Rating: 
Summary: A strange and interesting little movie...
Review: "Suburbia" is a rather interesting film that paints a much different perspective on the life of street punks who are often branded as `major undesirables' and how the central characters often are at major odds with the `normal' suburban establishments.
The story begins with a very disturbing scene involving stray dogs but then cuts to the story of a highly disillusioned adolescent named Ethan whose life is utter hell with his unpleasant mother (who's become a very angry alcoholic) who runs away from home in search of a better life. Later he is taken in and becomes a part of a large gang of rowdy punk rockers. Later in the movie we see a whole barrage of scenes of the lifestyles of the punk rockers in their `alternate' lifestyle in a run down home.
At first the movie seems to be directed at a more of a `trailer trash' society but at the same time, it is actually a much more socially-conscious insight into the broken home lifestyle and also questions the way that the authoritarian side of normal society (police, politicians, businessmen, and a large sector of the normal people) treats the youth and what causes the gang act the way they do but also the wild behavior of these individuals. The `normal' side of the movie showcases them as `dangerous to society' and need to be dealt with by any means necessary yet the `alternate' part of the movie showcases the `normal' society as repressive towards the different lifestyle of the gang and how that the cultures between them and the establishment can barely even coexist without major confrontations.
My take on this I could not write in stone. I first saw this movie in a social problems class so I couldn't help but want to write my side on this. I sometimes think that both sides are victims as well as perpetrators of the problems of the community. The victims are the people whove been harmed or worse, lost their lives. The `normal' side of society seems more victimized by the vandalism by the gang who spray offensive graffiti on the store walls and on buildings yet the punk rockers themselves seem to be victims of the repressions of the authoritarian nature of the established society by being threatened with being evicted from their dilapidated home due to the increasing property value and while the neighborhood that they live in is rather tired, the increasing property value is viewed by them as an assault on their livelihood by the `rich folks'. That's my interpretation.
This is a very interesting movie and am very glad to have stumbled upon it. It has a very unique kind of appeal to it in the way it shows the varying perspectives of the many characters. In ways, some of the `anti-punks' who are a pair of middle-aged trailer trash men commit worse acts than what the punks did. The ending is rather suprising and kind of depressing yet it is so sudden that it dilutes the emotional quality.
The movie, as good as it is, was not very well made. Yes, the movie is very good for a cheap low-budget movie but the scenes are a bit blurry and the sound quality is also muffled. The acting is also quite campy but it's interesting how a lot of the actors and actresses never acting an any movies since this time.
The DVD itself offers NO improvement on the old VHS release from the early 1980s. The biggest disappointment is that the picture and sound quality are utterly ATROCIOUS and makes the movie look much older than it really is. Sure movies from around 1984 may have a rather gritty appearance in their original look but "Suburbia" suffers immensely from the really gritty picture quality especially during nighttime scenes. The sound quality is also a bit muffled. Compared to some special editions of lets say "Gone With The Wind" or "The Godfather DVD Collection" which the new versions sounds like a heavy towel is lifted off the television speakers, this one sounds garbled and the combination results in a movie that looks and sounds dated as hell.
Other than the ancient sound and look of the film, "Suburbia" is a really good but very obscure little treasure that may not be picked up by most people's radars. For those who do find it especially those who are strongly into the punk rock culture (which I'm not that much into) will find this to have a strange appeal but even I find this little movie to have its strange appeal in a strange way. A Mildly recommended movie.
Rating:
Summary: I Heart Suburbia
Review: A friend had told me about this movie, and so I rented it one day. To my delight (ew), I found a really awesome movie to watch over and over. It's the kind of movie that has unintentionally funny parts, for instance, the opening scene. I don't want to give much away, but let's just say that something tragic happens, but the effects are so low-budget, it is laughable. But that doesn't lessen the quality of this film. The movie is about a teenage boy named Ethan, who runs away from his abusive, alcoholic mother and younger brother . He has nowhere to go, and then he follows some kids he sees to a punk rock show, and then befriends a older kid named Jack. He takes Ethan to the squat him and his friends live in called the TR house (TR stands for "The Rejected") . There all the kids who didn't belong anywhere else or had no where else to go stay, and become the only family they will ever really know or want. They are so dedicated to each other, they brand the TR logo on their flesh like cattle. Now that's Punk Rawk!!! The transformation of Ethan, and then his little brother, whom Ethan later takes away from his mom after she gets arrested, is amazing. Just the image of not even a ten year old boy on a big wheel with a mowhawk and an army jacket is to me breathtaking. Also look out for Flea (of Red Hot Chili Peppers fame) as one of the kids living in the TR house.
