by Jamie_Shannon | Public
A movie not really about John Ritchie and Nancy Spungen. Its about a Hollywood version of them, the acting and cinematography are brilliant enough to put it at the top of the list.
In depth coverage across the country of the scene extensive interviews with H.R.
Everybody I knew wanted to get a pet rat after this movie came out. Flea is in it also.
A Macedonian Punk Movie you have to seek this one out its good really good.
Documentary focuses on the Washington DC Hardcore punk. They used to run into the ice cream store that Henry Rollins worked at when Rednecks used to hassle the Punk kids. The Rednecks would take one look at Henry and run away.
I had a friend like Marshal There are many haters of this movie. Claiming that the movie is about posers. That is the point I think. Really there were not that many true punks during the day. This movie is closer to what it was for most kids than Suburbia was. Unless you went out like Sid/Darby/GG/Ian/Kurt or you are still on tour don't throw stones.
Miller: A lot o' people don't realize what's really going on. They view life as a bunch o' unconnected incidents 'n things. They don't realize that there's this, like, lattice o' coincidence that lays on top o' everything. Give you an example; show you what I mean: suppose you're thinkin' about a plate o' shrimp. Suddenly someone'll say, like, plate, or shrimp, or plate o' shrimp out of the blue, no explanation. No point in lookin' for one, either. It's all part of a cosmic unconciousness. Otto: You eat a lot of acid, Miller, back in the hippie days? Miller: I'll give you another instance: you know how everybody's into weirdness right now?...
We could have used him for a little while longer. We needed him to stick around. World didn't need New Order. This flick was written from his wife's view I think.. No sure how much was skewed, if they consult my wife for my biopic after I am gone; it will not paint me in a good light. But what it comes down to one of greatest tragedies in music was when Ian called it quits, forget Janis, Jim and Jimi. He and Curt could have had huge libraries of work.
When Mr. Lydon speaks of his relationship with Mr. Ritchie its really really hard not to be moved. This documentary is seriously well filmed, edited and never hits a boring note. Truly the best tale of the 2 and half years of these guys before they imploded.
Not Rated | 91 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
We could have used D. Boon for a while longer too. Most of this documentary is filmed from the passenger seat of Mike's Van. You feel like you know him by the time its done.
Shane West was good enough to go on tour with the Germs. More Mr. Crash would not have been a bad thing, either. He seems more of free spirited hippie than a punk. His music reflected this and so does this movie. Some people can feel too much,
Poor guy this is not a documentary about Punk but a very talented man with an illness
Better than a NOFX documentary more interesting, his label has done more for punk than NOFX
More focus on the Sex Pistols scene, Dead boys and the rich kids. Saw this one after some the higher ranked ones. Maybe it was timing, it felt like a retread. Nice to see Generation X as time seems to have forgotten them for Billy Idol.
Operation Ivy, really, Operation Ivy is mentioned one of the few documentaries to mention them. Before Rancid, Green Day, NOFX, Pennywise, and Offspring. A tad slow in one stretch but its better than most. Overall it could have spent a bit more time on random bands it lists at the end. A couple of names I didn't know, and seriously I know more punk bands than the next guy. So I could have learned something more from this documentary rather than googling them afterward. But overall not too bad.
The Latino punk scene. One of the best named punk bands of all time are featured the Crusty Drunks. What we have seen before that Punk is everywhere. That its happening in Latino culture in LA is great. That this documentary is pretty freaking well filmed and the bands are the bomb, is also good. What is not good is there is a man who calls himself Nacho Corrupted.
The reason for this documentary as far as I can tell is showing the commercialization of Punk through Pop punk and Hot topic; not coming out in support or against it. Then they jump to the UK Subs still on tour which is cool and then even better goes into DIY. Then they go back to pop punk; AGAIN. Anyway last time I was in a Hot topic (almost ten years after this doc) there was not a Misfit/Black Flag shirt to be found.. So they might have been just riding the wave, rather than cannon balling into the pool. Over all though just a well made documentary,
Heroin Bob looking on from the after life at his nineteen year old of death obsessed son. Its a massively brilliant take on every thing touching the youth culture. Summing up all the fractions of punks and influences alienate our children into rebelling or its just a confused episodic movie. Could go either way depending upon your mood when you watch it. Ross was simply dumped by Shelly or its a representation of the loss of innocence when we come to an understanding our dreams are not going to come true. No matter how small they are. This movie is either really simple or really complex.
Managers are scum bags in my humble opinion at least 99% of the time. But this guy in Manchester was part of the the 1%. The funeral scene for some reason, I will not forget. The contract scene is priceless.
