...“Trainspotting” to me, is near perfect...
ut why would I want to do a thing like that?
While music usually plays a big part in many movies, the Britpop songs featured on "Trainspotting" are perfectly culled from an eclectic mix of artists that makes them so much a part of the film, even to the point of contributing greatly to the overall effectiveness of the story. From Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and New Order to Leftfield, Blur and Underworld, Boyle´s eclectic song selections manage to hit all the right notes, producing an incredible movie soundtrack that is such a great companion to the movie.
The trio of Danny Boyle, screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew MacDonald have had uneven success with films like "Shallow Grave", "Trainspotting", "A Life Less Ordinary" and "The Beach" ("28 Days Later" was directed by Boyle and produced by MacDonald but not written by Hodge). However, with "Trainspotting", the team´s biggest success to date, every single aspect of the film came together perfectly, much like a rare alignment of the stars. From the extremely well written script to the cool music to the exceptional acting, "Trainspotting" to me, is near perfect and is one of those extraordinary films that is able to transcend different genres and tastes without lowering itself to try and cater to the lowest common denominator.
Video:
The video presentation on this DVD is a big upgrade from the previous non-anamorphic Miramax release. Now anamorphically squeezed in an aspect ratio measuring 1.85:1, "Trainspotting" has never looked better for North American home video enthusiasts. Using bright colors to represent a sense of surrealism while in a drug-induced state of mind, the color transfer is nothing short of awesome. Blacks are deeply represented and skin tones are natural. There are however, a few specks of dirt visible throughout some parts of the movie but nothing so severe that will spoil your viewing experience. For subtitles, there is an English for the hearing impaired option.
Audio:
While the previous release featured an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, this new 2-disc set also features English DTS and French Dolby Digital 5.1 options. With the DD 5.1 track on this DVD sounding pretty much identical to the last DVD version, it is the DTS track that shines. Man, Iggy Pop never sounded so good! As expected, the thick Scottish accents sported by some of the characters are a little hard to comprehend and some of you may need to turn on the subtitles to catch the more subtle jokes. Other than that, the dialogue sounds generally clear and precise.
Extras:
The special features on this 2-disc set can be found on both discs. Here is the breakdown:
Disc 1:
The major extra on this disc is the audio commentary by Danny Boyle, John Hodge, Andrew MacDonald and Ewan McGregor. Just before the actual commentary starts McGregor serves up an introduction that reveals that this commentary was recorded back in 1996. Talk about keeping it in the vault! Anyway, there is nothing spectacular about the commentary where the usual stuff gets mentioned. Actually, some parts turn out to be quite monotonous and tedious. These guys are certainly not the most interesting speakers, I tell ya. Next on this disc are ten deleted scenes with optional commentary by Boyle, MacDonald and Hodge.
Disc 2:
This disc is titled "The Definitive Edition", which is probably a holdover name from one of the other region´s releases. Disc 2 is where the bulk of the extra features reside. They are divided in categories that open up into sub-categories.
Retrospective:
- Look of the Film: Then and Now
The "Then" section features an interview with production designer Kave Quinn, shot back in 1995 while the "Now" section takes you into interviews with Danny Boyle, Andrew MacDonald (producer) and John Hodge (screenwriter). They all talk about how the use of certain primary colors helps define the surrealism of certain scenes.
- Sound of the Film: Then and Now
"Then" showcases a 1995 interview with Boyle, filmed during the sound dubbing for the film while "Now" features 2003 interviews with MacDonald and Boyle as they talk about the music used in the movie.
- Interviews:
One-on-one interviews with Irvine Welsh, John Hodge, Danny Boyle and Andrew MacDonald. Each interview is accessed separately.
- Behind the Needle:
In this feature Boyle reveals the preparations and the filming process of one of the hardest scenes in the movie. Careful planning went into the use of a life-like prosthetic arm to realistically show the injection of drugs into it. To watch this feature, you can choose between three different viewing angles. Also included in this section is a brief interview with McGregor who talks about the Calton Athletic Boys who appear at the start of the film during the soccer match scene.
Cannes:
This is an entire section devoted to the film´s debut at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. There are interviews with Martin Landau, Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Damon Albarn (Blur) and Ewan McGregor. Also included is "Cannes Snapshot", a look at the party attendees after the film´s premiere.
Trailers:
There are two trailers, one a Teaser and the other the Theatrical one. The Teaser trailer is kind of interesting.
The Making of Trainspotting:
Clocking in at about nine and a half minutes, this feature is less than what I had hoped for. It features interviews with the cast and crew and very little else.
Biographies:
Here you will find brief biographical information on Danny Boyle, Andrew MacDonald, John Hodge, Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle and Kelly MacDonald.
Gallery:
A slideshow of Polaroid pictures taken during filming.
Packaging:
A glossy insert with the DVD´s chapter listing is included.
Film Value:
Given "Trainspotting"'s strong following here in the U.S., it is only a matter of time before Miramax steps up to the plate and release the definitive edition of the film. Although almost identical to other regions´ 2-disc DVD release, that is not a bad thing at all. In fact, to avoid feature-envy, for once, it is great to finally find a major film that has a uniform release throughout the different regions.
So it finally boils down to that oft-asked question, "Should I upgrade"? The answer is a resounding Yes! Upgrade for the anamorphic video. Upgrade for the DTS track. And finally, upgrade for the many extra features that will make any fan of this movie scream like a schoolgirl. And that is my definitive answer.
