One of those films that promises so much with a great cast but sadly ruined by Derek Jarman and his ability to turn a good story into a dull attempt to shock with his usual boring overtones.Great performances from Toyah and Adam Ant but I watched this feeling that say an Alex Cox could have turned this into a bit of a cult masterpiece rather than remembering much about the finished article on show.

Jordan, Little Nell, Jayne County and countless other wonderful characters of the time are captured by an artist ... Artists rarely see whats really there and Jarman missed Punk by a mile with this ... There are parts that are unforgettable ... Jordans dance being the Stand Out ... But what we have here is a film maker that has no idea of how to make a film narrative that would communicate his ideas ... If you want to see Jarmans world watch "The Alternative Miss World" which is much more entertaining, though not one of his films obviously ... Only watch this mess for some wonderful portraits of the people of the time ... Jarman did things a lot better with "Last of England"

I first saw this movie not very long after it was released here in America. It was at a small art theater and it was part of the bill with the Who's "Quadrophenia." I had only a vague idea about Jarman and his movies, so I decided to stay and watch "Jubilee." It was -- and still is -- quite an experience. As jumbled, rambling, and wandering as the film is, there are moments that it all seems to make a certain sense. At long last, I have the Criterion DVD so as to take a look whenever I dare. The most memorable moments are still those when Amyl Nitrate (Jordan) does her performance to Suzi Pinn's "Rule Britannia." Is it art? Is it trash? Is it Punk or just what? The answer, of course, is, Yes. Unlike some, it seems, I can accept it for what it is, even though it not my usual fare when it comes to cinema. I think that it is certainly worth a look, particularly if one is willing to be open-minded and see something quite different than the usual predictable, tepid movie fare that makes the merely bland seem exciting. I doubt that this will make Roger Ebert's list of Great Movies, but nice to see something actually different....

An utterly bizarre film to be sure, Jubilee is an anarchic take on history and science fiction that tells, simultaneously, of Queen Elizabeth I's reign and a dystopian England in 1977 where gangs of women roam the countryside.Punk-SciFi would reach its apogee with Repo Man, but here's where it more or less starts: With Adam Ant and a host of nameless actors gallivanting about London in outrageous garb. It's an amateur production, I think, that lacks in acting and cinematography. Even the dystopian vision of the then-present, though squalid, lacks snap. Derek Jarman, the director, would go on to do greater, and more adventurous, work that this, most notably Blue. So why an 7 out of 10? Because polish and anything more than a DIY sensibility would have ruined this film. What it lacks in technical ability (and it pretty much lacks entirely of technical ability), it makes up for in energy and spirit and ideas. In many ways, it reminds me of Night of the Living Dead--a rather amateur production that, despite technical faults, rises above its limitations and is entirely effective. It's not a great film, but it's an incredibly interesting one. Jubilee is a cinematic experience unlike very few others. It's about as far from mainstream as one can get in non-avant garde English language film (no concessions are made to the middle of the road), so I cannot recommend this to everyone. If you want to see something different (are you a fan of Repo Man, for instance) and something rather unique, check the movie out. PS You can also snobbishly remark that Sofia Coppola's upcoming Marie Antoinette is nothing but a rehash of most of the ideas put forth here, when it comes out later this year.