Product: Filth to Fury [VHS]
Rating: 5.0
A document for an time long past...but not forgotten
They were never heartthrobs for millions of teenage girls. They were banned from performing almost anywhere in their country. Their musicianship could barely be called proficient. However, for a time, the Sex Pistols were one of the most talked-about and controversial bands in rock history. And their influence over pop culture during the late seventies, can only be compared to the Beatles' influence in the mid- to late sixties."The Filth and the Fury" is both a document of a great rock band and of a revolutionary time in our modern cultural history. No one can actually call the Sex Pistols the first punk band (there are arguments for the Damned, Ramones, even MC5 and the Stooges); however, they are, in my opinion, the most important punk band to come down the pike. Not because they were so controversial but because they made the adult world stand up and take notice what was going on.Julien Temple's documentary perfectly illustrates the motivations, the main characters, and the happenings of that brief, but momentous, time in history. It is great to hear and see the band members in their own words (especially some rarely seen interviews with Sid Vicious). However, it was unfortunate Malcolm McClaren did not and/or would not participate in any interviews; especially because the way is he castigated and vilified by some of the band members.This film is great viewing for those who lived during and vividly remember these events; and also great viewing for those who consider Blink 182, Green Day, mXpX, etc. great punk bands.