While music usually plays a big part in many movies, the Britpop songs featured on "Trainspotting" are perfectly culled from an eclectic mix of artists that makes them so much a part of the film, even to the point of contributing greatly to the overall effectiveness of the story. From Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and New Order to Leftfield, Blur and Underworld, Boyle´s eclectic song selections manage to hit all the right notes, producing an incredible movie soundtrack that is such a great companion to the movie.
The trio of Danny Boyle, screenwriter John Hodge and producer Andrew MacDonald have had uneven success with films like "Shallow Grave", "Trainspotting", "A Life Less Ordinary" and "The Beach" ("28 Days Later" was directed by Boyle and produced by MacDonald but not written by Hodge). However, with "Trainspotting", the team´s biggest success to date, every single aspect of the film came together perfectly, much like a rare alignment of the stars. From the extremely well written script to the cool music to the exceptional acting, "Trainspotting" to me, is near perfect and is one of those extraordinary films that is able to transcend different genres and tastes without lowering itself to try and cater to the lowest common denominator.
Video:
The video presentation on this DVD is a big upgrade from the previous non-anamorphic Miramax release. Now anamorphically squeezed in an aspect ratio measuring 1.85:1, "Trainspotting" has never looked better for North American home video enthusiasts. Using bright colors to represent a sense of surrealism while in a drug-induced state of mind, the color transfer is nothing short of awesome. Blacks are deeply represented and skin tones are natural. There are however, a few specks of dirt visible throughout some parts of the movie but nothing so severe that will spoil your viewing experience. For subtitles, there is an English for the hearing impaired option.
Audio:
While the previous release featured an English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track, this new 2-disc set also features English DTS and French Dolby Digital 5.1 options. With the DD 5.1 track on this DVD sounding pretty much identical to the last DVD version, it is the DTS track that shines. Man, Iggy Pop never sounded so good! As expected, the thick Scottish accents sported by some of the characters are a little hard to comprehend and some of you may need to turn on the subtitles to catch the more subtle jokes. Other than that, the dialogue sounds generally clear and precise.
Extras:
The special features on this 2-disc set can be found on both discs. Here is the breakdown:
Disc 1:
The major extra on this disc is the audio commentary by Danny Boyle, John Hodge, Andrew MacDonald and Ewan McGregor. Just before the actual commentary starts McGregor serves up an introduction that reveals that this commentary was recorded back in 1996. Talk about keeping it in the vault! Anyway, there is nothing spectacular about the commentary where the usual stuff gets mentioned. Actually, some parts turn out to be quite monotonous and tedious. These guys are certainly not the most interesting speakers, I tell ya. Next on this disc are ten deleted scenes with optional commentary by Boyle, MacDonald and Hodge.
Disc 2:
This disc is titled "The Definitive Edition", which is probably a holdover name from one of the other region´s releases. Disc 2 is where the bulk of the extra features reside. They are divided in categories that open up into sub-categories.
Retrospective:
- Look of the Film: Then and Now
The "Then" section features an interview with production designer Kave Quinn, shot back in 1995 while the "Now" section takes you into interviews with Danny Boyle, Andrew MacDonald (producer) and John Hodge (screenwriter). They all talk about how the use of certain primary colors helps define the surrealism of certain scenes.
- Sound of the Film: Then and Now
"Then" showcases a 1995 interview with Boyle, filmed during the sound dubbing for the film while "Now" features 2003 interviews with MacDonald and Boyle as they talk about the music used in the movie.
- Interviews:
One-on-one interviews with Irvine Welsh, John Hodge, Danny Boyle and Andrew MacDonald. Each interview is accessed separately.
- Behind the Needle:
In this feature Boyle reveals the preparations and the filming process of one of the hardest scenes in the movie. Careful planning went into the use of a life-like prosthetic arm to realistically show the injection of drugs into it. To watch this feature, you can choose between three different viewing angles. Also included in this section is a brief interview with McGregor who talks about the Calton Athletic Boys who appear at the start of the film during the soccer match scene.
Cannes:
This is an entire section devoted to the film´s debut at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival. There are interviews with Martin Landau, Noel Gallagher (Oasis), Damon Albarn (Blur) and Ewan McGregor. Also included is "Cannes Snapshot", a look at the party attendees after the film´s premiere.
Trailers:
There are two trailers, one a Teaser and the other the Theatrical one. The Teaser trailer is kind of interesting.
The Making of Trainspotting:
Clocking in at about nine and a half minutes, this feature is less than what I had hoped for. It features interviews with the cast and crew and very little else.
Biographies:
Here you will find brief biographical information on Danny Boyle, Andrew MacDonald, John Hodge, Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle and Kelly MacDonald.
Gallery:
A slideshow of Polaroid pictures taken during filming.
Packaging:
A glossy insert with the DVD´s chapter listing is included.
Film Value:
Given "Trainspotting"'s strong following here in the U.S., it is only a matter of time before Miramax steps up to the plate and release the definitive edition of the film. Although almost identical to other regions´ 2-disc DVD release, that is not a bad thing at all. In fact, to avoid feature-envy, for once, it is great to finally find a major film that has a uniform release throughout the different regions.
So it finally boils down to that oft-asked question, "Should I upgrade"? The answer is a resounding Yes! Upgrade for the anamorphic video. Upgrade for the DTS track. And finally, upgrade for the many extra features that will make any fan of this movie scream like a schoolgirl. And that is my definitive answer.
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[release]11818[/release]