Review of The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (1998) by Damien K — 03 Aug 2009

This movie tried too hard to imitate the first in the "Decline" series, and fails miserably. Most of the bands in the first went on from underground fame to current mainstream commercial exploitation; I doubt any of the bands in this third installation will ever achieve any kind of fame in any sense.

Lots of political punks love Naked Aggression but I hate their music, but my personal taste in the matter is neither here not there... However, the true value of this movie has nothing to do with the bands, but with the gutter punks and their lifestyle.

I can't help but feel that Spheeris is trying once again to exploit a historical moment. Her only intelligence in the matter is that she may have had the foresight to do so long before any one else decides to cash in on it.

I predict that sooner or later, there will be a body of literature and cinematic genre that will treat the lifestyle of the 90s and early 21st Century similar to the later popularity of the Beat generation.

That remains to be seen, of course, but this movie is only worth watching because it managed to capture the gutter punks accurately while Spheeris or any one had the chance.