The film was definitely more powerful than the book, just as hardcore was always more powerful live than on some crappy (now great) cassette. The film also moved nicer as it is told chronologically by the bands, not just Steven. Several conclusions after watching it:

• My hardcore and early 80's hardcore punk were different
• HR seems not nuts.
• Reagan = Bush with where we are today.
• DIY may have in turn trivialized music today just as the music industry alone had up to 1980
• The book mentioned a lot more homosexuality than the movie conveys.
• Y’all are NYC haters and hardcore punk snobs in a few cases.
• Was Moby for real or not for that minute he claimed to have sung with Flipper, I did not understand if the Flipper guy confirmed, denied or just didn’t recall? Moby looks scared enough in his confirmation claim if he indeed was or shared the lead singer roll for a whole 2 Flipper shows.
• I love Kenny Inouye’s take on the current state of affairs before hardcore punk and calling it the “skinny tie bands.” We are skinny ties, fat ties, suits costumes and make up right now.
• Not my fault the Beasties would not appear – is that where the NYHC anger lies? It doesn’t cover us enough and makes us seem like the dicks and like the only thing that put us on the map was Bad Brains moving to NYC 171A.
• Harley was very good and articulate in the film.
• Love how these guys basically state, “we weren’t trying to build a band and a career, we thought that was absurd.” New punks should realize how off their punk is.
• SSD reunion very cool on tape
• That flipper video is so bad
• I didn’t realize the 2 biggest Boston bands tried to do the rock thing early 90’s. That is awful and something I guess I am happy I didn’t realize was happening when it was happening.
• The color DYS footage is awesome
• All the footage is awesome.
• My Favorite quote of the movie: “We were in bands not to get to the top, but to level the top.”

In review of this incredible film, many things today correlate to where music and society and politics were right before 1980 and the explosion that is or was hardcore punk. That said, and this history is not concerned with post 1986, NYHC and NYC got a little brushed over as does any kid who may have gotten there in 1986 for what may indeed be chapter 2, but it was my chapter and it was real. A Must See and hopefully there is another revolution soon. I wonder if there is anything undone or this could even happen again? Though there seems to be an undercurrent of bands sounding raw and pure and old school, I just don’t know if they are from anything even close to where this thing comes from and if why they burn is a result of anything or a real anger or they just want to be in a band?

- D