Trainspotting (DVD) > Reviews

Advantages: Soundtrack, innovative
Disadvantages: Explicit and disturbing in places

...much of the strength of Trainspotting is down to the strong cast of actors it boasts. It is difficult to watch the film and not become emotionally involved though strangely I found it was not so much the lead character of Renton who's life drew me in but rather the lives of those around him namely Spud, a fellow addict and Tommy who's story of being the 'clean' friend spiraling into the drug world is harrowing. Considering the hard hitting ... Read review

Advantages: Very amusing
Disadvantages: If you dont like swearing you will be offended

Oh look!!! Someones decided to write an opinion on an old film, not about "The Mummy 2" or one of the other latest releases, why bother you might think. Well, just looking at my collection of video's there is always one that stands out a mile. It has an orange spine and the words "Trainspotting" emblazened upon it. I first saw this film at a cinema in 1996 when it was released and immeadeatley became a big fan of Irvine Welsh (the author ... Read review

Advantages: Uniformly excellent performances, great soundtrack.
Disadvantages: Not as great as we all thought it was.

When Trainspotting was first released five years ago, it was hailed as the film that resurrected the British film Industry. Before that, it was Shallow Grave, and before that, Four Weddings and a Funeral. One of these crops up every few years, makes a big splash, causes a spate of inferior copies and cash-ins, then bobs back under. In hindsight, Trainspotting is far weaker than Boyle's debut, Shallow Grave. Due to the episodic nature of Irvine ... Read review

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Disadvantages: See review

...a fanatic, I have seen Trainspotting about 6 times. Ok so it's not a huge number but every time I go through the same range of emotions at exactly the same time. I know what's coming but STILL get involved in a way that's entirely unhealthy. Drug addict Mark Renton lives out his terrible existence in the ghetto's of Edinburgh with his collection of 'friends'. All feeding off each other and 'enjoying' the drug induced haze that gets them through ... Read review

Advantages: Simply and excellently crafted movie that will make you both laugh and cry
Disadvantages: Strong language, some sex, occasional brutal violence, scenes of drug taking may offend some people

...somewhat easy to put a Trainspotting virgin off of this film. For a start, the title is incidental to the story and not directly relevant. This film is not about trains. The film is centred on the very real drug culture in Scotland, but isn’t stereotypically Scottish. Nor does it condone nor condemn drug taking. Heroine exists in this film, like it exists in real life. We may not like it, but it’s there. The film is clearly a drama, and ... Read review

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Disadvantages: see review

...through to its violent conclusion, Trainspotting is an absolutely superb mixture of adrenaline fuelled, drug abused lunacy. Its an explosion of talent, packed into a sweet 90 minutes and arguably the movie which single-handedly relaunched the British film industry...if it ever needed it. Directed to perfection by Danny Boyle, alongside John Hodge's acid script and adapted from Irvine Welsh's best-seller(which I thought stank), Transporting is like ... Read review

Advantages: great script, very funny
Disadvantages: I'll never look at a Scottish toilet in the same way again

Trainspotting is another landmark film, one of the truly great 'great' British films of the nineties. Where 'Brassed off' and 'The full monty' were hyped-up so much so that they ultimately disappointed, this film is worth all the plaudits. Ok, so it is grim, and it centres on a bunch of junkies, but contrary to what some critics have said, it does not advertise heroin as such, rather that there can always be light at the end of the tunnel, ... Read review

Advantages: The True to life account of heroin
Disadvantages: The True to life account of heroin

Trainspotting again is one of those must see films a true British social realism film that you just cant live life without seeing. Like most British films Train spotting tells it how it is the film tells you the bad and good sides of everything to do with live the heroin addict life. Trainspotting is not just about drug addiction, but about the connection between wasted youth and the spiritually bankrupt society that has abandoned them.Why is this ... Read review

Advantages: Well ,it was certainly a new 1 for me anyway.
Disadvantages: Didn't like the cot death scene.

This was a phrase that was used by one of Mark Renton's (Ewan McGregor) friends when he first began on his experimentations and eventual descent into addiction with heroin. I had this image that "Trainspotting" was a weird film and when one of the scenes named, "the worst toilet in Scotland" involves Mark diving the whole way into the toilet and swimming to the bottom to find two repositories, I realised I was not far wrong. As a daughter of ... Read review

Advantages: Great Story, Superb Acting and Cast
Disadvantages: Not For An Action Fan!

The whole premise of the film is "Choose life" or "Self destruction". The film based in Scotland, mostly revolves around, Mark Renton a man who struggles to find his niche in life and instead finds his escapism in heroin. Then you have his equally unbalanced friends Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie, his only 'normal' friend Tommy and his on off relationship with a schoolgirl, Diane. This character base blends well with the overall story, which basically ... Read review

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I really have no complaints about this film. It stars several unknown British actors, who all talk cool, and tells a story of a few guys trying, not very hard, to quit heroine. Though sometimes hard to understand, the dialogue is generally good, and it is followed by very good acting. The thing I best liked about this movie were some of the great camera techniques used during the heroine and the withdrawal scenes. There is one part in particular where ... Read review

Advantages: Superb, funny, serious, makes you think
Disadvantages: None

In my list of films, this is joint top with the Italian Job (readers gasp with amazement). No, it's not about Trains, it's about life with drugs and what they do to you. Does this sound boring? well it's not. Go out and rent it or buy it now. The best scene has to be Spud in the morning at his girlfriends house (watch it and you'l see what I mean). This film changed my perspective on other movies. I now have a new standard, which so far, ... Read review