'Shallow Grave' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Steven Cohen has reviewed the Criterion release of Danny Boyle's 'Shallow Grave.' He says this film remains a darkly commanding debut from the celebrated filmmaker.This Blu-ray features fantastic video, very solid audio, and plenty of informative extras. Recommended.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/6369/shallow_grave.html

[JSmith]

Some of this movie was filmed directly accross the street from me. Edinburgh is a very small town though. lol

[thejnc]

McGregor should of never stopped working with Boyle. He had such charisma and had an edge back then. Then once Star Wars happened, dude just got so bland. He was ok in Big Fish, no edge though, but over all I hated that movie for other reasons.

I will probably pick this up. I remember enjoying Shallow Grave, but other than that, don't remember too much about it.

[Hastor]

Wow, didn't even know this was coming up. I have the soundtrack to this movie and everything. Can't wait to watch it again, and really surprised it was considered noteworthy by Criterion, just because not many people know of it at all when I ask.

Spoiler:

It's also the first in the Danny/Ewan Trilogy in which the films end with Ewan McGregor's character running off with a bag of money. In "A Life Less Ordinary", it happens in the claymation at the ending.

[Jordashebasics]

I think the biggest problem with this movie is the title. I have no idea what a better title would be, but this one isn't as commanding as the movie deserves.

I've only seen it once, but I'll be getting this once there's a BOGO sale on Criterion.

I'm glad to see that the picture was handled well. I was concerned that the budget might make this one hard to salvage.

[Spader]

A great film. I used to walk past the flat it was set in quite often, someone called "Craic" lived there about 6 years ago.

I do wonder, why can't someone make a nicer film set in Edinburgh? Every film set there is really bleak!

[JSmith]

A great film. I used to walk past the flat it was set in quite often, someone called "Craic" lived there about 6 years ago.

I do wonder, why can't someone make a nicer film set in Edinburgh? Every film set there is really bleak!

It is part of the culture in urban Scotland. Cynics, alcoholics and recreational drug use. Trainspotting and Shallow Grave reflect the bleakness of urban Scotland in the story.

Although I will say it is a relatively safe country to live in. Not even beat cops carry firearms here, its not necessary. Weapons for any kind of home or personal defence are illegal under all circumstances. Any violence you see in these Scottish movies is greatly exagerated.

[Noibeli]

I am still waiting for the Shallow Grave HD DVD release of 2008.....LOL

[Spader]

It is part of the culture in urban Scotland. Cynics, alcoholics and recreational drug use. Trainspotting and Shallow Grave reflect the bleakness of urban Scotland in the story.

Although I will say it is a relatively safe country to live in. Not even beat cops carry firearms here, its not necessary. Weapons for any kind of home or personal defence are illegal under all circumstances. Any violence you see in these Scottish movies is greatly exagerated.

I'm from Edinburgh!

I just find it funny that it is such a beautiful, safe, wealthy city - yet virtually every drama set there is about drugs and violence.

[JSmith]

I'm from Edinburgh!

I just find it funny that it is such a beautiful, safe, wealthy city - yet virtually every drama set there is about drugs and violence.

Well I dont know how wealthy Edinburgh will be by the time the trams are operational, but yes I agree. The movies that have centred around urban Scotland have generally had a bleak theme. Small Faces is another Scottish movie with a similar theme set in 60s Glasgow.

What surprises me about Scotland and the movie industry is that no producer has discovered the wealth of ghost/supernatural stories that have circulated in the country for centuries and thought about combining the stories with the long list of historic and ancient locations in the country and making a movie.

[Drakul]

When this came out everyone was talking about it and I saw it but wasn't overly impressed.. then again I was younger so I should probably watch it again.

PS: as for a different title, in France it's called "Petits Meutres Entre Amis" (Small Murders Among/Between Friends)