Ecstasy (2012)

Fresh and Exciting

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

When Ecstacy was made, the best known film based on Welsh's work that had came out was Trainspotting. Of course there were other projects, but those aren't that well known to us. Maybe people have heard of Acid House, but movies like Dockers? Has anyone heard of those, apart from the people who made them? Trainspotting's touch is so clear on Ecstasy. The very beginning has the same feeling to it. The main character Lloyd is talking about ecstasy in a narrating, monologue way. When certain important characters appear, their names are shown to us, just like in the beginning of Trainspotting. While I like Trainspotting, I'd rather not be watching a movie where the director thinks he's doing Trainspotting when he's not.But luckily that's the beginning. Apart from drugs, Scotland and Welsh's charming text (and his face, briefly), there's nothing too similar in these stories.The love story was somehow new to me. I have read only few novels by Welsh, but love and romance have never played such a major part in them. Welsh seems to be great at love stories too, which is something I couldn't have anticipated. But in the story two imperfect characters fall in love, and Lloyd's imperfection, addiction, creates a whole lot of trouble, but eventually it's clear they are going to be a great couple.Have Welsh's characters ever been easily likable? I don't think so. It's hard to like Lloyd when he's in debt and he knows he should get the money at a certain time, because the guy told him so, yet there he is, partying with his girlfriend. Get a grip! Also it's really frustrating in a good way (because you know you'r at least somewhat invested in the story) to watch this, because you start thinking if only. If only Lloyd had done this, if only Lloyd hadn't done that...As always, I like how we get to learn about characters naturally, slowly, instead of getting a massive dump of info on us.I liked this movie visually very much. It was very colourful, mostly because of the clubs, but on the other hand there was a lo of earthly colours, because it takes place in Edinburgh. It creates such a nice contrast.I can't say Ecstasy was anything I expected, because I wasn't really expecting anything. It isn't on the same level with Trainspotting, but how could it be, when the only similarity is Scotland, drugs and Irvine Welsh. Partly it's hard to watch, because it's a bit slow and doesn't seem to go anywhere, but at the end it's a great story, worth reading, watching.

Billy Boyd playing DJ 'Woodsy' yells that immortal line while in hospital as nurses try to give him some of their sedatives.I quite liked this film and its underrated because the acting and script are pretty good. Adapted from a book by famous novelist Irvine Welsh, this film is about the ecstasy culture of the 90's. There have been a few films which capture dance club scene better than this, but in my opinion this is still a good film and its more than just about getting high. Its about love and death and family and friends.Adam Sinclair (Lloyd) and Kristin Kreuk (Heather) are the lead actors and their relationship forms the heart of the movie. Its actually quite difficult show a believable love story. Its so easy to get it wrong. This pair did a good job. The club scenes were pretty good and I generally liked the soundtrack, and it captured the party drug taking well.I liked the fact that the actors and script didn't elevate the characters into anything other than just ordinary people. Lloyd doesn't have job and Heather is unhappily married and works for the anti-narcotics association whilst raving at weekend. Yes that put a wry smile on my face! There are extraordinary people around them (gangsters) and drug trafficking storyline to keep story interesting but basically this is a romance with some drugs thrown in. Its the love drug vs the real thing sort of story. 6/10

Saw this article about Mark Blamire's design of the poster in http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2012/april/Was a cleaver marketing package. But the story and script in the film are very cleaver too. I have seen the film a few times and there are few films these days that are worthy of multiple viewings.Although marketed to Neds and the like, the film is about the spiritual aspect of redemption and getting another chance. Who wouldn't want another chance to change things?The cast did a wicked job of show what Ecstasy is really like. Irvine Welsh gave his stamp of approval and loved the film. I was at the Glasgow Film Festival screening and the Q+A with Mr. Welsh was a hoot!The definitive film about Ecstasy and clubbing culture.

Worst film of its genre I have seen and there are some real stinkers. Really didn't get it, at all. I have read all Irvine Welsh books, including his early works and am truly speechless. Was really looking forward to seeing it. Sacrilege! Started off o.k, then lost its way and turned into a disgracefully cheesy, poorly scripted, love story. Male character massages female character 'youve had your heart broken, I can feel it in your back' cue dance music. 'its the small things that matter, you don't talk about them'....'the small things are the big things'. WHAT! Actors with really poor dutch, Scandinavian and even Scottish accents, can do better myself! Basically just dance music punctuated by terrible 'love' dialogue and speed-ed up camera work. Genuinely had to turn it off as the dialogue was that embarrassing it make me queasy. Its the anti train-spotting and in no way resembles Irvine Welshs work. If you are expecting a Danny Boyle type or Irvine Welsh based movie you will be sorely disappointed. It contains drugs , yes, and its based in Scotland. Thats it.