T2 Trainspotting (2017)

T2 Trainspotting (2017)

6/10

Starring

Ewan McGregor

Ewen Bremner

Jonny Lee Miller

Robert Carlyle

Directed by Danny Boyle

Trainspotting the sequel, or T2 Trainspotting is more of a nostalgia movie than a sequel which could standup to the awesome delivery of the first movie.

Taking my time to go through this movie was not as fun as I expected, and the movie did not start to hit home until when the remaining cast of four (since Tommy died of AIDS in the first movie) got together in one place. Sad though that scene lasted for like five minutes.

T2 Trainspotting, follows the life of the four who performed the drug sale some twenty years ago.

You will recall from the first movie that Mark (Ewan McGregor) ran away with the sixteen thousand which was supposed to be split amongst the four.

Now Mark is in his forties and has decided to move back to Scotland.

Many of the fresh, slick fun of the first movie isn’t in this one and the movie also lacked the awesome cinematography and effects that was greatly influential in the cult stardom of the first movie.

The characters are now older, but still could deliver and capture the fun which is expected when you see them reprise their roles once again.

The movie had for it though the element of surprise, many of the things that were happening on screen will catch you on aware as you will not be able to faithfully predict how things were going to turn out.

The cut scenes where we see the characters when they were younger or a visual aid to what they were talking about, to me was distracting and in a way made the movie longer than it was supposed to be.

T2 Trainspotting is loosely based on Porno the sequel to the book Trainspotting written by Irvine Welsh. The movie is also directed by Danny Boyle and I will not say it was a wasted sequel, it did tie up loose ends between the friends and gave them an ending that kind of befits them.

That said, the movie plot and screenplay kind of dragged a little, from Mark returning and lying about how great his life is, when he had nowhere to go. Simon (Jonny Lee Miller) blackmailing people to get by and Spud (Ewen Bremmer) struggling to cope as an addict and a father.

Mark’s return was met with blows and punches from both Simon and Spud, but together again the three decided to do one more money-making gig.

On the other hand, Frankie (Robert Carlyle) has broken out of jail and is trying to raise his son to be a burglar like him. His reunion with Simon led him to believe that Mark was still in Amsterdam.

Simon’s plan was to get even with Mark, but even that was not planning well as Frankie is even more out of control than he was in the first movie.

T2 Trainspotting is a movie to watch after you done watching the first, but do not expect it to live up to the expectation of a classic like the first movie did.

Trainspotting (1996)

Trainspotting (1996)

8/10

Starring

Ewan McGregor

Ewen Bremner

Jonny Lee Miller

Kevin McKidd

Robert Carlyle

Kelly Macdonald

Directed by Danny Boyle

Over the years since its release in 1996, I have seen this movie set on an Academy Award nominated screenplay, over a dozen times and it never gets old seeing Mark get ahead of his friends in the end.

Following the lives of drug addicts who struggle with the, “this will be my final time” symptom and finding themselves back on the same thing they swore to stay away from was funny.

The movie touches the difficult times living in Edinburgh, drug abuse, neglect and diseases which can be gotten from sharing needles.

This Scottish movie had a great cinematographer on the controls, then add to that a wonderful visual effect team. Both performances will be much appreciated when the men use heroin and they take you for a ride.

There is no dull moment in this classic, the black comedy is compelling funny and it leaves behind many great scenes for you to remember after you are done watching.

Based on Irvine Welsh 1993 book of the same name, Trainspotting the movie has been recognized by the British Film Institute as one of the best British movies and in Scotland seen as the best Scottish movie.

The movie stars many British actors who now live in the U.S., but then the unknowns were carving a legacy from themselves. Ewan McGregor has done very well for himself in Hollywood with roles in Star Wars as Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Moulin Rouge! (2001). Robert Carlyle plays Rumpelstiltskin in the series Once Upon a Time and Jonny Lee Miller plays Sherlock Holmes in the series Elementary.

Directed by Danny Boyle (28 Days Later and Slumdog Millionaire) the story cuts across the life of five men one of which was an older slightly crazy man who ironically didn’t do drugs like the other four, but gets his own high from bar fights.

All five know themselves and their drug life carried them through the struggles of having to steal and do anything just to get high.

Their constant drug use led to the death of an innocent child, one of them and caused Mark and Spud to be arrested. Spud was sent to jail to serve time. Mark “Rent Boy” Renton (Ewan McGregor) was forced to go for a rehab program.

After being clean, Mark was drag back into the world of drugs by his friends again as they have decided to go the other route instead of using the drugs they decided to do one major score of selling the drugs which will bring money for them to try and live a better life.

The one final score did not turn out great for everyone involved and that is how the movie ended.

Trainspotting is that one film you need to have in your library and the decision to make a sequel after twenty-one years of the first, is something I’m willing to explore.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

7/10

Starring

Chris Pratt

Zoe Saldana

Dave Bautista

Bradley Cooper

Vin Diesel

Directed by James Gunn

While watching this movie I could feel the energy the writers, director (James Gunn) and actors put into the production to make sure that we find this movie entertaining and thrilling.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a great sequel to the first Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).

The movie packs as much fun, adventure and visual mastery to make sure when watching this movie, you are moved to look forward to owning a copy when it comes out.

This is the fifteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is based on Marvel superhero team, Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie features the characters Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel).

If you are a Marvel fan you will notice because it screams right at you that the writers decided to change the origin of Quill/Star-Lord.

In the comic, Quill is the son of J'son, who met Quill's mother when his ship crash landed on Earth.

J'son is the King of the Spartax and you can see this story if you get to watch the animation based on the Guardians of the Galaxy on Disney XD.

Here in the movie the living planet Ego is said to be Quill's father. Ego is an immortal Celestial consciousness that learned to manipulate the things around him to form a planet over his consciousness.

He went further to create a humanoid of himself which he then uses to travel the universe in search of his purpose.

His travels led him to earth where he met and fell in love with Quill's mother. The birth of Quill happened when he was exploring the cosmos and he hired Yondu to go bring Quill to him when he knew of his birth.

Yondu failed to deliver Quill and instead raised him for himself, using him to steal and commit crimes.

Now Ego, finds Quill and shares with him his origin and showed him his abilities, which includes his ability to bend matter on Ego’s planet base.

Things were not going well for the Guardians with the Sovereign led by Ayesha. As Rocket stole some batteries from them, which almost led to their annihilation before Ego came and saved them.

Now Ego and Quill continue to bond, and Ayesha hires Yondu and his crew to get back the batteries and deliver the Guardians to her.

Back with Ego, Gamora is suspicious of Ego and Drax new friend, Mantis who is Ego’s help is also trying to warn them about Ego’s plans for the galaxy.

Nothing should be a hindrance to you seeing this movie, the graphics were off the chains and the CGI/live-action mix is solid. Get ready for some nice Cameos from Sylvester Stallone, Stan Lee, David Hasselhoff and Ving Rhames