Trainspotting - Ewan MacGregor

directed by Danny Boyle
UK 1996

Former alcoholics and drug abusers often report that they don't miss the substances nearly as much as the conditions under which they were used--the camaraderie of the true drinkers' bar, for example, where the standing joke is that the straight world just doesn't get it, doesn't understand that the disease is life and the treatment is another drink. The reason there is a fierce joy in ``Trainspotting'', despite the appalling things that happen in it, is that it's basically about friends in need.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert's review on the Chicago-Sun Times found HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: Feb. 23rd, 1996

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Incidental Reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Trainspotting: The Ultimate Film Guide by Martin Stollery	The A List: The National Society of Film Critics' 100 Essential Films by Jay Carr (Editor)	Trainspotting (BFI Modern Classics) by Murray Smith	British Cinema, Past and Present: Past and Present by Justine Ashby, Andrew Higson	The British Cinema Book (BFI Film Classics (Paperback)) by Robert Murphy	Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh	How to Read a Film: The World of Movies, Media, and Multimedia : Language, History, Theory by James Monaco	All Our Yesterdays: 90 Years of British Cinema (British Film Institute) by Charles Barr	Moving Places: A Life at the Movies by Jonathan Rosenbaum

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

Universal (The Definitive Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Alliance (Can.) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Miramax - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Miramax (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Chris Gould and Enrique B Chamorro for all the Screen Caps!

(Universal (The Definitive Edition) - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Alliance (Can.) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Miramax - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd vs. Miramax (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Universal Region 2 - PAL	Alliance Region 1 - NTSC	Miramax Region 1 - NTSC	Miramax Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	01:30:0 (4% PAL speedup)	1:34:03	1:33:42	1:33:42
Video	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.85 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.95 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.33 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.56 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Universal PAL
Bitrate: Alliance (Can.)
Bitrate: Miramax
Bitrate: Miramax (CE)
Audio	English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kbps), English DTS 5.1 (1536Kbps)	English DD 5.1, French DD 2.0	English DD 5.1	English DD & DTS 5.1, DUB: French DD 5.1
Subtitles	English and none	English and none	English and none	English and none
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • 1996 Commentary Track with Danny Boyle, Ewan McGregor, Andrew Macdonald and John Hodge • Nine Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary • 'The Beginning' Featurette • Look of the Film (Then/Now) • Sound of the Film (Then/Now) • Interviews: Irvine Welsh, John Hodge, Danny Boyle, Andrew Macdonald • Behind the Needle • Cannes • Trailers • Biographies • Gallery DVD Release Date: 16th of June 2003 Double Amaray with Slipcase Chapters 20	Release Information: Studio: Alliance Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • VOB File Date 04/04/98 • Static Slow Responding Menus & Single Page Insert • Fairly accurate subtitles for the Scottish accent • 12 min interviews with Dir. Boyle & Prod. MacDonald • intercut with over 10 min. of 9 deleted scenes • Early issues contained on side B 8 audio tracks of trains rushing by 55 min. DVD Release Date: 07/02/98 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 25	Release Information: Studio: Miramax Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterboxed - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • VOB File Date 01/26/98 • Static Menu & Single Page Insert • Fairly accurate subtitles for the Scottish accent DVD Release Date: 03/24/98 Plastic Keepcase Chapters 25	Release Information: Studio: Miramax Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1 Edition Details: • VOB File Date 03/24/04 • Animated Menus & Single Plage Insert • Fairly accurate subtitles for the Scottish accent • 1996 comm. track with Boyle, McGregor, MacDonald, & Hodge • 9 deleted scenes with or without commentary 10:35 total time • Disc 2 Bonus disc contains; • The Look Of The Film: Then (1995 Kane Quinn 4:02) & Now (2003 Boyle 3:14) • The Sound Of The Film: Then ('95 Boyle & MacDonald 7:41) & Now ('03 MacDonald 4:51) • 4 Interviews;'95 Irvine Welsh (4:37), '03 John Hodge (7:58), '03 Boyle (14:32), '03 MacDonald (10:32) • Behind The Needle (6:27) & '95 McGregor talking about Calton Athletic Boys (0:32) • 4 short interviews during 1996 Cannes events & party footage • Teaser & Theatrical Trailer 1:11 & 2:02 • 1996 Making Of Trainspotting 9:32 • 9 single page bio's & Photo gallery set to music 5:05 • Easter Egg Interview of Boyle, MacDonald & Hodge talk about the book Porno DVD Release Date: 06/01/04 Plastic Slim Double Keepcase Chapters 20

Comments

ADDITION: (PAL Definitive Edition - January - 2005 - The Miramax (Director's Cut) and the Universal PAL Definitive Edition are almost exact in image quality - both coming from the same transfer. The menus are the same and the extras very close (see Enrique's comments below). The Miramax offers and optional French DUB but the same 5.1 and DTS as well as the same superb high bitrate. Differences are in the extras and are very minor ex. still exclusive to the UK edition are an insert with liner notes by Irvine Welsh and a poster. I suggest buying the cheapest unless one extra option has personal interest for you.

*****

The Canadian DVD has 2 small edits found on the US editions;
(locations on the new Collector's Edition)
27:17 Kelly MacDonald touching herself while atop Ewan McGregor
46:09 Close-up of the needle entering McGregor's arm

The US Criterion laserdisc, old US DVD and current US DVD are all the uncut version with the original English / Scottish audio track.

The US Collector's Edition is a port of UK Definitive Edition, notice the term is even retained on the disc menus along with the orange menu style.
Reading reviews of the UK Edition allows us to account for most of the features making into the US edition, sans an option during playback of the feature movie that would show a scissor icon and would allow the viewer to break away and view the cut scenes (much like the "white rabbit" feature in The Matrix), also left across the pond was an Easter Egg that allowed viewers to read the articles mentioned in Danny Boyle's main interview on disc 2.

Fortunately the key Easter Egg made its way over, on disc 2 back at the interview menu screen, toggle right to highlight the upward pointing arrow in the bottom right hand corner. Press up on the remote and you will then see an interview with director Danny Boyle, producer Andre Macdonald and screen writer John Hodge, talking about Irvine Welsh's sequel novel 'Porno' and their hopes of making it with the original Trainspotting cast.

Still exclusive to the UK edition are an insert with liner notes by Irvine Welsh and a poster.

The US and UK DVD's now exceed the old Criterion laserdisc. In fact some of the bonus material is an actual carryover, the commentary track during the movie and deleted scenes first appeared on the laserdisc as well as the interview with Irvine Welsh. The Canadian interviews that are intercut with the deleted scenes are not on the old laserdisc or on the new DVD's, so there is some residual value to the old Canadian DVD. The train sound effects on the Canadian DVD only work on some DVD players, so is of marginal benefit.

- Enrique B Chamorro

DVD Menus

(Universal (The Definitive Edition) - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Alliance (Can.) - Region 1 - NTSC - 2nd vs. Miramax - Region 1 - NTSC - 3rd vs. Miramax (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)