support in app-arch/p7zip.
1) 7zip doesn't support all rar compression methods 2) It supports neither the v nor p options, nor is its 'l' format close enough that it would be easy to support Thus it's completely useless for MPlayer.
Thanks Reimar. Closing then.