Rating: 
Summary: From Out Of The Shadows
Review: The trio of producer Andrew McDonald, writer John Hodge and director Danny Boyle had had pretty good critical and reasonable commercial success with their debut feature Shallow Grave, but no one expected what was coming next. Out of the shadows, came a film about heroin addicts in Scotland that surely wouldn't be a success, would it?
Trainspottings rise to cult status was a remarkable one. After all, it did not seem to have the automatic ingredients of a runaway hit. It may not have made a huge impact in the States, but in Britain it took the nation by storm. Everyone knew the name, the poster, probably some of the dialogue, even if they hadn't seen the film, and if you hadn't you felt like you were missing out on something special! In terms of a culture shift, there has been no more important film in the last 15 years. It relaunched British interest in Lou Reed and Iggy Pop, spawned countless imitators, and propelled six young actors into the limelight who will always be known for their roles in the film. It was also the platform for Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlysle to take on Hollywood. Believe me, if it wasn't for Trainspotting, someone else would have played Obi Wan in Phantom Menace and the villain in the World is Not Enough.
So what makes this film so special. Great performances, cool soundtrack, sharp dialogue, a storyline that is as harrowing as it is funny. It really just captured the mood of a nation, and showed drug use with brutal honesty, not with glamour or with unneccesary preaching. Perhaps thats why it caused such a furore, not because it dared to state an opinion, because it dared not to. The truth is a dangerous thing.
Being British in 1996 and seeing this was a very special thing, but it is still a magnificent film for any audience that withstands repeated viewings. A truly unique cinematic experience.
Rating: 
Summary: Ewan McGregor is great
Review: Trainspotting is about 5 friends and their struggles with heroin. The movie is centered around Ewan McGregors character Renton. He's a big junkie who is trying to quit, but being around his fellow junkie friends doesn't help him to kick the habbit. He is caught between life and death. He has to make a choice. This isn't your typical quitting drug movie. It's a lot funnier, and a lot less cheesy. Ewan McGregor handles this part very well. His acting in the withdrawl scene is superb. He is quiet and keeps to himself. His voiceovers are also good, and let us see inside of Renton's head a little bit, because he doesn't really talk all that much. They are also not overused. Director Danny Boyle does a great job with this movie. Some of the effects and angles he uses are great, like the toilet scene, the hospital scene and the withdrawl scene. His direction help to show how the characters feel. Although this movie can be funny ("I had an accident...") at times, but it's not to be taken lightly. It shows the harsh reality of drug-use and the sacrafices people have to make to be "free and happy". The movie is still fun to watch because it has its really funny moments and interesting camera work. I was kind of dissapointed that this DVD had no special features, but it's still a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Shocking the bourgeoisie
Review: Of course "Trainspotting" is a disturbing film. (The toilet scene is hardly to be endured or stomached.) It is also gross and disgusting, as though Larry Flynt had gotten his hands on something like "A Clockwork Orange." But this Brit production with the heavy Scottish brogue (subtitles in places wouldn't hurt) is fortunately more than that; it is original and clever and moves right along. This is partly a cult film with all sorts of indie shibboleths and counter-cultural references; and partly an art film, with splashy sets and studied camera work; but mostly this is a full-blown commercial seduction of contemporary youth, worthy of the talent of somebody at, say, Sony or Pepsi or even the WB. (Yes, that is a left-handed compliment, unless, of course, you want to work for Sony or the WB. We'll have to check with director Danny Boyle on that.) The opening theme (actually voiced over) is the idea that heroin or any really demanding addiction is preferable to ordinary life, an intriguing but stale notion designed to shock the bourgeoisie. The central theme proclaims that a heroin addict is just another kind of junkie, along with your cigarette, cola, beer, sex, grease, etc. junkies. (Bingo!) Yet at the end we see, as one might discover by watching all the commercials on PBS, that money will out. Kinda reminds me of what Omar Khayyam asked about wine nine hundred years ago: "I wonder...what the Vintners buy/One half so precious as the stuff they sell." Here the answer is clear: money itself. Closing theme: money triumphs over heroin; money is the power god of heroin. Ewan McGregor is excellent in the leading role as a junkie who is as cute as your brother, with fine support by Robert Carlyle, who plays a bantam who likes to cut people. The script by John Hodge is partly unintelligible, which is good; and the direction by Danny Boyle combines cartoon fantasy with stark realism, slick horror with black comedy, in a manner both derivative and sure to be imitated. The sound track, "available on Capitol Records," (I rest my case) sold well. Some might say that this is a penetrating critique of modern urban society, but the only thing being penetrated is your pocket book. Yet, it is not a film to be ignored or forgotten.
