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8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: Shows political insecurity, 19 August 2001 Author: fecund-2 from USA
The film features not only punks and their performances, but also the reactionary times they played in. It's fascinating to see how threatened the powers-that-be felt, threatened by youth culture. (And it's too bad that the reactionary politicos of today are too secure to be threatened by any populist movement...)
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Excellent documentary, 10 May 2000 Author: littlesiddie from Cambridge, MA
Features live performances by the Sex Pistols, the Rich Kids, the X-Ray Specs, Sham 69 and Generation X.Hard to believe that this title is out of print. It's one of the best documentaries of the early Punk rock era.It's got great interviews with some of the principal people of the time, such as the head of the GLC. And interviews with concert goers outside the Sex Pistols American gigs. And the famous Sid and Nancy bed interview. And a bunch of other stuff.
5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: 16mm of rawness...., 23 November 2004 Author: jerryfranc1 from Point Lay, Alaska
FINALLY had a chance to see this raw, indy piece of work. As a punk snob from the era it refreshing to hear the original brit punks that slogged it out for obscure cult status and to be on about a zillion punk compilations, but w/ little else to show for it. Fans of Green Day, Rancid or whatever $$$-making outfit should bow their heads to these folks that would have loved the glory and cash but it was not to be.A good non-obtrusive film that lets music speak for itself (albeit somewhat out of sync). It was a pleasure to see and hear COMPLETE songs as so many documentaries show perhaps a minute of a song and go back to commentary, etc.Covers the Sex Pistols tour rather well, both on stage and crowd reaction. About 10 songs in all from the early '78 tour.Sid and Nancy are there for real and are anything but the shapely, stylish Chloe Webb and Gary Oldman from "Sid and Nancy" from Alex Cox. Rather wrenching to sit through it all.A tragic highlight was suffering through working-class yob Terry Sylvestre and his 'Terry and the Idiots' outfit that bomb heavily at the local pub.If you want a double feature, pick up "Decline of Western Civilization" - a bit more polished, but pretty damn raw and worth it for the Fear concert footage.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: rare punk documentary that's worth a look!, 17 December 2008 Author: oslane from United States
This film serves as a nice bridge between between Don Letts' 'The Punk Rock Movie' and Penelope Spheeris' 'The Decline of Western Civilization' as it mainly follows the Sex Pistols on their disastrous U.S. tour which lead to their implosion and was followed by the death of Sid Vicious and his girl friend Nancy (hence the film's title). Lech Kawalski captures some excellent footage of the band as well as the locals' reactions to the 'punk rock phenomenon.' Also Kawalski shows the social conditions from which the Pistols came from to give more back ground. And, to show some of the group's influence, has a good amount of live performances from other key punk bands like Sham 69, Generation X, X Ray Spex, Dead Boys and lesser known act Terry and the Idiots - not to mention a soundtrack which includes music from Iggy, the Ramones and the Clash! Good stuff! I was a little surprised as I thought I'd seen every punk rock movie from the era but this one seems to have fallen through the cracks. If you can get your hands on it, do so!
1 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Terry and the idiots at their best, 29 July 2003 Author: Toyne from Leyton
Great live footage of Terry and the Idiots with Terry Sylvester talking about his bands performance after the gig, noting their lack of professionalism. Also the guy who who claims he's 'still has to go out thieving to collect his money' but is he fifteen or sixteen that is the question. Oh and its got The Sex Pistols on it too!
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