Cut! Glasgow Cinema Review..

Cannot believe that is it, I have reviewed four of Glasgow's cinema's, it's had its high points (popcorn and good movies) and its low points (ticket prices - I am a student after all).  However overall it's been really enjoyable and worthwhile...

I started off by reviewing Cineworld, the only cinema I had ever been to before in Glasgow thinking it was all you needed from a Cinema experience. But I have now realised that the cinema experience is far better going somewhere that has a little bit of character and personality, and Glasgow has a couple of places that offer this - for example the GFT is also close to the shops and it would probably work out to be cheaper.  However, the Cineworld in Glasgow is unlike any other with its glass lift it would definitely be the one I would recommend to tourists - two experiences for the price of one - and it is also probably still is the most convenient.

Before I started this blog I guess I was expecting to like the Grosvenor the best as it is in one of my favourite locations in Glasgow.  On the other hand I guess was expecting to like the GFT the least.  Since prior to my first year at university I hadn't heard of it before and if it weren't for this blog I probably would never even have checked it out.  While I was probably expecting Cineworld and Empire to come somewhere between the two.

Here is my order of preference from the places I went to see:

1. The Glasgow Film Theatre

• I know I totally wasn't expecting this either.  To be honest it has been a tossup between this and the Grosvenor, this one completely took me by surprise.  From location to staff to drinks to the atmosphere in the theatre was just amazing.  However, what won it for me had to be that Art Deco - It was just the most unexpected experience ever.

2. The Grosvenor

• Again fabulous character and experience - The location wasn't too bad either.  However, I guess the reason I preferred the GFT more was because I expected this one to be amazing

3. Cineworld

•  Purely because although the whole chain, "manufactured" experience annoys me.  This unlike every other Cineworld that I have been too, had that something special - how tall it is, the glass lift and its location

3. Empire Cinemas

• Although the staff was so helpful and I loved how it wasn't too big, it was still a warehouse near a shopping complex.  To be honest it is also quite out of the way and inconvenient.  However, I would go back here again as the staff were lovely and they do cheaper tickets on a Tuesday...Maybe it's because luck wasn't on my side that day and Gnomeo was a little bit of a letdown.

This has been such a great experience and I am sure now I know about them I will definitely visit all four again - although I have found myself recommending the GFT to all of my friends (may have formed a slight bias).  Again I really hope that maybe in a few years ticket prices will become more manageable again, although I doubt it.  Therefore I will continue to rely on my Orange Wednesdays, and perhaps I will see if other cinema's- like the Empire Cinemas- do cheaper tickets on a Tuesday - every little helps after all.

Again I have to finish this blog as I started, by reiterating the fact that although the Glasgow Film Festival may be over for 2011 it's definitely worth checking out next year - If not for the films then do it for the venues (cinema's).

I hope you continue to enjoy Films and every venue Glasgow has to offer, don't just stick with what you know, try something new - you won't regret it...

That's all from me, I going to leave you with a youtube clip about my favourite cinema from this experiance...

Hannah xx

GFT: A welcomed surprise...

I must say out of all four of the cinema's I have been too this is the one that I knew least what to expect...I had never really passed it or heard of it, and I have never really had any great urge to visit it.  But this was one great cinema 'Experience'.

I was in quite high spirits before the film I had just been out for a nice meal and it was a really nice night walking up Sauchiehall Street. The cinema wasn't hard to find and it is not far from the shops and restaurants. However, when you arrive the outside of the cinema is quite modest and understated and it doesn’t jump out at you. From the moment you step inside the contrasts between this cinema and other cinemas are obvious. Unlike most other chain cinema's which feel like a big warehouse with bright lights and the smell of popcorn.  This cinema felt quite closed in, much like a classic house decorated with Art deco. There was no smell of popcorn or children screaming but the murmur of friendly conversation from the people sat in the cafe. There were two people selling tickets that were polite and not in a rush, not like Cineworld where there are rows of workers trying to get your order out as quickly as possible. Here you buy your tickets and then you buy your drinks and snacks from a cafe. I was also expecting the tickets to be outrageously expensive as you were getting what felt like better quality service and the venue was superb but it was Orange Wednesdays and our tickets came to £2.75 each - not over the top at all!!

There was quite a big queue at the cafe which was quite small and unlike the usual popcorn, nachos, hot dogs and pick 'a' mix's being sold, here you could buy flap jacks, crisps or cakes. There was also a wide array of alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages. We bought an apple juice, a diet coke, and a dairy milk fruit and nut which was hugely cheaper than the average cinema coming in at under three pounds- for all that and the diet coke was from a can, not watered down. You were given your drink in a glass in which you were allowed to take into the cinema.