Epic chronicle that is short and cheaply filmed padded with slam dance instructions. But damn wow are we right there with Social.
Pretty much the best documentary about the Ramones.
Great performances. The British scene will always have a place in my heart. Just after the the current folk punk one, the eighties hardcore, CBGB bands but before everything else. The pure British style of punk from this era had a sound that its own. It had its Clash, Sex Pistols, Generation X, Sham 69 and the Slits of course. If you are unfamiliar with bands like Marquee from Chelsea there is more to be heard.
Really good Horror Comedy not so much really a Punk movie but it has punks in it. Frank: Watch your tongue, boy, if you like this job! Freddy: Like this job?
Yeah Crash died before this one was released. John Doe interview made him sound a bit dim. If they had not made a sequel about Metal this one would have been higher.
I could hear the pitch for this movie. You know that Dead Kennedy's song, what if? So this movie takes a simple idea and makes a decent movie from it. It is not really a Punk movie or would be ranked higher.
A film featuring one of my all time favorite bands Leftover Crack live. That being said its a self consciously arty low budget frustratingly full of it self. Its St Petersburg after the riots in 1996. They used to make this type stuff on weekly basis in the seventies. Its not a bad movie its just not what it thinks it is. At least to me.
The most respectful of the documentaries made about him after he died.
Better than the 2nd one in the trilogy but not as good as the first one. Scope of the movie is only a small group of kids. The documentary than brings in Flea of all people. Flea may have started in the scene but the Red Hot Chili Peppers release Mother's Milk in 1989. I kind of think he was not leaving on the street. In 2018 he is worth $115 million. More Music would have helped this or just more kids in different areas.
There are some of the greatest musicians interviewed in this documentary. A huge collection of names including Captain Sensible enough said,
New Jersey never would have thought they made a documentary on Punk there, but here you go. Yea /I know aside from the Misfits never thought too much about it. Focuses on a club in the day that had good music in the day. Similar to the others from the other cities. The stories are similar, this one has some good ones.
Best Clash documentary, Strummer one was too sad. The rise and fall too much fall so this one wins.
Jumps from very boring to incredibly interesting and informative in seconds. Some kind of strange pendulum of documentary making style. I can not believe they intended it to be that way. A very large scope is covered over the length of this film and it is one of the better of the international punk scene films.
Short concert shot during the Rollins days. Kira is there and so is Greg of course. Not a very energetic show but not bad.
Man these guys are great.
Interesting a little uneven, some of the bands seem a bit glam or really I don't what to call them.
We lost a great talent when he died also. People forget him too quickly. IDK too much about the New York Dolls. To paraphrase Johansen in "Let it Ride" they peed it all away.
Best documentary about Jello and company.
Brave young Russian Punk women.
Criminal kid gangs as most movies from this time frame its a bit dated. A bit confusing and a bit too arty. I was drinking when I saw this last so I can't be sure.
Underrated or overrated by the big music fan magazines. Saw it liked it never wanted to see it again. I think Rolling Stone has it in their top ten pretty high. Yeah whatever like I said it was good but it ain't no top ten. Underrated if your a punker, most generally that I know, think its a pile of carp ( the fish rotting in the sun).
A must see, clocking in at around a hour and featuring the Bad Brains. You cannot see enough Bad Brains. You cannot hear enough Bad Brains. That may sound sarcastic it ain't I been listening since the early days and love them. Even the reggae albums.
Extremely in depth focus on these 2 post Sex Pistols and their last days. Brings up the conspiracy alternate causes to her end including possible alternate suspects. A particular statement made about his mother by one of the people being interviewed should have been edited out. His life was tragic enough.
Ground breaking band, it gets the feeling of people so way ahead of their time that they couldn't succeed. They are the Big Star of Punk. Documentary sufferes from being made after the death of the main brother from Death and just a limit in the scope of the people they interviewed. More people during the time of the recording rather than people from 2012.
The band could have used a better filmed documentary, but this is what they got and this is what we get. Ian yelling at some guy who spit on him could have gotten cut out. I don't know if it is needed to remember this band. There was a video I saw once of the young Fugazi performing. They were so free of BS. Here they look like they have been around too long already.
Skinheads gang in England in the eighties. Very well done movie.
Similar to the other punk movies that focus on new punk movements in different regions of the world. This documentary puts more weight on the importance of its subject. They may have a point .
Nazi punks f off. Aside from a skrewdriver music video, you got to think this movie gets it right. That scene was driven out of my town in my youth the entire group got their butt kicked to Wisconsin.
