This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Boring

Absolutely amazing

A Disappointing Continuation

It's based on a wonderful Authors book, and the poster is a blatant rip off of the most Prolific British film of the last twenty years, which just happens to be another Welsh source.The problem? The maker is no Boyle, and the star is no Obi Wan.It tries from the offset to be as hip and cool as Trainspotting, but Boyle brought out the sympathy in the main characters, and made them to a certain extent, likable.Here, they are just spoilt, and for the most part under the influence. Here Lloyd is the protagonist, and he's very annoying from the moment we meet him. The initial opening is very good, but as soon as we join Lloyd on his journey, he becomes annoying, a lot like people on the titular drug.Other characters are just as bad, and we have the bloke from Pontypool in other scenes just to bring the film back down from the ecstasy cloud.If you are a fan of Welsh, this will make you angry, because his poetic words here are trounced on.Remember, look at the poster. If you think of Trainspotting, you know to avoid this.

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.

If you are wondering what my summation above means then you most definitely belong in the same amateur film club as the writers of all of those glowing reviews. The fact that they put the Irvine Welsh name in the film title is an abomination. I was around in the 90's in the US club scene and have swallowed an uncountable number of E tabs during that time. I have also read Welsh's book and when I combine that with my own life experiences it makes me want to seek out this hack "director" Rob Heydon & turn him into a mute.When I consider how magnificent Boyle's adaptation of Trainspotting was and how gritty & real it was to the point that I often thought to myself wow the guy behind this had to be an actual addict, the surreal actualities that were involved. I'm also a recovering heroin addict(clean for 8 years)so I suppose you can say I have a good deal of insight into these two topics. Getting back to the real point, to the real problem of the huge void of reality & lack of reverse perspective in this film Ecstasy. I believe the only people keeping this film from completely drowning are young people who believe life is all fun & games, that the party never stops. People that have no perspective on what good film is that are simply drawn into the light of the drug content. Those who refuse to see the dark implications involved as their brain is slowly getting damaged pill by pill, the extreme depression, CNS complications & suicidal tendencies growing stronger by the TAB.

I saw this in Toronto at the North by Northeast (NXNE) festival. It took me back to my university days in England when I attended a few all night raves and witnessed some of the prevalent drug culture that surrounds such events. The cinematography and music was just right and made you feel that you were inside the dance clubs experiencing the atmosphere and excitement. I enjoyed the performances of Adam Sinclair, Carlo Rota and Billy Boyd who all played opposing neurotic characters. The movie highlighted the temporary perceived highs of ecstasy while showing how the reality of life can be a real downer. After watching the movie it made me appreciate all the work that was undertaken behind the scenes to get the funding and cast together which took over a decade!