The audience at this cinema was a far more mature audience compared to the usual audience at the cinema's I usually visit. The cinema was more like a theatre than a regular cinema and there was plenty of choice of comfortable seats. There was only one thing that I found inconvenient was the fact that they didn’t have anything to put your drink in to hold it, so I spent half the film worrying about knocking my drink over. I absolutely loved the atmosphere you honestly could not hear anything - no ruffling of sweetie bags or people chatting to their friends. The atmosphere was amazing I have never experienced a feeling like that on a trip to the cinema before.

We had decided to go see 'Never Let Me Go' which stars both Kiera Knightley and Carey Mulligan and to be honest I haven't seen many movies with Carey Mulligan in them but she was incredible guardian.co.uk/film/2011/feb/10/never-let-me-go-review.  I would highly recommend this movie for people to go see as the actor’s performances are amazing.  The story is good and intriguing but certainly don't go along if you want to see a feel good film that will make you feel all warm inside when you leave - it had my friend that laughs at emotional movies in tears.

Overall I would highly recommend the Glasgow Film Theatre cinema experience as it creates an atmosphere you can't get anywhere else, I wouldn't advise you go there if you want to have a laugh with your mates through the film.  I will definitely be checking it out again....


Hannah xx

Glasgow Film Theatre

To be honest until a couple of months ago when I began researching the Glasgow Film Festival I had never even heard of the Glasgow Film Theatre before.  It had just completely passed me by; I had no idea what it was about.  For 36 years the GFT has been leading the way in specialised cinema and the Glasgow Film Theatre is, ‘a year-round screening programme of the classics of world cinema and contemporary art house films.' glasgowfilm.org/theatre/information/about_glasgow_film. The cinema is situated in the centre of Glasgow just off Sauchiehall Street on Rose Street, which makes me even more surprised that I hadn't heard of it until recently.  It is a perfect venue for people out shopping or out for a nice meal.

The GFT in the upcoming weeks is going to be showing films such as Benda Bilili! Les Diaboliques, Patagonia and  Submarine.  Apart from the fact I had previously never heard of the GFT before if I am going to be brutally honest I have kind of been holding off on going to visit this cinema.  Mainly because none of the films that are shown here are what I would normally go to see.  I mean I highly doubt you would be seeing Tangled, Gnomeo and Juliet or Chalet Girl here - you just wouldn't - and these are the types of films that I am generally into.  It is kind of making me jump to assumptions about the type of people who will go to watch films here and it is also giving me the impression that it is going to be really expensive.  However, I have finally found a film that might appeal to me, ‘Never let me go’ imdb.com/title/tt1334260/  so I think I am going to check that one out.

Here is some information on the Glasgow Film Theatre:

- The GFT is part of Scotland's culture, and it is the heart of the Glasgow Film Festival in the spring

- The inside hosts incredible Art Deco designs and features

- The building was previously used by the Cosmo which opened in 1939

- The Scottish Film council took over it and reopened it in 1974 as the Glasgow Film Theatre

- The GFT is an independent cinema house

I am really apprehensive about going to visit this one, I honestly have know idea what to expect, and I have a feeling it's not really going to be my scene.  I love quaint, different cinema's but I have a feeling that this may be a little bit fancy for me.  I am keeping an open mind though, and I am quite excited now for going to see a film I would perhaps not normally see…

Hannah xx

Grosvenor: everything I imagined and £1.50 more...

My love for this cinema has only strengthened since going to watch a movie here.  As I had previously said I had always walked past this cinema and just never really had the time to go in.  However, everything was right, from the cinema experience to the film we saw.  The cinema was just as quaint and old fashioned inside as it was on the outside.  The fact that it is based in Ashton Lane one of my favourite streets in Glasgow, that has one of my favourite restaurants in Glasgow, Ketchup, list.co.uk/place/103273-ketchup/ is not the point.  As soon as you walk through the doors it feels so welcoming and the experience is amazing.  It's the perfect setting for this cinema and the cinema being small and old fashioned fits in with the feel of Ashton Lane.  It looks like a mini theatre from the outside with it's bright lights and now showing board, I just love it...Another plus about this cinema is that it is easy to get to from the centre of Glasgow just get a subway from Buchannan Street station to Hillhead and you are pretty much there.