Rating: 
Summary: prepare to be bored and depressed
Review: This movie is about a bunch of addicts who kill their baby and are totally sociopathic. Gee what a vision of a film. I watched it because of great reviews. I must not have gotten it.
If you need to see a movie find anything else. This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: Choose a [...] big telly, choose DVD, choose Trainspotting
Review: This film gives a stark portrayal of the life of an addict. It shows what he and his "friends" have to do to feed their habit, and avoid the law. There are darkly humourous moments, most supplied by Robert Carlyle. The film despite this, does have a positive message, the main character, Renton, does clean up his act at the end. It goes to show that no-one is beyond help. The film must be seen if only for the swimming in the toilet scene! A classic of British cinema which is difficult to watch, but ultimately rewarding.
Rating:
Summary: it'll turn you off of heroin, that's for sure!
Review: Trainspotting is an awsome movie. The characters are well developed, the way the drugs are presented is honest, the story is interesting, the music is great, Ewan McGregor is sexy, even though he's like 20 pounds underwieght, what more do I have to say?
Rating:
Summary: Choose Trainspotting
Review: Have to say, they don't get much better! I won't go into the details of the movie, as you can read all that above. Trainspotting is dark, disturbing, and absolutely hilarious! See the movie in the right frame of mind. The scene I feel almost stole the movie apparantly no one else finds as great-Rent and the Opium suppositories-laugh ... every time I see it! Worth purchasing, may need to watch it a few times to catch all the little things.
Rating:
Summary: great movie
Review: how is it that people think that this movie is a glorification of drugs? and why would they care? trainspotting is not one of such simple worth, but rather one of perspective. these bashers miserably fail to notice many instances of such sort: living in abandoned and dilapitated houses, the death of a baby, the contraction of aids, the characters' feeling of worthlessness portrayed through their ambience, words, narrations, and body language. does fishing through "the worst toilet in scotland" for a "last hit" really make drugs that much more appealing? people who bring up this inexistent controversy only shy away from that fact that this is a great movie. the shot sequences are amazing, and the perspective of drugs is eye opening. just ignore the self-righteous zealots out there and watch the movie. you won't regret it.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST BRITISH FILMS IN YEARS!
Review: Irvine Welsh's startling novel is bought to life for the silver screen and it does the compelling, best-selling book total justice. Director, Danny Boyle shows imagination and inventiveness with this origanal, provocative story of four Edinburgh lads going on a self destructive rampage and focuses harshly on the characters physical decline into heroin addiction and the harrowing situation that revolves around this. Some scenes are admitedly disturbing but thats solely down to its superb performances from the cast which features Ewan Mcgregor, Robert Carlyle, Ewen Bremner, Johnny Lee Miller and Kevin Mckidd. They all put in powerful, very commendable performances and compliment the razor sharp scripts that are totally astounding and eerily realistic. Despite its deeply unpleasant content the film welcomingly has its fair shair of laughs although is pure black comedy. This well balanced film evokes the harrowing atmosphere and some hard hitting facts brilliantly resulting in a stunningly unique piece of work that is nothing sort of a masterpiece. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Absoultly wonderful!
Review: A great movie, for entertainment,laughs, or a very attractive renton[Ewan Mcgregor]shines in this movie. A Favorite of mine!! I reccomend you Watch it!
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