T2 Trainspotting (2017) Film Review

Twenty years since Renton (Ewan McGregor) ripped off his mates and now he’s had to come back to Edinburgh from his new home in Amsterdam. Back to Sickboy (now known as Simon, played by Jonny Lee Miller) a wanna be pimp, small time drug dealer running the least successful pub in Scotland. Back to Spud (Ewen Bremner), still often a junkie who is trying to get clean and spend time with his kid, with little luck. Back to Begbie (Robert Carlyle), the psychopath with a score to settle. Well, let’s face it, they all have a score to settle. It’s not going to be a trip down memory lane.

But yet, that’s kind of exactly what it is for the audience. In many ways, this is the perfect sequel  – non perfect characters searching for some resolution, with much of the black humour and ridiculousness of the first film. It’s great. The soundtrack is not as good as the original, but it was always going to hard to beat that for me.

Trainspotting (1996) Film Review

It was 1996, I was living in London, listening to this soundtrack and loving this film. It’s one of those films that I’ve been fearful of revisiting in case it wasn’t as good as I remember…. But it really is. Thank goodness!

So, Renton (Ewan McGregor) is a heroin addict living in Edinburgh and hanging out with his mates: fellow users Spud (Ewan Bremner) and Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller), health nut Tommy (Kevin McKidd) and psycho Begbie (Robert Carlyle). Sometimes they are using, sometimes they aren’t. But they are all just trying to get through life and eventually find their way to somewhere. Or not.

It’s a strange film, kind of daggy in ways. I found re -watching that it was far filthier and grosser than I remembered, but it really is a great film. To show how amazing drugs can be and then how terrible an experience using drugs can be with really no strong judgement. And it’s funny and sad and has the most amazing soundtrack. Certainly brought out my nostalgia.

Trainspotting was nominated for an Oscar for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published)

The World is Not Enough (1999) Film Review

It’s Bond. What more need I say? And my favourite Bond, Pearce Brosnan. The bad guy is Robert Carlyle, the villainess (or is she? Yes, no, they play this one well) is Sophie Marceau and the Bond Girl is Denise Richards (with the magnificent name of Dr Christmas Jones). There is a skiing chase, a high-speed tunnel thing chase whilst trying to disarm stuff. Fire, explosions, fancy frocks, suits and the whole kit and caboodle. Wonderful. Oh, and did I mention Robert Carlyle?

 

Once Upon a Time – TV Review

Another in the twist-on-a-fairytale genre, Once Upon a Time is set in two worlds; the current day reality of a town called Storybrooke in the US, and in the world of fairytales. The evil witch Regina has put a spell on the fairytale world that has caused the characters to lose their memory and they are now living a modern day existence. Along comes Emma, a bail bondswoman who is tracked down by  Henry, the child she had and adopted ten years previously. Henry was adopted by Regina, who is one of only two from the fairytale land who know the truth.  He has figured some of it out, and tried to convince Emma that she has to lift the curse.

It’s pretty convoluted story-wise, and at times, it feels that extra events have been pushed in just to get the full twenty-two episodes into the series. Each episode looks at a different fairy tale, and shows how the characters have ended up in Storybrooke.

This show is clearly aimed at a younger audience. There are some dark storylines, but in general, it is much lighter and less gruesome. I do find, however, that I don’t really believe the reactions of many of the characters throughout.  Despite some of the lengthy unraveling of characters’ pasts, many still seem very two-dimensional and I think this takes a lot away from the show. But then there’s Robert Carlyle, who is so amazing. Even he is not enough to make this an awesome show, but it’s pretty good. Good enough for me to watch the first season and I’ve now started watching the second season.