However, I have one major flaw with this cinema....we had decided to go on a Thursday to the 2.20pm showing of Chalet girl (mainly as Ed Westwick is in the movie and I am a massive Gossip Girl fan) and as I didn’t know how busy it would be I decided to purchase our tickets in advance, online - bad idea.  An adult ticket was £6.50 and a student ticket was £5.00 not that bad I guess but it's the fact that after these extortionate ticket prices they hit you with a £1.50 booking fee.  This makes a student ticket now an adult price, totally not worth pre booking in my opinion, seeing as the cinema was busy but it wasn't packed.  It annoys me so much as I had already in my previous blogs been talking about the extortionate ticket prices but with a £1.50 booking fee it makes you think is it really worth it....The answer to that is in this cinemas case yes it is. 

The staff were friendly and polite, the seats were comfy (lovely leather seats with plenty of space to put drinks and plenty of leg room) everything was just perfect about this cinema, really really perfect it had been the one I had been looking forward to and it was everything I imagined the experience would be.  I only wished I could have gone at a later time as I love Ashton Lane at night with its bright lights, but as it's a small cinema its programme is quite limited.  It usually shows around six to eight different movies, and on the week I went to see Chalet Girl it was only showing it at 2.20pm everyday so it's not really as if I had a choice as to if I wanted to see it at a later time. 

As for the film Chalet girl guardian.co.uk/film/2011/mar/17/chalet-girl-review it was surprisingly amazing, it was extremely funny, light hearted and held my attention the whole way through - Ed Westwick was a major bonus in the film.  I would highly recommend this film to everyone and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I would probably have to say my favourite film so far, it was brilliant.

So, the perfect film for an amazing cinema, everyone should go check it out, it is probably the best experience there is out there....forget those Cineworld and Empire experiences The Grosvenor is the place to be...

Hannah xx

The Grosvenor

I am actually so excited for going to visit this next cinema; it has been the one cinema out of all the ones in and around Glasgow that I want to check out.  It's the Grosvenor Cinema on Ashton Lane.  I pass it all the time and have always been desperate to check it out, but I have just not really gotten round to it.  Now I am finally going to get to experience it next week and I cannot wait. 

The thing that has always caught my eye with this cinema is the fact that from the outside it looks quaint and modest almost old fashioned, such a massive contrast to the other cinemas I have been too- I can't wait to experience a proper 'theatre' trip.  To me small cinemas are what I always imagined the cinema experience to be like, and I love visiting Ashton Lane it's probably one of my favourite places to go to in Glasgow.  It's the perfect place for a cinema in Glasgow's West End...

Even the Grosvenor's website gets me excited with it's old fashioned, classic feel grosvenorcafe.co.uk/cinema.php.  I like how instead of cinema listings the website has a programme of what is going to be shown it makes it feel more like a theatre than anything else - which I like.

So now here are some interesting facts about the Grosvenor on Ashton Lane:
- There are a total number of 2 screens in this cinema
- With 208 seats altogether - 104 per screen
- The cinema first opened in May 1921

- It reopened on the 28th of November 2003 to the public

I think I am going to go and see Chalet Girl imdb.com/title/tt1487118/ at this cinema as although the trailer didn't look that good Ed Westwick is in it and a few of my friends have been raving about it.  But I guess I will wait and see what is showing and what times suit… I physically cannot wait to visit this one...

Hannah xx

Empire Cinemas: An epic tale on a massive scale...

Honestly I have no idea where to begin when it comes to my trip- which turned out to be a mini adventure- to the Empire Cinema in Clydebank.....

Preparation for the trip to the cinema had been really good.  Their website was easy, useful and we had used Google Maps for directions and it had given us an approx time of 18 minutes to get there.  We had left 35 minutes in order to get there in good time.  However, we had also LEFT our directions in the flat!  It was fine though my sister had managed to remember the majority of the directions.  However, the number of traffic lights was insane I swear I would probably have been quicker walking.  Definitely not as handy from the centre of Glasgow as Cineworld is.  Traffic light after traffic light it was sooo slow and frustrating as it was getting closer and closer to our film time, and it is a lot further away (time wise) than google maps had led us to believe.  Five minutes after the start of the showing of Gnomeo and Juliet that we were going to see, we caught sight of the cinema, so we decided to pull over and sprint- In the pouring rain i might add.   After we eventually crossed a canal and continued sprinting we finally reached the cinema, Thank Goodness.  Although we were roughly ten minutes late and we still had to buy our tickets...

The cinema was in a shopping complex and from the outside it looked small, and looked like it had far more character than your average cinema chain.  The inside of the cinema reminded me of what I always imagined the inside of a cinema to look like quite spacious- It's hard to explain it just felt smaller and more homely and less manufactured.  I just really loved the feeling that it gave me!!

We were running terribly late, but the staff were soo polite even quickly telling us about cheaper tickets on a Tuesday.  I have never been served by such kind people on a trip to the cinema before.  However, that may be because the cinema is practically dead. 

