Product Details

• Actors: Lee Ving, Craig Lee (III), Roger Rogerson, Keith Morris, Don Bolles
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000665S7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #114,916 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cure for Curiosity, July 24, 2005

By 

eh - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I recently found a bootleg of this documentary, and right away I was drawn into it. This really shows us (rather than telling us) what the hardcore punk scene was like in L.A. in the late '70s- early '80s. We get to see live performances of The Germs, FEAR, Catholic Discipline, X, Alice Bag Band, Circle Jerks, and Black Flag. In addition, we see shots of the crowd, which is pretty cool. The parts that I found the most interesting were when Penelope Spheeris would talk to the kids individually.

If you can't find this anywhere, and don't want to pay $50+ for it, don't fret. Penelope Spheeris recently bought the rights back for all three Decline movies, and plans to release them as a DVD box set.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who put the punk in the punk-a-punk-a-punk, March 1, 2003

By 

Zack Davisson "japanreviewed" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In my high school days, a copy of "Decline of Western Civilization" was a treasure of purest gold. While the soundtrack was easily copied and traded, VHS to VHS copying was not so easy, and it was impossible to rent. These days, a copy may be rarer still.

"Decline of Western Civilization" is one of those "voice of a generation" type of videos, like footage of Woodstock might have been to the hippies. For many of us lonely punk rockers, in small towns throughout America, this video was one of the few places to actually watch bands like The Germs, X , Fear or Black Flag play live and to witness the energy that we listened to in our bedrooms. It let us know that we were part of a larger group.

As to the quality of the documentary, I am a little to colored by nostalgia. Of course, it is great. It is punk and has attitude, and that is what matters. I wish I had a copy.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, May 15, 2002

By 

JadeRain (Juneau, AK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Decline of Western Civilization [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Anyone who has any interest in Punk music will love this incredible film. For those who don't like punk but love hard, fast music, you will love this. And for the rest of you, it just rates as compelling viewing/social commentary. I've been trying to find a copy of this for a long time, I'm hoping it will be re-released soon. I watched this originally for the Black Flag and X footage. The several X songs that are shown played live in this are amazing!! If you are an X fan, this is something that you HAVE to watch.