Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

RyothChatty ridiculous rating

Billie Morin This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

Woodyanders The mid-1960's, England. Surly middle-class teenage malcontent Jimmy (superbly played with bracing intensity by Phil Daniels) can't get no satisfaction from either at home or at work. Desperate to fit in somewhere, Jimmy falls in with the mod youth subculture only to find himself at loggerheads with his own friends and the rival rocker gang. Director Franc Roddam, who also co-wrote the biting script with Dave Humphries and Martin Stellman, not only offers a flavorsome evocation of the 1960's time period, but also astutely captures a strong sense of adolescent angst, alienation, and disillusionment. Better still, this film acquires extra potency and resonance because of its harshly realistic and unsentimental tone complete with a mixed-up protagonist who's more interesting than sympathetic, a grim central message on how misapplied rebellion can lead to isolation rather than liberation, and a devastating gut punch of a downbeat ending in which Jimmy learns a painful lesson about how self-discovery can't be acquired by simply glomming onto the latest teen trend that's fashionable at the moment. Leslie Ash contributes an appealing turn as the lovely and sassy, yet ultimately unattainable Steph, Sting makes a striking impression as the charismatic Ace Face, and Ray Winstone acquits himself well as the scruffy Kevin. Brian Tufano's stunning cinematography boasts some exciting use of hand-held cameras and offers plenty of breathtaking visuals. Further galvanized by a first-rate rock soundtrack, this is pretty much where it's at.

jc-osms I'm almost finished reading Pete Townshend's autobiography "Who I Am" and have been listening a lot to the Who's original double album of the same name so the time was right to finally watch the big-screen dramatisation of the record. I'm just a bit too young to remember anything about the vicious Mods v Rockers pitched battles at Brighton or the Mod lifestyle (I'm not sure just how far north it made it up to Scotland, it always seemed to me principally a London-based movement).Nevertheless, the broader themes in the film of the generation gap between teenagers and their parents, the pain of rejection, youthful revolt against authority plus the less intellectual need for young kids to get drunk, drugged, violent and sexed up are universal and seemingly constant, which with the background of great 60's music, made for an engrossing and enjoyable if occasionally challenging watch.This is Phil Daniel's Jimmy Fenton's worm's eye-view of life in the mid-60's, working in a dead-end job, out of touch with his parents and although on the face of it, there doesn't appear to be much to rebel against, sure enough, he loses his way and his mind as he suffers rejection from his employer, said parents, would-be girlfriend Leslie Ash and after seeing his Mod Hero '"ace-face" played by Sting, meekly conform to society mores carrying bags at a hotel, he gets pushed over the edge (literally). His only way out of the tormenting feelings he's experiencing for the first time sadly involve just a one-way ticket.The film adopts a realistic, warts and all approach, with no let-up in the levels of bad language used, scenes of drug use (although it is "only" pill-popping "uppers" or "blues" as they're called in the film) and of course the centre-piece of the film, the recreation of the infamous Mods and Rockers "Battle Of Brighton" of 1965. There's some earthy humour though to leaven things, particularly two Mods encounter in the dark with a bunch of sleeping rockers, although one or two stray elements of sentimentality (Jimmy's heart-to- heart with his long-suffering dad, his friendship with an old pal turned rocker) slightly jar. Fan as I am, I could have done too without the too obvious genuflecting to the film's producers The Who (Jimmy putting on the "My Generation" single at a party, then gazing in awe at the band on "Ready Steady Go"), I guess he who pays the piper and all that.Central to the movie is a superb performance by Daniels as Jimmy, his mood-swings oscillating violently as he takes or comes off his pills, wired to the moon as we say today. His energy and vividness set the tone for the whole film. Interestingly director Franc Roddam (later the creator of "Auf Weidersehn Pet" and, ...er "Masterchef" on TV), changes the ending and placement of songs from the album, but there's no denying the memorable climax to the piece.In the end I was transported not only back into the era depicted, but more importantly into the head of "helpless dancer" Jimmy and would state that the movie well complements the great album The Who originally released, a rarity in "rock" movies.

ianlouisiana Poor Jimmy(Mr P.Daniels),a smart Londoner who wants to belong to something - anything really as long as it gets him out of his house and away from his family(actually a perfectly realised 1960's unit)who represent everything he doesn't want to be. He is a likable 18 year old with a nice line in cheek who rides a motor - scooter very noisily round Shepherds Bush and gets into spots of bother.Entirely innocent compared to our present - day rioters and looters whose nihilism is actually quite frightening. Jimmy wants to have good time.Today's equivalent wants to terrify and destroy. Forty five years ago I was airlifted to Margate to prevent Mods and Rockers spoiling the holiday business.We took the boots off the rockers and corralled the Mods' scooters and it was virtually game over,a few token skirmishes on the beach and off back to the smoke. Scarcely the threat to society they were made out to be,then. Anyway,Social History aside,"Quadrophenia" is full of the energy and passion of directionless youth desperately looking for something to do that will draw the attention of their peers and parents to them."Look at me!I'm taking drugs,fighting,stealing,I am not you,I'm different." With their identical suits,haircuts and scooters,of course. The soundtrack is stirring,the acting fizzing with youthful elan but the final message is bleak for Jimmy and his mates. It's a very accurate snapshot of a time and a place and a picture of the Last Hurrah for white working class youth before the middle class hippies pushed them off the streets and out of the headlines. By 1970,mods were definitely passe,and I,for one,missed the sound of their scooters buzzing round East London,parking outside the cafes and dance halls. I daresay a few cling on,watching their DVD of "Quadrophenia" from behind their triple - locked front door,fearful that their grandchildren will get mugged on the way to get their shopping for them.

PayForReviews I love this film so much , i wasn't a Mod , i am a Mod , although i keep that publicly quiet ,lol .I must of watched this 50 times and will never bore of it . It shaped my youth , and today , some 30 years later , i still feel great appreciation to it , everyone i know , everything i feel , came from watching this movie as a youth . If this isn't the best British movie ever made please let me know what I've been missing . Phil Daniels , Lesley Ash and Sting have never been able to surpass there first movie roles but have stayed cult figure in the British movie industry because of there roles in this fantastic film .Although Sting would deny it , the reason "The Police" were such a big hit in the early 80's , was because of his cult Mod following . In the unlikely event that you missed this i recommend you sit down and watch it straight away . " We Are The Mods !"