It's interesting to note that while The Sex Pistols had the power to shock and offend in 1977, when swearing on records was a virtually unbreakable taboo, almost 25 years later the impact has been deadened somewhat. But while Julien Temple's documentary is unlikely to ruffle many feathers, it still offers an absorbing insight into just how influential the pioneering punks were.
Here, he traces the origins of the Pistols from their humble beginnings, through to the band's self-destruction barely 24 months after they first formed. Temple's tendency to go arty is an irritating distraction, but otherwise this is a good deal more frank and detailed than most musical documentaries, with honest revelations from its subjects who, for all their apparent contempt of conformity, display a curious amount of affection for their fans.