Trainspotting

Rating:
Summary: Gritty but Great
Review: "Trainspotting" is a gritty film about the horrors of heroin use. As a friend of mine once said, "it's not a date film". It is, however, a great film.

At no time does "Trainspotting" glamourise the drug culture. By the same token, at no time does it become preachy or self-righteous. It is simply a grim look at the whole industry.

The film is bleak and dark but, from time to time, it is also funny. Ewan McGregor as the narrator and chief character is brilliant. So too is Robert Carlyle as the psychotic thug whose reversion to violence can be abrupt and frightening. These two and an assorted cast of misfits create a true film masterpiece.

A plot, to the extent that it exists, concerns the ups and downs of a gang of Glaswegian no hopers. Heroin is the only glue that holds them together. It is also the substance that is ineluctably destroying them. There are many downs and few high points. Heroin is a savage mistress. Yet, as the film ends, we see that perhaps our hero will get on the straight and narrow. There is a glimmer of hope in a sea of distress.

This film is a must see!


Rating:
Summary: Glamorous, Filthy and Darkly Humorous
Review: This is one of the best films I've ever seen. Despite the vile settings and seedy characters there is some odd charm about the film that keeps you coming back for more. The plot revolves around a young man, Mark Renton, and his quest for the true meaning of life admist his drug induced existence. He and his friends trip through life only living for the next shot of H and wondering how to get the money for it. They live in shabby, sparsely decorated flats and live on ratty mattresses and, for the most part, have no goal in life except ultimate pleasure for life. Renton however has more depth and yearning for something more and sets upon a quest to clean up his act and live like those he once denounced. Dark humor and stark realization are constantly presented during the film and thankfully the movie doesnt ever sacrifice one in favor of the other. The soundtrack is also excellent sporting both tried and true rock veterans Iggy Pop and Lou Reed(of the Velvet Underground) as well as modern industrial and techno artists like Primal Scream, New Order and Underworld. This is definitley one of the "hippest" films of the 90's and one of the best movies I've ever seen period.

Rating:
Summary: Sick,twisted,vulger,But you got to love it
Review: Trainspotting is one of the sickest movies I have ever seen. But it is also one of the best. You can't help but like this film. It knows how low class it is. ITS ABOUT LOW CLASS. Other things have been said about the film such as its pro drugs. Just because the characters in the film like drugs doesn't mean its a pro drug film. This only shows how addicting drugs can be. Excellant acting and an experience to be held. SEE THIS MOVIE.
A-

Rating:
Summary: Rock music, Drugs, and the Scottish
Review: This is one of the most imaginitive and visionary movies ever made. Danny Boyle is a genius of filmmaking(28 Days Later is another good example) and this movie is no exception.
The story, based on the book by Irvine Welsh, is a somewhat random and only mildly interesting. It's the cast, however, who really make this movie great. Every character is wonderful. Also, Johnny Lee Miller looks really hot in this film.
The characters bounce from withdrawel back to depravity throughout the movie and have various bad experiences along the way.(the dead baby, the death of Tommy) None of the characters are especially likeable but somehow seem to possess their own charm.
This movie does not preach its message, and for some people the message is not clear. This movie glorifies heroin in some ways but also gives a realistic depiction of the resulting depravity. Anyone who watches Trainspotting will not be the same after they watch it.

Rating:
Summary: movie: 5 stars. dvd: 2 stars.
Review: my first home viewing is on the laserdisc edition, which had an extras featurette after the movie, the featurette included an interview with irvine welsh, story boards and cut scenes.

knowing the material exists, the barebones content of the original DVD release is disappointing. fortunately, the movie is presented in its original aspect ratio, which, given the low production value of the dvd, this is a pleasant surprise.

the dvd box itself is relatively unattractive as the photo above suggests. the art work on the dvd is inconsistent with the original promotional material which begs the question why. it appears thrown together and rehashed quickly with marketing doing the art direction. main menu graphics are consistent with that on the box, and there is only *1* graphic.

the Collector's Edition is a double disc edition, and has all the aforementioned extras as well as additional material. the packaging has not been re-done and features the the graphics from this original dvd, which says something about how much the studio and its staff values this film. but to my great surprise and delight, the menus on the discs themselves are beautifully done, thematically consistent with the original promotional art work, and has a proper retrospective, relatively distant feel. given that the film's age is reaching its first decade, it feels appropriate. the extras on the Collector's Edition DVD are well worth the purchase, and this time, it actually feels like an object you'd want to possess.

Rating:
Summary: great movie about smack
Review: this is probably one of my favorite movies,and one of the few movies ewan macgregor is actually good in (if you dont believe me watch moulin rouge and and those piece of trash star wars movies).
Trainspotting centers around Renton (Ewan MacGregor-Nightwatch,Shallow Grave,Big Fish) Spud (Ewen Bremmer-Black Hawk Down,Acid House,Alien vs. Predator)Sick boy( johnny Lee miller-Dracula 2000, Mansfield Park, Regeneration)Tommy (Kevin Mckidd -bedrooms and hallways, topsy turvey,dad savage)and the amazing Robert Carlyle as Begbie(The Full Monty,The World is Not enough,Formula 51)
Spud renton and sick boy are heroin junkies who do almost anything to get high, tommy is a weight lifter who videotapes himself and his girlfriend having sex (although Renton steals the tape, his girlfriend flips out when Tommy says he may have returned to the video store), Begbie is a psycho who beats people up for money or for being "doss c**ts", Begbie doesnt do drugs and neither does Tommy at first (later in the story Tommy shoots heroin with Renton, and i can't forget that (to quote the drug dealer Mother superior)Sick boy knows a lot about Sean Connery.
Trainspotting is part drama part black comedy,the funniest parts are when spud drops speed before a job interview and in a drugged up frenzy freaks the crap out of the the interviewers, and when Renton finds out the girl he slept with is a catholic school girl in high school currently.

Overall this is a really good movie it is not an anti drug movie or a pro drug movie, even to call it a drug movie is a cheap way to describe it.

And to correct another reviewer Trainspotting doesnt stand for herioin, there are people who spot trains all the time its all they do do is stand by the tracks and wait for more trains to go by them, the book and movie is called trainspotting because all the junkies do is get high and get high again and again, as Renton explains.

And one more thing why do people say this a pro drug movie, obviously its not, the withdrawal scene alone proves that.