Rating: 
Summary: A movie that gets drug addiction right.....
Review: This is one of favorite movies--The characters, the story, the feel--it all works. The accents do take a little getting used to, so this is a good movie to watch on tape so you can back it up when needed.There are three points in particular about this movie that I want to stress. First, this was an accurate picture of drug addiction. I usually avoid movies about drugs, because most of them either feature characters out of Reefer Maddness (if you don't know what I mean by that, you still wouldn't know what I meant if I explained it) or the film goes to the other extreme: Complete self actualization with a couple hits of dope. Sure. I was a public defender, and have represented over a thousand drug addicts. With very few exceptions, the bottom line for addiction--particularly heroin--was that it made the addict feel good...better than good. Renton's voiceover at the beginning of the movie, describing why he didn't need to "choose life" because he had heroin gives the movie its theme. Later in the film, when the houshold discovers the baby has died from neglect--the response to quickly shoot up, because the pain is unbearable. The point is people use heroin, because it is good. However, the collateral costs of heroin far outweigh any benefits: Renton struggles to leave it behind, while Spud and Tommy -- especially Tommy -- are destroyed. The only other moive I can think of that got the drug scene right is Gus Van Sant's "Drugstore Cowboy." Second, it doesn't make any doughnuts (as they say where I come from) how "accurate" a movie portrayal is, if the movie doesn't work. This movie works because the characters fill their sterotypes perfectly. Renton, the main character, with a conscience that troubles him about sleeping with a high school girl--but doesn't for a moment bother him when he steals a sex tape from Tommy. His can hardly stand his three best friends. Begbie-who's scornful about the others use of drugs, while he drinks heavily and is dangerous, psychotic, lunatic. SicBoy, obsessed with Sean Connery and unable to think of anyone outside himself. And Spud--who is virtually a blank, passively drifting through what's left of his life. This film is very funny--with a dark humour. The shooting gallery (and I don't mean guns) where they buy their drugs is run by a man named "Mother Superior"--because of the length of his habit. Renton is determined to kick heroin, and nails boards over his door--only to tear them out again. Finally, at one point when the four of them (minus Tommy) are in London to sell heroin, there is one quick shot of them in a zebra crossing, recreating the Beatles "Abbey Road" LP. The book is excellent, and the movie is reasonably faithful to the story--almost. The book fleshes out the actions and characters more, the movie has sharper dialogue... My last point is why I knocked one star off. This movie had to have been made for american audiences, who unless they get a happy ending (or the thrill of yelling "USA! USA! USA!" while a team of NBA all stars clobbers five Anglolans by sixty points). I don't want to give away the whole movie, but Renton does something for Spud that was just ridiculous. I was furious. Thank goodness I wasn't watching the film in the theater....because I'd probably have been kicked out. Again. All that said--this is a great movie. A little hard to watch (especially the dead baby), but will really give you a good picture of hopelessness.
Rating: 
Summary: It's your choice
Review: This breakthrough film from director Danny Boyle (The Beach, 28 Days Later) was an international hit that deserves all the critical acclaim it garnered and helped launch the career of actor Ewan McGregor. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting tells the story of Renton (McGregor), Spud (Ewen Bremner), Sick Boy (Johnny Lee Miller), and Tommy (Kevin McKidd); four Scottish heroin addicts in the wake of "choosing life, or choosing not to choose life". Director Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge manage to transfer what is an unfilmable book to film thanks to the off the wall hyperkinetic humor and the brilliant cast. Robert Carlyle's performance as the fight provoking, hard drinking Begbie is excellent as he goes from humerous to frightening in the snap of a finger. While Trainspotting isn't an ode to heroin, it is not a warning about the drug or drugs in general period. The film sucessfully presents all the otherworldly pleasure and excruciating pain that goes with addiction, and like the later made Requiem for a Dream, this is a film that can be hard to watch and is definitely not for everyone. As a previous reviewer stated, it's your choice. The DVD has no extras at all, hopefully someday Miramax will have the good sense to re-release Trainspotting with the host of extras that it so deserves.
Rating: 
Summary: Hilarious Film, BAD DVD - NON-ANAMORPHIC TRANSFER
Review: I REFUSE TO BUY DVD'S THAT USE LETTERBOXED WIDESCREEN. STUDIOS NEED TO GET A CLUE. THAT MAKES SIX DVD'S I CAN'T BUY BECAUSE THEY WON'T PRESENT CORRECTLY ON MY TV. I HAVE A 30 INCH 16:9 TV. WHY WOULD I WANT TO WATCH AN 18" IMAGE LETTERBOXED WITHIN "NORMAL MODE" IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN?!
