I was also guessing that there wouldn't be a lot in Porno that made it too the screen!
Was very good...liked the music and also like the hints at the previous film's soundtrack as well.
Liked it a lot.
Went last night; underwhelmed I'm afraid, don't know if I was expecting too much. Thin plot, and there was a hint of naval gazing in the telling of the 'men are lost these days' narrative, which I felt didn't really fit with the original characters.
Really wanted it to be good so going to have to watch it again at home just to make sure I wasn't just having an almighty sulk on Friday! 😀
The original was not known for its plot either. I enjoyed seeing the disappointment of middle age creep up on them. It resonates irrespective of not being a drug addict.
The film is a series of vignettes rather than a regular narrative. I really like that.
Enjoyed it.
Not as sentimental as Porno the book was.
Kelly McDonald probably had the best line of the film (which I only realised when I got home).
You need to see Trainspotting before you see T2, but you need a decent gap in between watching one and the other.
Went Friday. Got to agree with the positive reviews. Its very very good. I'm happy to say it was as enjoyable as the original when I saw it 20 odd years ago. Nice to see how the characters have played out.
For me, Spud stole it. The scene with a certain character and Son was bittersweet towards the end. Some great stories spinning out and Underworlds remixed snippets creeping in had a real righteousness. Boyle knows his onions.
Go see it.
Update to last night's thoughts.
If you didn't like the original, I doubt you'll like this one.
I suspect the 35-55 year olds are more likely to like this.
Was it a good film? Not sure. Did I find it an immensely enjoyable film? Oh yes.
Is it Spud's film? A bit, yes. Certainly the character that comes out with most hope.
In some ways, more of an expansion pack for the first film, than a film in its own right, but I was laughing and grinning to the outro.
Loved it.
PS if there was ever a third film (and asumming chronological order) I wonder what Spud would be doing.
[b]igm[/b] I know what you mean about Kelly's line. 😀
Agreed, totally disappointing.
I love all of Irvine Welsh's books, but struggle to see how this fits in. The Begbie of T2 makes no sense against the Begbie of Blade Artist, and the whole film smacked of a 21 year cash in. The thing about the books is that they all exist alongside eachother - all the way back to bit part characters in Maribou Stork.
Far too many flashbacks, they tried too hard to hammer home the message...would have been a lot better left more subtle (the chat at the kitchen table scene with mum missing was good, didn't need to replay in later as a flashback).
Not sure I could see any connection to porno, apart from the pin theft idea (although they used a different number for some reason).
Great scene in the bogs with Begbie/Rentboy, but apart from that too contrived, and trying a little bit too hard.
Just seen it.
10/10.
Superb.
Cried twice.
[i]Kelly McDonald probably had the best line of the film (which I only realised when I got home).[/i]
Thought that was the most obvious line of the film! Still funny though.
Really enjoyed it, excellent entertainment all the way.
Great to hear Young Fathers on the soundtrack a lot... (hmm, now who's been raving about them for the last 5 years?)
I agree with a lot of the 'okay entertainment but a bit disappointing' reviews above. I read most of what Irving Welsh has written for better or worse, as it were.
I was surprised how good the original film was, when it came out. Thought there was no way Robert Carlyle could be Begbie, but he made it impossible to think of the character as anyone else (for Irving Welsh too I recon). But it was a hotchpotch, like the book. T2's much slicker, but clearly one for the fans as in it expects you to care about the characters without giving you any reason to care, which is a bit complacent.
DezB - yes I know. My wife couldn't believe it took me that long to get either. I'm claiming actually having read Porno and Glue threw me off.
🙂
Looking forward to seeing it, is it based on porno?
Vaguely
I thought it was excellent... definitely a film for the people that have some insight into the reality of the first film and Welsh's books, and what it feels like to grow out of that environment..
A moving, lighthearted romp with plenty of amusingly unsubtle references and the usual sharp insightful writing and direction.
I think they made a great job of what was always gonna be a very tricky sequel..
Spud and Begbie stole the show although everyone put in a very worthy performance..
I had to exhert a huge amount of effort to refrain from going full Begbie on the scrawny little 30 summink nobhead in the seat next to me, who thought he was being hilarious and hip as **** watching the movie on smack and drawling smart arsed disparaging remarks all the way through..
Why not have a go at telling a half decent story yourself instead of boring your mates with your humourless drivel you ugly little spaz
The original film didn't follow the book that closely.
There were a lot more characters in the book than the film.
In fact I can't remember if the passage from the book, from where the title Trainspotting comes from, even makes it to the film.
I enjoyed the film but the novel was far better and much darker.
Saw it last night, loved it
Bit surprised to see the guy that use to run the boxing gym I went to in it however!
One thing I was confused about...do sick boy and renton shoot up before going to that club, or was that a flash back..think I was delving into my sweet bag at the time..
Funniest bit for me is begbies face when he arrives at the club...brilliant.
[i]do sick boy and renton shoot up before going to that club[/i]
You don't see it, but yeah... but that CLUB? What sort of club was that? The syncronized dancing/singing/clapping to crappy old songs and the lap dancers(?)... very odd.