Most of the movie is about how these kids couldn't get along well in their own houses, but together they can survive. And the cops understand their ways more than the townspeople do in this movie. It's a pretty cliche story plot, but it still works as an original movie.
Penelope Spheeris has always been a big name director in the punk and metal scene. She directed all the Decline of Western Civilization movies, and even the Wayne's World pics. She knows how to film punk rock shows. In this movie, when the bands (TSOL, Vandals, et.c) play, she knows how to capture the flow of the crowd. And people might say the acting in this movie is bad. But just keep in mind that Penelope had real punk rock kids in this movie. So they were not actors playing punks, they were punks being actors!
The best way to see this movie is the DVD version, with widescreen. The commentary with Penelope Spheeris is good. She reveals a bit of secrets from the set. Did you know that the kids really did sleep and live at the TR house during filming?
Oh, and one thing to check in the movie that they do not reveal in the commentary, which I hoped they would. In one scene, the actor playing Jack calls Flea by his his real name; not his characters' name!
Enjoy watching Suburbia! Don't compare this movie to SLC Punk. At least these kids were real punks! You should watch this movie with the Decline of Western Civiization!
Rating:
Summary: The only "real" punk rock movie of the 80's
Review:
When she directed Wayne's World in 1992, Penelope Spheeriswas already a 10 year film veteran. Her opus immediately preceding Suburbia was the great pUnK rOcK gospel, The Decline of Western Civilization (1981), for which she gained a lasting reputation as a documentarian of American musical culture.
Unlike every other director in the 80's (except for Repo Man's Alex Cox, who did the original score for Suburbia), Spheeris knew that punk rock was about more than just having goofy hair, wearing a leather jacket, or aping that Billy Idol sneer. Instead of hoping for a credible performance from actors, she cast real punk rock kids, some of whom were really homeless! Her ensemble of non-actors turned out to be lovable, believable, and endearing. They are mostly innocent and unconscious of themselves or the camera, which has prompted the most criticism. We're not used to watching movies in which people don't (or can't) act. But this is the nature of the documentary style! Spheeris did not want acting, she wanted reacting and interacting. The relationships and the people come across as real and involving. Contrary to some claims, these kids do embody the punk rock experience of the 80's. I was there and can attest that the 'scene' in Suburbia was genuine. Best of all, punk rockers were portrayed as real people with the same fears, hopes, and dreams you and I have...
Also, people who criticize the production quality of Suburbia are missing the point entirely. Everything was shot on location in the "wrong" part of the Los Angeles suburbs, using mostly available light and sound. The script was thin, the acting non-existent, and the budget was obviously close to that of Kevin Smith's Clerks. But the whole of Suburbia is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts.
There are several great musical sequences in Suburbia, including live performances by The Vandals, TSOL, and D.I. Look for Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist, Flea, who went on to do another 2 dozen film & TV roles.
A nod goes to Roger Corman, who co-produced Suburbia. This man has averaged 6.2 movies a year since 1954! He is the undisputed king of cheap cinema and has churned out some of our most beloved pulp celluloid! Thank you Roger, for trusting your instincts and fronting the cash for one of my favorite flicks!
Rating:
Summary: A Priceless Gem for TSOL Fans!
Review: A club scene featuring two songs performed by the original TSOL--the long lost "Darker My Love" and "Wash Away"--lift this film from obscurity and make it a fascinating must-see for fans of 1980s LA punk. The 21-year old Jack Grisham is riveting in black leather and matching eyeliner, a sight no one should miss. The boys sound great in this rare glimpse of them in all their splendor. You'll wish the whole thing was a TSOL concert film instead of the sometimes goofy teen melodrama that it is.
Rating: 
Summary: One person's version of 80's punk and L.A.
Review: Before I became a christian, this movie was like my mantra of life. Im not kidding, this movie was that important to me at age 14/15 back in 1985. However, now that I am 32 and it's no longer the 80's, it's the year 2004, I'll say some stuff about this film.
