Just what I expected

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Neds tells the story of John, a Catholic teenager growing up in 1970s Glasgow. The story line follows John's involvement with his city's Ned culture and the consequences of it on his teenage years. The movie won Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival in January 2011.Good points: The characters were well portrayed and gave a good performance, making it realistic and a good representation of how life would have been like as a young Scottish boy. Also, the music that is played in the movie is well suited to it and is the correct year when released.Bad points: The accents were very strong, at some points I couldn't understand what they were saying. The ending, might have had a good meaning to it, but was a disappointment as I was expecting something that was exciting. Also the film is over two hours long, which was too long.Overall: I would give the film 6.5/10, because the acting was good, along with the representation of teenagers in1970's Scotland, but the film was very long and the overall story line could have been better scripted.

First off, let me point out a few things, to people who obviously didn't get this.People who complained about the silly music, you really couldn't see that the director was trying to show how ridiculous the violence was?People who didn't get the Jesus thing, well, you've obviously never come from a dark enough culture, where solvent abuse is rife, and people have extremely vivid hallucinations.I was raised in the area the movie is set, and the time it was set, and i can tell you, its very accurate. Yes, they have accents, its set in Scotland, did you expect them to say "Kwoffee?" and no, there are no bothers in this movie, but take it from me, i never seen anyone of African descent until i was in my teens, and even then it was quite a rare thing in Scotland, and a real minority.The movie itself is very well done, and tells a cautionary tale, that could translate to anywhere in the world. The production values of the movie are good, and its certainly way better than average and keeps you entertained, i watched this as a piece of "World Cinema", even though i come from the area, and had no trouble at all with the dialogue, but then again, thats me, i can see who others would find it difficult, then again, i would moan about this spoiling the movie, when in Rome ... i would accept it for what it is.If you get the chance to see this, then do so, with an open mind, its entertaining, moving, shocking, and everything a good movie should be.:)

As per previous review it is episodic but an excellent piece of film. Throughout the film I was able to reflect on my youth and others I knew. Several segments where exceptional reflection. Characterisation was spot on.Belts whipped out from the shoulder and the flowing gowns - who'd have thunk it wasn't only my school!!! Looks like it ran out of an ending. Should be thought provoking but director should be able to direct to the end. Thrown to the lions is poor explanation for what has went before. Yes the Jesus vision is poor - but this is tempered by the almost anonymous but iconic cameo by the director.Anyone any other insight to the contrived ending?I would like to think that there are some insights that I have not considered that will improve this film scoring in my view. Maybe I just didn't twig to the ending!!!

I heard mixed reviews from my friends about this film. Some said it was OK, others thought it was rubbish. Well I watched it last night and I felt motivated into leaving my first ever review.Ultimately I thought the film was terrible. My reasons: Firstly, the plot was weak and the events and actions of the main character were not justified.Secondly, the character development was very poor. Take the father for example - he was a drunk and abusive to his wife. But that was all we saw of him. This is similar with the boy's brother who we didn't get to know or the weird auntie character. Not only were most of these poorly cast but also we were left not feeling anything towards any of them.Another point - there were loads of things that didn't really mean much or were used just to be able to allow the director to go in another director. There could have been numerous films made about individual parts of the movie. E.g. the father wanted to kill himself... What was that all about? Mullens touched on it and then we never heard about it again. In the dance hall, the main character gives his brother the w&^*r sign (you wonder what this means?) but then they are best of friends and the boy is planning leaving for Spain (another aspect of the film which is raised and then forgotten about). Same as the posh boy Jullian and his mother. Where was the police in all of this? surely Julian's parents would have phoned the police since it the firecrackers were tied to the football boots? Fourthly, the film jumps about all over the place. One minute he's an exceptional student, the next a total nut-case, then a student, the a nut-case.Fifthly, the way the violence is trivialised. Spending years in Glasgow, and also being stabbed by a little ned, I know that this sort of violence occurs in Glasgow. But Mullens plays some uplifting/light hearted music while people are fighting and slashing people's throats. I didn't think that fitted well at all.Lastly, the 'symbolism' of the ending with boy holding hands with the guy he attacked while they walked through the lions den was laughable! Again, it was very weakly put together and meant nothing. Who is the director trying to kid? I'm sure some idiots including Mullens will think this is a master piece but i found it very disappointing.Overall - could have been a great film but fell far short of it. I would advise people to not even watch it at all - I recommend very similar film called Small Faces which I thought was really good..