Loved the way there was stuff nicked from (put in in homage to?) Shallow Grave and one of the Rebus novels (nice given that's obviously a Rankin novel).
I suspect I missed half the references - they were in there thick and fast.
You don't see it, but yeah... but that CLUB? What sort of club was that? The syncronized dancing/singing/clapping to crappy old songs and the lap dancers(?)... very odd.
Going by the way things turned out pretty sure it was an orange lodge 🙂
Not [i]that[/i] club! 😆
The Radio-bloody-GaGa one!
Like so many songs from the lodge, it was a catchy wee tune right enough. I can categorically say" there were no more ...... left"
Not [i]THAT[/i] club!!
gobuchul - MemberIn fact I can't remember if the passage from the book, from where the title Trainspotting comes from, even makes it to the film.
It doesn't- Leith Central had been demolished before the film was made so the location was gone, apparently Irvine Welsh overruled faking it. (I think Renton says in the book that it's soon to be demolished)
Just back and I thoght it was very good and quite touching in moments. the Orange lodge scene was very funny and I thought the soundtrack was brilliant , It was great to hear Young Fathers and The Clash blasting out.
Without giving away any spoilers I think Spud is the star of t2 and Veronica was gorgeous. Well done Danny Boyle..
10/10 for me! 🙂
thought it was amazing. obviously non of the impact felt first time round but non-sentimental nostalgic magic!!!
gutted the no more catholics song isnt on the OST! 😆
They interviewed Danny Boyle on Kermode & Mayo on friday and he said the film script was an independent script, it wasn't supposed to follow porno story, that is set 7-10 years after the original, they tried to adapt it but weren't happy with that script at all.
I bunked off this afternoon to catch it. I found the editing and flashbacks a bit McTarantino but the effect worked for me. I was a student in Edinburgh so enjoyed the location and colour. Begbie was almost a Carry On villain, Spud rocked. I laughed all the way through
When the original was screened in Fairfax CA, as it was probably everywhere other than in Scotland, it was subtitled.
gobuchul - Member
In fact I can't remember if the passage from the book, from where the title Trainspotting comes from, even makes it to the film.
It does as it's the bit in T2 where Begbie meets his father (faither) in the ruins of the old Leith Central Station.
He says "what are you lads doing? trainspotting?
This is in the book and the new film.
quite enjoyed but still left the cinema disappointed like most people who have read Irvine Welsh's books, as this really should have been done about 10 years ago to fit in better with the book "Porno" - it should have also introduced Juice Terry, who is by far the best character Irvine Welsh has created (see also "Glue" and "A decent ride" which are both better books than "Porno" and deserve to be made into tv series)
What was Kelly Mc Donald's line? I missed it.
Mark. She's too young for you!
Haven't read the books, really enjoyed the film. 🙂
Four - thank you. I heard the line in the cineabut missed the meaning until I got home. I'm glad it wasn't just me.
Saw it last night. Excellent but not groundbreaking (never could be given the impact the original had).
Danny Boyle remains one of my absolute favourite directors. Some really nice touches - the first scene at dad's kitchen table with the shadow was an obvious idea but gloriously done, and loved the George Best projection onto the car (hoping it was actually done in camera - looked like it was to me).
I love the fact that all for actors from the first film have developed into respected and bloody good actors - to performances from all, but Carlyle and Bremner sole the show a bit (having said that, I did love the venom behind MacGregor's 'Choose Life...' monologue.
Well it doesn't come out here until the 23rd (Oz) but the local independant cinema had a preview on this weekend, friend popped into the pub on the way back and I booked tickets there and then.
First off I've not read the books - and I don't care if it does or doesn't follow them.
Secondly it was excellent, we cared for the characters because we already did. We knew who they were and what they were about we just hadn't seen them for a while.
The journey from 20 somethings who had nothing to live for and nothing to gain to 40 somethings who have not quite sorted it was interesting. People who had plans and ideas coming back to reality and old ways.
The reaction in the screening was mixed, me and my mate had both watched the original recently and the tie in's were spot on in my opinion, Spud walking out of the gym to a point which changed his life for example.
As for plot an story I'm not sure what it needed, the original was about people, this one is about them too, the things that happened and they were trying to do were just things along the way.
Loved the nod to shallow grave!
I might watch that this evening
should have been done about 10 years ago to fit in better with the book "Porno"
Porno is a dreadful book so I'm quite glad the film doesn't follow it too closely.
Just maanged to watch.
Superb, Irvine and Danny make a great team together.
Danny has so many magical touches, Mark's mother shadow on the wall when he's talking to his Dad at the dining table again. Spud's opening scene catching the issue with drug addiction in that one scene alone. Then the dark humour they both do so well that made a spectacular script. And of curse Begbie as scarey as ever, the scene where him and Mark meet again just brilliant.
Didn't enjoy that at all . 😕
Drac - Moderator
Danny has so many magical touches
This.
IMO one of the best directors working today, especially as he refuses to be pigeonholed into making one type or style of film (Ridley, I'm looking at you...).