Rating:
Summary: Scotch?
Review: I'm sorry, but I have to say something... its "Scottish" not Scotch, unless you're talking about alcohol. And how could anyone possibly call Ewan McGregor ugly? Anyway, I'm addicted to British movies/TV shows, and the accent is the best part. I had a hard time with "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" but it just added to my enjoyment. I guess I'm a closet Anglophile.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Baby
Review: Great movie. The only downside in it and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was the strong thick acient. It was hard to understand some of the dialouge but other than that the movie was a great! I have not read the book yet but from the reviews that I read the book is much better so I will read that. I found this movie to be very dark though it really goes inside the mind of a junkie. It's really scary! Great acting as well. Oh, and for those of those reviewers that didnt like the movie because some of the actors were ugly...who cares that does not matter! And for the dead baby thats the only part I didnt understand how did the baby die, did it get ahold of some drugs or did it starve? Can someone please e-mail me and tell me what happened. But it was a great move over all!
Rating: 
Summary: Well done, but do you really like any of the characters?
Review: This movie is different, unique and interesting. The baby scene is magnificent. But there's nobody to root for in this film. Also much of it is just disgusting. It does show some of the side effects of drugs, but not very realistic ones. One person commented that everyone in this film is ugly. I'd like to respond by saying that most drug addicts aren't beautiful. That was the last thing to cross my mind (especially with Ewan in it). It's a drug film, it's not about beauty. I wish I could have loved this movie, but which it's interesting, it's not that captivating. Something to look at, maybe, but not a exceptional film.
Note: Movies rated R have a broad range, and this would definately be more suited for older kids.
Rating: 
Summary: if you think junkies are glamorus
Review: I just couldn't believe the hype this movie got when it came out. I had trouble trying to follow the conversations (they were spoken in a very thick Sort of Scotch accent). The people were sooooooo ugly. What happened to all the beautiful movie stars????????????? The men were ugly and the women were even uglier if that's possible. These people where obviously extreme low end people. Unless you like junkies, baby death and ugly people pooping in their beds don't bother with this. Rent "The Full Monty" instead! It was a much better movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Book Is Better Than the Film! Trust Me!
Review: Some film adaptations of great novels can stand by themselves and, if the director is talented enough, can take on an importance completely apart from the film. Stanley Kubrick did this with almost every single one of his films--ranging from Lolita up until Eyes Wide Shut--making film adaptations that make the books, as good as they were, seem more intelligent and even valuable. Danny Boyle, however, with his film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting, did not achieve this worthy goal. His film is well directed and definitely one of the best movies of the year, but it can't stand on its own without the novel behind it. Trainspotting, the novel, would be an absolutely impossible film to adapt to film perfectly. There is little action in the novel, and this, right off the bat, can't be optimal for a film. The plot is nonexistent, and meant to be, and, if one has not read the book, the film will be very hard to follow or understand. The book includes so many really awesome ideas and points and is executed wonderfully, so, if you want to see this movie, I strongly recommend reading the book first. It is more enthralling and entertaining than the film is, and, after reading it, it will make the film look ten times as good. Take it from me--I watched Trainspotting before I read it and took nothing from it. After reading the book, however, I understood everything much better and than watched the film again. No surprise, it was MUCH better after reading the book. If you want to know the overall premise of the film, you should check out my review of it, also on Amazon. I'm telling you, both of these are worth your time--but the book first!
Rating:
Summary: Best ever
Review: This must be one of the best movies ever. In my top 5! The surealisum of how live acutally is comes through in this very entertaining movie. Its deep and touchs on some of lifes more harsh side, but also is lighthearted and very comical - cool ending. Awesome, awesome movie!
Rating:
Summary: I choose not too choose life
Review: This movie is about Mark Renton a generation x slacker and his friends who are all addicted to drugs.It chronicles his trys
to get of the stuff but he strugles because of his mates.The DVD has the feel that you are watching it in the theater.This movie is not for everyone because of its depiction of drugs.This is definely not for kids.This movie makes sure you do not have any doubt that drugs are bad.
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