Absolutely Fantastic

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I love this movie. Hell, I'd marry it if I could. It's my favorite rock movie with some British actors, who I really like, where in their younger acting years, they really impress, in a movie that can only be described as a faultless rock musical, masterpiece. Jimmy (Daniels) is a sixties rebel, who's so frustrated with his place in life. He has a courier job, is taking flack from his parents, that results in arguments, and he wants the girl his mate's doin'. We can relate with this character so well, us loners, where Jimmy's got a lot of bad energy, and it's going in the wrong places. Near the end of the film, he becomes such a desperate and pathetic mess, finally driving him to steal Sting's flashy scooter and total it off a cliff. Watch all the anger that pours out of Jimmy when he crashes his bike with a truck. But this is what Jimmy is, a very angry driven teen, and Daniels (one of my favorite British actors, and a bloody underrated one at that) plays him to a tee. I was thankful too, for the time a young Ray Winstone had in this, an old friend of Jimmy's who's popped back in town, and has decided to become a punk rocker, much to other people's disapproval, including Daniels. Two other actors from Scum have brief roles in this too. I loved the scene with Winstone, explaining and defending himself to Daniels in his backyard, a seasoned professional. The film, heavy on rock, is just one music pounding experience with a lot of bad language, where there are a couple of frighteningly violent moments. There's a foreboding of what crazy s..t, our unstable Daniels is gonna do next, but it's him, who sells this film. One notable feature is Sting's haircut. He's another rebel here with his own posse. Quadrophenia just managed to entertain me all the way through. It doesn't have fancy shots, though the long shots of a bleak Brighton were memorable, I felt so cold watching this town. It doesn't have fancy color, and the dialogue, isn't t the best I've heard. What it does have are engaging performances, amongst 60's culture, the environment, and it's conditions. With Daniels taking us through the story, it's one cool ride, and a cult rocker classic.

All Things Considered, this was not an Easy Thing to Pull Off. It was made "out of time", Fifteen Years after the Considered Events. Unlike say, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), or The Wild One (1953), and more like American Graffiti (1973). But the Filmmakers Managed it quite well and the Result is this Cult Movie, an Excellent Homage to the Pop Cultural Scene in Britain circa 1965.The Movie has an Unassuming, Unintrusive Style that is Never Heavy Handed and it is a Delight to Watch as this Time Warp is Laid Out in an Obvious Labour of Love. It is Distinctively British and the Central Theme of the Mods vs Rockers might Elude some who are not Familiar with, or Involved in Youth Movements and Music Influences.But the Driving Force is Universal and Timeless. Teenage Angst, Rebellion, and Alienation is Felt by Everyone, Everywhere. The Joy here is the Affection for those who Identify with the Characters, or the Peek at a Foreign Face of a Familiar Theme.The Lead Performance of Jimmy is Spot On, and the rest of the Cast does a Fine Job. The Who Songs from the Double LP of the Same Name are Welcome if Inserted Uneasily on Occasion and the Songs that Play in the Film by Phil Spector and Other Post Elvis Top Forty Hits are used to Elicit Time and Place Effectively.Overall it is a Fine Dramatic Representation of Teen Gangs, Disenfranchised Youth, Generational Gaps, and Coming of Age Situations. A Stunning Accomplishment from the Director and Everyone Involved in this Low-Budget, but Engaging and Enduring Film.

In my opinion the greatest movie of all time. A great cast including Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash and a young Mark Wingett, of The Bill fame. Along with one of the best movie soundtracks ever, I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. One of the greatest scenes, the fight between The Mods and The Rockers on Brighton beach, just adds to the drama and grips you to see the outcome. It took me a few times to watch it to decide if Jimmy was meant to have killed himself at the end, but I think when he throws Ace's scooter off the cliff, he was throwing away the whole Mod lifestyle and went back to London to sort his life out. Just a superb movie from start to finish.

I first seen this film as part of a double header backed with "The Kids are alright" by the Who....what a combination eh?! I immediately became a mod and indulged in many a Vespa, Lambretta and a fantastic way of life as a teenager. The story is very straightforward....it's about a Mod called Jimmy and takes us on his journey through everyday life in the mid 60's. There are many highs and many lows, the acting from a then virtual "bunch of unknowns" is fantastic, many went on to become well known faces on TV and film. The only down point of the film for me? I have to say, in one word, Sting. In my opinion he is seriously out of place as "Ace Face"...i was never keen on his acting (or singing!) but i feel he is the weak link here. Phil Daniels is fantastic as Jimmy, the story rips along at a fine pace, the scenery, the music, the clothes....no wonder all these years later i still watch this film...and still own a Lambretta scooter. Quadrophenia is quite simply top class entertainment