Customer Reviews

Boston Beatdown, Vol. 2

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I grew up in Boston and had been in the "hardcore scene" since 1986 (moved in 2003). Sure, there was violence and fighting, but to have a "documentary" focus on only that aspect of it is only seeing part of the story. We all had our reasons for being involved in the underground music scene, going to Sunday matinees, hanging with friends just like us, etc. I've played in bands, seen clubs come and go, seen people in the scene come and go (and pass away), seen great bands come and go, but come on now. If you really think the Boston scene is all about violence and hate, think again. But, looking at the label it came out on, of course Crosscheck will want to toot the Boston horn and show how mean and bad it is. I disagree with the overall theme, but the DVD still brings back memories. If you were ever slightly involved in the Boston scene, take a look at this video. But, take it with a grain of salt.

This claims to show the vibrancy of the Boston hardcore scene. Actually it teeters between being silly and incongruous (ie Why are 99% of these fights outside posh Lansdowne Street nightclubs? What's with the footage of the 2004 Red Sox riots at UMASS AMHERST?) and downright chilling (shot of a bathroom floor with 4 or 5 pairs of complicit stationary feet and a kid getting his face kicked in). Kudos to the FSU for "cleansing" the Boston scene of Nazis 10 years ago, but it's time to move on.

Shame on amazon for even selling this. This sis the very reason I always had something against boston Hardcore. A bunch of thugs and jerks trying to prove they could be as cool or tough as NYHC kids. Let me get this straight, you started to get rid of the Nazis at shows because they came and messed the shows up for everyone and tried to intimidate people. FSU goes to shows and wants to enforce their way on everybody and will beat down anybody that doesn't agree. Hmmm sounds familiar. Hardcore was about proving to the outside world that there was a different way of doing things and a rejection of the status quo. I fail to understand how beating people up and not allowing free speech or thought is any different. Half the people in the interviews are smoking, there goes the whole straight edge thing. If you actually care about punk/hardcore this movie will make you sick that these people have no regard for anybody but themselves. bunch of Bullies that can't have an individual thought.

I tend to ignore 1 or 5 star reviews. Very little really fits at either edge of the spectrum, but this waste of celluloid belongs at the very bottom of the heap. There's very little pretense of neutrality or dispassionate observation here, which is the only honest move by the film makers. These are the kind of geniuses that film themselves and their buddies attacking lone kids or even, in one case, and old man, often several at a time and with weapons, and think it's something to put out there and act proud about. Like any other group of self-righteous thugs, the beatings dished out are justified by some tough talk and hyperbole. It's difficult to really suss out how these guys are different from any other gang, or for that matter from the neo-nazis they supposedly chased out of Boston. Yeah, I mean, theoretically they're not racist but it's still just an angry whiteboy club (if there's a few token Black/Asian/Latino members of FSU, don't bother telling me because I couldn't care less). One straight edge member openly brags that they used to assault people, while in other scenes we see scene members drinking what I'm pretty sure is alcohol; I guess they get a pass if they're your friends right?

What amazes me ultimately is what a bunch of cowardly losers the subjects are. The constant thread running throughout that this is "reality", with the implication that if you're not full of admiration for these wannabe tough guys, you just can't handle "reality". Please. We're looking at people whose deepest thoughts seem to relate to how many tattoos they have, hanging with their boys, and how they can beat someone who doesn't belong in their little homoerotic club. This isn't some state of being forced on them by their surroundings, it's a choice to act like as much of a belligerent imbecile as possible, something that is hardly location/class specific. Middle aged men brag about going to hardcore shows and being members of crews as if it's something to be proud of. We're treated to a laughable opening monologue railing against corporations and a vaguely defined society, but I see nothing in the behavior or ideas here that I would describe as actually being any kind of rebellion against this alleged state of affairs. Nobody needs to oppress these idiots, they're doing a fine job themselves.

A decent documentary could be made on all of this, actually. It would most likely be like those that came before about gangs, soccer hooligans, etc etc, but it could be done. This, however, is just a bunch of old scenesters patting themselves on the back and showing you home videos, and shamelessly glorifies mob mentality and random violence. You might get the occasional laugh from a particularly boneheaded quote, fake southie accent, or ridiculously fashion conscious thug, but ultimately it's just a waste of time. I really can't urge you enough not to give these chuckleheads your money.

