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Quadrophenia
So I spent my evening watching it tonight. Dug the video out and stuck it on.
At first, I thought it started ok, and had potential to be fairly good... nothing more.
But at the end, I'm just sitting thinking 'Wow. That was crap.'.
Its not rare for a 'cult' film to not have much happen in terms of plot, but they usually make up for it in other areas, and are pretty stylish in their own light.
But at times, I was cringeing. I found it embarrassing how literal the songs were, on the soundtrack. Everything Daltrey sings, happens to Phil Daniels.
Ie. he'll be riding on his scooter down the road with a bird, and the song on at the time will say: "Ridin' on my Vespa with a lady!"; they'll turn a corner and go to the cafe and: "Goin' to a cafe round the corner!". Its like it was put together by a 15 year old.
Then there's the fact its a film set in the mid 60s, soundtracked by terrible late 70s stadium rock. None of it seems to fit together.
One thing I did like was seeing all the "We've been in The Bill, Eastenders and numerous ITV Drama Premieres" people in their youth. I liked the acting a little bit, even if it was formulaic 'cockney youth' sort of stuff.
However, I have to draw attention to the ending. What the Johnson was that all about? It was so badly executed. About three terrible Who songs playing while he basically does nothing, until in the end, he drives a scooter off a cliff.
It felt like such a farcical, pointless excuse at a film. From all accounts I've heard / read on Mods in the early 60s, it seemed a little bit innaccurate. They made them out to be like irritating chavs who happened to have amazing taste in music and clothes. Obviously, since I wasn't there at the time, I wouldn't know, but after watching it, I sort of hold it responsible for Mod Culture being embraced by idiotic 'lads', who think wearing Fred Perry and liking The Jam (and other such punk bands), they're Mods.
I expected much more. Everyone seems to think its amazing. It was terrible.
You like it?