This movie depicts a story of kids in the LA area in the early 80's, who due to family problems end up running away and becoming punks. These characters are "rescued" in different ways by a group of punk kids called "TR"-"the rejected"..they live in a house in the middle of an abandoned suburban neighborhood "out by the 605" freeway in Downey, CA (which is actually a predominantly latino community in real life)..these kids are punks with spiked hair, leather jackets, ripped army surplus clothes and run down cars with the names of punk bands spray painted on them...in other words, they dont look like others. They're opposed by local "redneck" type adults who seem to have it out for the TR kids, until a showdown..in between are various concert performances from 80's LA punk bands DI, the Vandals, and tsol...a very young Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is in the movie as Razzle, a kid who shoots cockroaches with his slingshot and loves his pet rat. Also in the movie is Chris Petersen as Jack, one of the main characters, and an actor who's only other role was a small part in Oliver Stone's Platoon
I will say that this film is not entirely realistic...it's a somewhat "punk rock romanticized" version of LA. Southern Cal in this movie is seen as this place where wild dogs run around like coyotes and people sit by bonfires at night..as if LA in the early 80's was some sort of wild west frontier. Also, anyone in this movie who's not a punk rocker has no fashion whatsoever...all the non punks in the film wear random polo shirts and slacks from the discount section of Mervyn's. There's no breakdancers, pop lockers, mods, low riders, or any other style of person to compete with the punk lifestyle (styles that actually were around in real life in LA at the time)-it's either punks or t.v audience-looking "maniquins"...in a way, it's a teenager's view of the world, there's me and my group, and then there's everyone else. However, Suburbia shows the value of being a friend to others, and shows the problems of prejudice and dysfunctional families, which is somewhat the moral of the film..It's not 100% realistic as some feel, but it will show Penelope Sheris's vision of 80's punk culture-- before it was turned into the "MTV Jackass/Blink 182" "corporate version" of punk that exists now
Rating: 
Summary: Essential punk rocker viewing
Review: Directed by Penelope Spheeris right after DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION, this film chronicles the lives of a group of L.A. punks squatting in an abandoned suburb. The direction, writing, and acting are beyond atrocious (The RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Flea... then known as "Mike B." makes a cameo, proving he should never quit his day job as a whiteboy funk bass player), yet this film holds a certain charm... especially for young punk kids who seem to memorize every line of insipid dialogue. Check out the excellent live footage of D.I., T.S.O.L., and THE VANDALS. Classic stuff. The DVD has an insightful commentary track from Spheeris... she comes off sounding a bit airheaded, but she provides some interesting trivia for the punks that have seen the movie 20+ times. If you are a punk rocker or have ever been a punk rocker, you need to see this movie.
Rating:
Summary: "What are you all dressed up for? Where's the war?"
Review: Disinfected youth...er, I mean disaffected youth...for each generation there seems to be a film out there to relate the rebellious, discontented, estranged, insurgent, anarchistic elements within said generation...the 50's presented us with Marlon Brando as The Wild One, the 60's came forth with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider, the 70's brought us Roller Boogie with Linda Blair (okay, maybe that's not the best example, but then the 70's were pretty lame), and the 80's brought Suburbia (1984)...written and directed by Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne's World), the film stars Chris Pedersen (Night of the Comet), along with a bunch of people you've probably never heard of who's only acting credit is this film (Spheeris used a lot of `real life kids' instead of actors, assumingly to present the story as realistically as possible). There's one other notable person appearing in that of a very young Flea (a wee flea? I know, I know, that's pretty lame), from the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, credited as Mike B. The Flea (his real name is Michael Peter Balzary).
The film begins with a pretty shocking scene that seems to have little to do with anything (later we'll see it's sort of a metaphor, as there's quite a few throughout), and then cuts into a scene of a teenage boy named Evan difficulties within his home life that lead to him running away (moms is an angry drunk), wandering the streets of L.A. Evan soon falls in with a group of homeless teens who call themselves T.R., short for The Rejected, lead by Jack Diddley (Pedersen), at least he appears to be the leader as he seems the oldest and the only one with a car. The teens live among a condemned series of houses, and survive by begging or stealing what they need from residents in nearby populated neighborhoods (here's a tip if you live in L.A. near the airport...keep your garage door closed, as an open door is an invitation to roving gangs to come in and take whatever isn't nailed down). The tax-paying residents, who are feeling the frustrations stemming from the effects of Reaganomics (various plants have closed down, forcing many out of work), are growing increasing angry at the kids and their antics, and also at the police for their ineffectual manner in dealing with the situation (the residents do have a valid argument in this, as the police in this film really don't seem to do much of anything). As a result, the more redneck elements of the residents decide to take matters into their own hands, trying to scare off the homeless kids with forceful tactics, with pretty predictable consequences (i.e. someone gets killed).