Unrated | 120 min | Documentary
I was there you can see me right there that is me, yea that is me right there. Damn it rewind. Okay right there see the kid, that is me. Pause it, Yea I know it was over twenty years ago, but it is me. One of the slower moving of the regional punk documentaries. Scene was slower in Chicago but they focus on the New Wave stuff that ate the early scene. It ate like a chicago style hotdog. The hardcore movement was hard, good and mean. There is a true fringe of music that really never hit hit. It ain't LA nor New York
Good movie shame they could not have done it about all of them. Something feels a bit like a tv movie more than a movie perhaps there where budget issues. I don't know. Since this is my list and I have bad nightmares of 80s Lita Ford videos, oh the hair oh the hair. I rank this film so low in the list. Its my list. Oh and yea I saw Joan Jett live as an opening band and I didn't clap with her on "I love rock'nroll" so there cherry bomb. Cherie singing with Danzig was cool.
Not Rated | 123 min | Documentary, Music
Not one interview with someone from the band everything is from other bands or fans. Its amazing how good it is. They should make a movie about the MN scene.
Good Stuff came out of that part of the US. TSOL, Vandals, Black Flag etc. Ranked lower as its TSOL and the Vandals. Black Flag was covered better in the other documentary, Which other? Any other.
I was never a fan of this movie. Feel free to hate me, I know many people do like it. It just seemed like the Ramones were in a Corman cheap movie. It was like they were selling out to the biggest scammer in movies. Scam the audience for the dollars capitalist movie making mogul. I like Corman more now but damn guys. Punk remember, or was it all some inside joke?
Focuses on Canadian Punk of all things but good stuff.
One of the dudes focused on is just plain weird. At times you wonder what the heck are you watching. Yes the guy likes Motorhead that is interesting; I guess. Reminded me of the documentary that followed the Mentors guy around for awhile.
The Clash were not fans of this film from what I understand. It is what it is. You have to love the music. its difficult to follow a bit unprofessional and well don't waste your time watch one of the others on the Clash. I mean unless you don't want to get depressed.
The story of how the their Milo logo was created is priceless. It really all depends how big of a fan you are of the Descendants. Most band specific documentaries on this list are like that. They were ahead of the time with pop punk, but really is that something to be proud off.
Nazi Punks F Off Tim Roth though.
Not Rated | 44 min | Short
We need a current version of the documentary but not about the New York scene.
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, History, Music
More than just the home of the Chargers and a zoo. They had their own scene also. San Diego spanned some great music if you are from that area and that time frame you know. If your not maybe you know who Rocket from the Crypt or any of the bands from the Casbar. (Their version of CGBG) This documentary focuses on the later punk explosion which makes it a little different than the other regional documentaries. San Diego hit a bit later. They mention the early eighties was just to violent for them. This is edited a bit too choppy. One sentence per talking head.
Unrated | 104 min | Music
Its awesome they made a documentary on these guys. They are not as well known as they should be. I know for a fact the lead singer was delivering water bottles not to long ago, which is sad. My friend told me that a bottle was delivered to a friends business. That is not really a fact I guess. I spaced out a bit watching this one. So it might be better I need to go back and watch again.
No that was earlier; I got in a fight with a kid about Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation. I recall it as being a silly reason to fight and both of us got hurt pretty bad. The point being, I guess, is Sonic Youth is not for everyone. I won the fight. Sonic Youth marched on to their success. Nirvana marched on to greater success. Here is this movie which seemed to forget what it was recording was timeless.
I don't think Allin had more to give to us before he died. He left nothing out of every show.
These guys had musical balls and they lived and live the life style. Green day is not fit to be considered in the same style of music. Well I liked early Green day. I meant Avril Lavigne not them. She is not really considered punk though. Damn it what is my point, Yea Crass is cool.
I was not a big fan of the bands out of Boston. If you are you might like this better. Really there ain't too much to be said about the home of Gang Green unless you are from this part of the country.
I have spent a lifetime as a jerk. Was never a huge fan of these guys, I would pick up the records listen once and that was about it. I kept waiting for them to turn the corner. Years later they are legends but I still was never a huge fan. I like Morris from the Black Flags days better and I like Off!. So if you were a fan you might like this documentary better.
Great Band there is, I guess, no need to move the camera ever.
Not Rated | 124 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
Very hard to watch, he will be missed.
I am waiting for the documentary on punk in Madagascar featuring the Lemurs. Sorry for the flip remark, troubled areas are bad for kids. Strict areas are bad for kids. Bad situations lead to kids rebelling. Rebelling leads to Punk music. Punk music leads to a documentary. So if things get bad in Madagascar just wait man you will learn the same lesson and get to hear some more punk. Between the scenes of punk bands you will have your angry teens (usually looking too old) mentioning they like Motorhead.
