Watching this movie, I am lead to think the reason that the first movie stunk so badly was not that Julien Temple is as terrible a director as I would have you beleive. I began feeling that it was more so that the first movie focused so much on McLaren. The Filth And The Fury (the title taken from a newspaper headline) however focuses it's attentions onto the band, and this (in my not-so-humble opinion) is where it finds it's strength. All surviving members are interviewed, including Glen Matlock, the original bassist. From this part springs quite possibly the most engaging scene in the movie. John Lydon (or Johnny Rotten as he is better known) breaks down into tears while talking about Sid's life and untimely death. I know how bad this is going to look, but I actually cried too. It makes a brilliant change to those docos you see where they try and turn The Sex Pistols into a history lesson. First hand information on the rock 'n roll revolution... compelling viewing.
Another interesting angle it takes is trying to tell the story from the perspective of the late Sid Vicious. This is acheived by cutting in small sections of television interviews with the man. It features portions of most of The Sex Pistols recorded antics, including their infamous appearance on Bill Grundy's show, their trip to America and of course, lots of bleeding, spitting and cussing.
Still, it's the reflections of the band that really stir in my mind. As someone who wasn't even alive at the time, I marvel at the band that challenged everything, almost by accident. It's amazing to think that these things actually happened... Though now their acts seem almost laughable, they had an effect on the mainstream culture which can still be seen today. They challenged society and society changed. This movie merely narrates their journey, allowing the band members to tell the story better than any music critic ever could. It is a must see for anyone involved in punk in any way. Nag your local video store until they get a copy in. (Jake Downunder)
To be totally honest, despite my rather obvious obsession with the band, I approached this movie with mixed feelings. On one hand, it's The Sex Pistols, undisputedly the greatest punk rock band of all time. On the other hand, it's a Julien Temple film, one of the men responsible for the god-awful hunk of crap that was the The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Swindle. But, luckily for me (and Julien Temple's career) it's a heck of a lot better.