This isn't a happy film...there are a few funny moments, but there's an overall nihilistic sense to the story. As the movie progresses, we get some insight on where the kids come from, the circumstances that led them to where they're at now, along with the antagonistic attitudes they must face on a daily basis of a society that doesn't want them, and doesn't know how to deal with them. They don't appear to be bad, as they formed their own little family unit, relying on each other for some basic needs, but more products of circumstances out of their control, left to their own devices, surviving anyway they can (much like the wild dogs that roam the area where the kids live)...the style of direction matches the attitude of the material on the screen very well, appearing very raw, unfocused, lacking the polish one would normally see theatrical release. As I said, many of those appearing are not professional actors, so the performances may appear amateurish, but I think that's the intent. The dialogue is pretty simplistic, but then this also serves to further highlight the pragmatic nature of the story. There's no candy coating interpretations, no buffoonish characterizations, only a raw, warts and all, glimpse into a world many of us would probably not have had a chance to experience. I've read some opinions that state you really need to be a fan of punk rock (there's some great performances by bands like T.S.O.L., The Vandals, and D.I.) to appreciate this film, and while I think it would really help, I don't necessarily agree with the exclusivity of those sentiments (I was actually indoctrinated to punk music back in the late 80's when I found a Dead Kennedy's cassette for sale at a used record shop). I think most all can enjoy a good film, especially one that offers viewers a chance to understand a segment of the population that appears so completely foreign. You may not gain any real insight, or even develop a liking where there might have originally been a disliking (people often despise what they don't understand), but I think one can appreciate, at the very least, the effort to give a voice to those who few would listen to otherwise.
I really wanted to give this release 4 stars, but the picture quality, presented in full screen (it states `digitally remastered' on the case), pan and scan format looks pretty rough, much like that of a VHS tape. It would have been nice if someone had sprung to clean it up a bit, and release it in the original aspect ratio, but this is a Roger Corman release, and he seems not so inclined to spend any more than necessary than he has to (cheap b@stard)...the DVD does contain a few interesting special features, including a commentary track by writer/director Spheeris, along with brief biographies of Corman, Spheeris, and Pedersen, original and alternate theatrical trailers (the film was originally titled Rebel Streets), and some trailers for other Corman releases including one for Saint Jack (1979) and Piranha (1978). If you liked this film, check out a movie called Over the Edge (1979), featuring Matt Dillon in his first, feature role, not yet on DVD.
Cookieman108
Rating:
Summary: REAL PUNKS, NO TRENDIES
Review: Filmed in the Reagan 80's, Suburbia shows the struggle of "outcast" teenagers known as "The Rejected" trying to live in a society that has abandoned them. Clashing with gun toting 'necks, the cops, and long haired "beautiful people" is an everyday occurrence for them. More importantly, this film has awe inspiring live footage of D.I., T.S.O.L., and the original lineup of The Vandals, who play "The Legend of Pat Brown" in the film, a punk classic among classics. Suburbia was filmed here in SoCal, near where I am typing this up (Downey), and the neighborhoods look familiar to anyone who has lived in Norwalk, Bellflower, Lakewood and surrounding cities. Some may recognize the opening shot (where the huge dish is) as Montebello Boulevard, in Montebello. Some SoCals may even remember the abandoned neighborhoods near the 605 in Norwalk where The Rejected lived, now demolished, the 105 freeway in its place. This is THE definitve punk flick not to be missed by real punks, and may give some insight as to be a real punk to all the trendy Stink-182 mall punks. Just the live performances alone justify the cost. But then again, real punks already have this movie.
Rating:
Summary: what SLC Punk wishes it could have been
Review: For all you trendy new breed kids who think punk rock is Hot Topic merchandise and Blink 182 cd's you may find this movie as being nothing more but a rawkin thing to sit through with your other phony little trendy friends. For the rest of us this movie was a right of passage. Realistically depicting the youth of the 80's Reagan era punk scene in the suburbs of LA. Possibly one of the most depressing and realistic films dealing with the punk scene while SLC PUnk was just cheesy punksploitation ...this film bleeds the alienation and rebellion..the ostracism..and the violence surrounding them as the holier than thou locals hate the kids just for being different. A very personal film in my collection
Rating:
Summary: Ohh yeah, baby!
Review: HELL YES! This movie totally rocked. If you are a punk, see this movie, god damn it NOW! Oh was it sweeeet...
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