Please don't jump me with your friends for writing this. Or the guy who put it on youtube where I watched it for free. Thanks.

boston has one of the greatest hardcore scenes out there, and this dvd has the best bands out of boston its awesome i really liked the live shots of the bands and all the fights. cant wait till the 2nd one comes out!

As many people realize, Forced Coitus is zealously opposed to the very existence of hardcore. Unfortunately, there is already an abundance of this debauchery out in the world. One can only wait for hardcore to follow the sorry route that nu-metal and metalcore have tread. Sadly, with bands like Hatebreed, Madball, Agnostic Front, and Comeback Kid out in circulation, it may take a little longer for this style of music to dissipate. But ranting against hardcore is difficult, simply because there is so much to rant about. It is hard to know just where to begin. So for my first installment, we decided the best place to start would be with a movie review.

Boston Beatdown Vol. 2 is probably one of the lamest documentaries ever made. Most people would say in its defense that this film is very low budget (which it most certainly is), and that is why it seems so crappy. However, that does not excuse the fact that there are very few interviews, all of which are uninteresting and uninspiring, and the repetitive concert footage is really quite annoying. Most hardcore kids we have met rave about this documentary, using the unoriginal defense that if you don't like the music or the scene, it is because you don't know enough about it or don't understand it properly. They go on to say that this movie will give you a better picture of what hardcore is all about. Even the DVD cover exclaims, "See the world through our eyes." Then again, the cover also has a picture of a hardcore kid with a gun to his head and someone decked out in camouflage and a ski mask. Another quote by someone who sucks at life is, "Most people are afraid of what they don't understand," and basically nobody understands hardcore.

Quite frankly, we don't see what there is to be understood about a group of pussies who use violence as an excuse to get respect without earning it, all the while bitching about how bad life is for them and literally blaming corporations and middle-class Americans for all their troubles. As if being successful without punching someone in the face is a bad thing. Whether you are scared of it, misunderstand it, or are just plain fed up with it, this DVD will not help your view of hardcore in the slightest. But why should it? There is nothing to be understood about monotonous interviews with Neanderthals who have no IQ talking about how much they love violence or by watching the same footage of idiots jumping of ledges, crowd surfing, or, supposedly, attacking Moby for no reason except that he exists (we don't remember Moby being hardcore, or ever doing anything to "disrespect" the hardcore community in any way). These people act like they are the most persecuted group in the world, thereby creating the need for them to rebel against society. Unlike other oppressed individuals in France or Lebanon though, hardcore kids hilariously shy away from causing any commotion as soon as the authorities show up. So, in the end, the hardcore kids either know enough to realize that they haven't a pot to piss in, or they are just cowards who feel that beating up their "inferiors" justifies their lame attempt at class warfare.

For more anti-hardcore, visit www.myspace.com/forcedcoitus

Although very real, it felt incomplete. It only gave a glimpse of the real hardcore culture and was riddled with bull about society. The real hardcore scene is very violent but with reason and logic behind each punch. Hardcore is ultimately about living life the best you can, the purest you can, and fighting for and adoring friends and family. There in lies the fallacy of the film, they show the crew (FSU)but not the motive. They are made out to be, well gang bangers, and in fact FSU may have turned that way that is not where the roots are that is not where it started, what it is, or what it used to be. Friends Stand United, not this jump an old man stuff but fight for beliefs. SIN crew forever (strength in numbers) no fooling around with gangs but having fun and protection those who cant do it themselves or those who are overwhelmed

I read a quote from Steven Blush (author of American Hardcore: A Tribal History) who said the film was 'dark, defiant, and driven.' Well put. I think the only people who should talk about this are the ones who watch it. The Boston Phoenix trashed it without even watching a clip.
I grew up in the scene and danger, violence, and confrontation are a part of Hardcore. If you don't like it then don't show up.
Hats off to the filmakers and Crosscheck for the courage to release this. I'm sure you all are just getting started.

This DVD is a great view on the Boston Hrdcore scene. The bands are great and the fights are even better! No weak love songs here, just raw in your face kick-your-ass Hardcore. Be sure to pick up a copy it'll definitly be worth the 13 bucks and 48 cents you stole from your mommy's purse.

Fallacy #1: Hardcore music is for everyone

Fallacy #2: Hardcore culture is for everyone

Fallacy #3: Hardcore music/culture should be like everything else (packaged and safe)

People are in two camps when it comes to hardcore; the people who get it, and the people who don't. This DVD is for the people who "get it."