The Beach

[Fortheloveofthenineties]

Anyone else watching it on Bbc 2?

Bringing up memories of being around 21 and how very young I really was.
Film seems so basic, watching it now

I ache to go back to those days

I actually don't ache to go back at all!
I must be the same age as you
Life felt anchorless before I settled down and met my husband and had our kids
I was so lost and had a bit of a drink problem in my 20s!
I'm one of those people who regrets the odd thing but wouldn't fancy going back for a do over.
Have always believed the best is yet to come!

Absolutely nothing they were great from gcses, a levels, university, moving to London for a proper job, ill advised drugs, the feeling of immortality, staying up too late, the Spanish bars after hours off Tottenham Court Road, shared houses...

The 2000s, yeah, maybe I'd make some changes there but it's all good. I do look back on the 90s fondly, from my goth skirts in 6th form, clubbing with my school friends, then my university ones, working hard academically, eating shit and just living life.

Loved the book and the film too. The book came out just after I got back from backpacking round Asia. Such nostalgia.

I want to think like that, but am a v nostalgic person and i’d just love to be young & free again
47 now 😬

Everything seemed possible in the 90s (am 48), then we grew up....

Yes, sadly!

I agree, I read the book now and again to remind myself of my yoof 😂

Film is ok, I'm watching it now but they shouldn't have messed around with the story.

Sal wasn't quite right, I imagined her differently, not so strict.

The film is only ok. The book is one of my all time favourites. I’m glad nobody said things were ‘basic’ back then though.

Yes watching.
Very nostalgic watching it.
I was backpacking around SE Asia the year the film came out. In fact I had just finished Thailand and all the islands and then watched the film on a layover in Singapore on my way to India. Although we didn’t find a secret beach, we had so many adventures, fell in love, swam in that turquoise sea & met some crazy and amazing people.
I miss the freedom and pure exhilaration of youth and traveling in particular (I did a lot of backpacking in the 90s) SO much. I love my life now but there was something so special about that time.

I laughed at the Internet cafe,bloody hell, that really dated the film. I'm also thinking how you'd upload a photo back then, did you have to scan it?

Also Richard only had about 4 emails in his inbox ,those were the days 😂

Just been watching it. Definitely a nostalgia hit. I adore the soundtrack.
I think it’s the freedom of only thinking of myself that I miss the most.

I was 25 and just had my first baby I remember it was one of the films we watched on video when you’re in your cozy little new family bubble and you barely go out coz the baby’s so new. I’d like to go back for that and the moby soundtrack you can keep Leo though 😉

?? Bit rude, I meant as in so simple, no phones, internet references, just a more simple time, seems quite strange now

How old are you now and what does your life look like? Just being nosy!

Ahh yes, it does have internal references with the cafe

I loved the internet cafe scene at the end, it took me right back to sending those monthly emails to friends and family! I'm so glad that was the era I travelled in, it was possible to completely disconnect. I didn't even travel with a brick mobile, just my trusty Rough Guide for company.

I read the book whilst backpacking round Vietnam. Everyone was reading it. The amount of bullshitters who claimed to know where The Beach was ..

Didn't rate the film too much, I can imagine it would very much of its day. YOUNG

Visited The Beach in 2023.
It was absolutely rammed, and you weren’t allowed to swim out of it. Shame.

Backpacked all around the world in the 90's. Thailand included, it was so indescribably beautiful and the people lovely. The Beach fascinated me as we'd been to so many of the places, I think I'd probably cry if I went back now

I'm in my late, very late, 50's. Don't regret a thing.

‘Lo, though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil, for I am the evilest mother fucker in the valley.’

I read the book when I was about 17 - loved it, didn’t like the film as it was far too unfaithful. Maybe it deserves a rewatch!

Surely the role would have been too close to Trainspotting for Ewan McGregor?

@Minesril Danny Boyle wanted Ewan McGregor after the huge success of Trainspotting, but the studio pressured him to use Leonardo Dicaprio as he was such a box office draw, and it caused a huge rift between the two. They’ve made up now though 🙂.

And the All Saints song. When I hear it I am magically young again and reminded of this film and also travelling.

I was a Lonely P gal myself. But yes.. internet cafes...oh how the world was back then. Absolutely loved every nano second of travelling

I was actually diving just off this beach yesterday. We were moored up finishing our surface interval time and you could hear an official on the beach shouting over a loudspeaker every few minutes for people to get out of the water.
no swimming is allowed from that beach as the sea level is less than 2m above the coral which has been destroyed by swimmers/snorkelers over the years.
Not sure I’d be happy to pay to spend a day on the beach (or any beach) and not be allowed to swim, though I totally agree with the current ban. Just think that maybe they should stop trips to this beach for now, especially since it’s changed so much since the filming anyway.

Yes, same 💓