Swedish punk rock girls, I think the people who made this movie thought they were making a deeper point than they do. Hopefully it will be Hollywood rebooted with James Bond.
Some argue that there is no truer punk movie out there, well the ending seemed to me not so much. Since this is a list of Punk Films its rated lower while being a good movie. Putting this along side of "In Heaven There is No Beer" seems like a crime but it kind of fits in my twisted list. Its not a punk movie. Its a movie in which the main character has some punk tendencies. You might even say its a metaphor or its about the whole movement. The ending screws with that. If it was a true punk movie it would have stared only Norton.
Neither is there in hell. I had not heard of one of these bands before I watched the documentary. Seems to be more of California thing. A club surrounded scene like CBGB. Anyway we get more than a bit boring here and there. Really do we need to hear one frequent going fan repeat almost exactly what the other was saying. Edit guys Edit
Really really good bands like the Adicts! and then really really really bad bands who were flash in pans at the time. Too much time on the fluff. Maybe the people who made this didn't know what good music was or they just wanted to show as many bands as possible.
Brave young Russian Punk women. Prayer is better.
Yes it can this movie is not for the faint of heart.
A bit dated and a bit too arty. This gem got dated the day after they filmed it.
Well I'm a wild one oh yeah I am a wild one. I don't give a damn about Junkies. That being said Drugstore cowboy was way more punk. Panic in needle Park was more punk. Sid and Nancy were the king and queen of Junkies of course and their movie reflected it in the vomit. Rollins said it best. "Get away from me you junkie"
Yes there have been a few from that state. Worth checking out; they were really not my thing. If they were yours more power to ya.
Clockwork Orange County is better covers this and more.
Sorry she got sick and it took so long to find out what was wrong with her. I think its horrible, but I thought I was going to watch a documentary about a riot girrrl.
I loved the Refused and they came back from the dead. So the title is a lie. Points off for that one. Being a really short video another point off. Sound and stuff is all good. Filming angles is a bit odd. Really just a long form Music Video. There are people out there who swear by Swedish music. If its metal or through back stoner rock some people cannot get enough of the Swedish scene. I loved the Refused like I said but Sweden just doesn't do it for me.
I liked these two + Zoom better when the stopped being punk and started being arty. Some of their later stuff is just incredible. Interview clips wrap songs in music video format, just jamming, or recorded live. Interview bits sometimes are played over the jamming stuff which is a shame. Like the band there is an arty feel to this documentary sometimes its good other times its not so good. I like this documentary when its raw and not arty.
These kids, one of them from the White Shadow, act more sociopath serial killers then Punk rockers. The star of this movie went on to the television lame Riptide. The lead bad kid went on to direct episodes of the great Sopranos. So goes to show you who will inherit the earth, if the want it. Saw this opus at theater when it came out. if you had asked me what the movie was about the week after I saw I would not have remembered. Did actually commit the movie to memory a few years ago. It does not stay in memory so much.
Finnish punk. Its not a "Syndrome". The Tea party is a "Syndrome" Trump is a "Syndrome"
REM is played during a punk stage diving montage. At least its early REM but REM. Anyway they mention the Misfits and kids are trying to be straight edge. The movie overall thinks it knows what was happening but it wasn't like that for everyone. I didn't know any Krishna Punkers. Is this movie trying to show the counter culture or gawk at it. The botanist's girlfriend is from England of course. Just how many English people are there in America?
Better than you would think it was.
Many musicians are fathers; you can't stretch this for as long as this documentary tries to. Heavy metal bite the heads of things are fathers also. It happens the duality of man thing. Carl Jung wrote about it. I am not sure who would enjoy this movie. People who think Punk rockers are inhuman aliens? People who are not parents and being a parent is an alien thing? Really this is not interesting to anyone.
Sad To Much Fall Too Little Rise To make this in 2012 is offensive, its been to many years. Whatever happened in the end happened. They almost got back together but Joe died. If I ever meet these people who made this documentary in an alley; I will hit them. Repeatedly with a garbage can lid.
Nine songs their original line up. Would be ranked higher except its only nine songs. 9.
20 Years in one hour my ass. Everybody who is in this is in better documentaries.
Heavy handed and silly at the end; it makes it point then won't stop making it over and over again. At the end it goes even further to make it so clear that it just becomes a waste. Yeah okay so this whole time you meant that oh okay Alex.
Devoted fans only as a wise beyond her years punker told me there are just too many bands out there to listen to and who has time for NOFX. Well years later there aren't and they are still around. They are just not interesting 13 albums the few I purchased I don't think I listened to more than once. So maybe you have time for them I don't. Their stuff just ain't original or just not that good.
Heathers is better of the two; this boils down to rambling Slater.