The last time I was so conflicted about watching a sequel was when Donnie Darko 2 hit the cinemas...you want another taste of greatness but fear that the original story will be diluted and the sense of intrigue will disappear, which unfortunately is what happened when Samantha took the baton to save the universe.
However trainspotting 2 has stayed true to the original and succeeds on extending the adrenalin pumping raw nature of petty crime in Edinburgh. It's anti establishment doctrine which encompasses life on the edge of society, where heroin abuse is an outlet for a generation forgotten by middle class Europe, is captured perfectly by robust characters and cinematic shadows which play on the emotions of death and withdrawal. The story line of opportunity and betrayal is entwined with the dogmatic lives of these protagonists, victims of their own faith, struggling to escape their reality; they're caged to the ghosts of their youth.
It's a film that you must see if you have lived long enough to appreciate the original. It's a road trip in chaos. There is a lot of symbolism, social commentary and throwbacks to the original to make this a pleasant journey. Maybe leave your 13 year old at home and remember sharing needles is not a good idea even if your Ewen McGregor, but choose life, choose popcorn, choose Vans, skinny jeans, and repeal the 8th t-shirts, choose anti Trump retweets, wasted votes, and hotel management, choose redemption, choose individuality, choose middle class hypocrisy, choose sun holidays, ski trips with your hipster friends, gift vouchers, and white chocolate mochas, choose passive aggression in the face of the alt right apocalypse, choose T2 Trainspotting for a bite of reality.
However trainspotting 2 has stayed true to the original and succeeds on extending the adrenalin pumping raw nature of petty crime in Edinburgh. It's anti establishment doctrine which encompasses life on the edge of society, where heroin abuse is an outlet for a generation forgotten by middle class Europe, is captured perfectly by robust characters and cinematic shadows which play on the emotions of death and withdrawal. The story line of opportunity and betrayal is entwined with the dogmatic lives of these protagonists, victims of their own faith, struggling to escape their reality; they're caged to the ghosts of their youth.
It's a film that you must see if you have lived long enough to appreciate the original. It's a road trip in chaos. There is a lot of symbolism, social commentary and throwbacks to the original to make this a pleasant journey. Maybe leave your 13 year old at home and remember sharing needles is not a good idea even if your Ewen McGregor, but choose life, choose popcorn, choose Vans, skinny jeans, and repeal the 8th t-shirts, choose anti Trump retweets, wasted votes, and hotel management, choose redemption, choose individuality, choose middle class hypocrisy, choose sun holidays, ski trips with your hipster friends, gift vouchers, and white chocolate mochas, choose passive aggression in the face of the alt right apocalypse, choose T2 Trainspotting for a bite of reality.
RSS Feed