Two SMALL tap diet cola's took us to £5.20 which to be honest I think is quite extortionate considering you can get a bottle of diet Cola for under a pound, and ONE small sweet popcorn was £3.60.  There was like hardly any popcorn and I swear we had both devoured it in around five minutes- really disappointing it wasn't even that good. 

What I did like though was that the cinema was small and the screening we were in was quite a small room and I really like that as it makes the film more personal, in my opinion.  Plus the seats were very comfy and it was easy to see the screen even though we were sat quite far back!

When we finally got into the screening we had already missed the first five to ten minutes which really ruined the film I thought.  I was actually so excited for Gnomeo and Juliet guardian.co.uk/film/2011/feb/13/gnomeo-and-juliet-review-elton-john it has been the one film that I have wanted to see for ages.  However, I was seriously disappointed, perhaps it was because I had just seen Tangled and it was so good but I just didn't think the story was that strong apart from the occasional funny moment.  James McAvoy with an English accent to me just isn't James McAvoy and for me that also weakened the film.  It was NICE but only nice I’m glad I saw it but I definitely won't want to see it again in a hurry!!

Overall apart from the timing issues, film and traffic I definitely will consider going to the Empire Cinema in Clydebank again.  It gave me a special feeling when I was there that added to the cinema going experience.  Something I think that the majority of cinema chains just can't give you, and the staff were so friendly, I would check it out again....:)

Slightly disappointed with Gnomeo but you can't have it all...


Hannah xx

Empire Cinemas

I am absolutely desperate to go see Gnomeo and Juliet the trailer looks well good so i have decided that this is the next film I am going to go see- super excited!  I have high expectations though, after Tangled turned out to be really good!

Now as this is the Glasgow Cinema Review I just need to pick another cinema in and around Glasgow to review.  I am absolutely desperate to visit the Grosvener on Ashton Lane as I have walked past it a couple of times and it looks so quaint and old fashioned – I have never really been to a cinema like that before.  However, after looking on it’s website at the moment it only seems to be showing films that I have already been to see,  so I think I might wait a couple of weeks before I visit there.  Another cinema that I really want to visit is the GFT (Glasgow Film Theatre), although I might be going to visit that one next week.  So I have settled on going to visit the Empire Cinema in Clydebank. 

I personally have never been to an Empire Cinema empirecinemas.co.uk/?page=nowshowing&tbx_site_id=24 before so I genuinely have no idea what to expect.  I don’t know whether it will just be another Cineworld or Odeon or whether it will be something a little different.  The website seems easy to use and the cinema seems to be showing a good range of all the new releases.  We are going to go see 2D Gnomeo and Juliet, however, looking at the ticket prices on the website for the 3D showing it looks to be slightly cheaper than Cineworld by 25 pence – that 25 pence makes a difference when you are a student. 

Here are some general facts on the Empire cinema in Clydebank:

-     Empire cinema Clydebank was formally part of the UCI cinema group.

-    The cinema has 10 screens altogether.

-    Empire Cinema group was formed in 2005.

-    There are 17 Empire cinemas altogether, based in 17 cities

I am really intrigued about this cinema and am actually really looking forward to going to visit it, also partly because I am absolutely desperate to go see Gnomeo and Juliet imdb.com/title/tt0377981/.  James McAvoy imdb.com/name/nm0564215/who is from Glasgow is one of my all time favourite actors and I absolutely loved him in Atonement and Wanted.  In this film he is the voice of Gnomeo, and I feel a slight connection to him as I have met his father – who is the spitting image – even though James McAvoy has not been in touch with his dad since he was young.

I honestly cannot wait to see the film and review the cinema.  Will keep you updated....

Hannah xx

Cineworld: One tall order...

Last Wednesday I decided I was going to start my review of the Glasgow cinemas.  Wednesdays are perfect for me as my phone is on Orange so I am lucky to get two cinema tickets for the price of one.  Thank goodness for that, film ticket prices are extortionate these days with an adult ticket price to see 3D Tangled imdb.com/title/tt0398286/ at the Cineworld on Renfrew Street costing £8.50.  Luckily I am a student which takes that price down to £6.80 and with Orange Wednesday that is £3.40- much more manageable than the adult cost.  Personally I remember when tickets were three or four pounds!  In 2006 alone an adult ticket at Cineworld cost around £6.30 with a student ticket costing roughly around £4.50- Inflation eh???

Anyway, as I previously mentioned I am not THAT fussed about going to see Disney's Tangled lovefilm.com/reviews/Tangled, but my friend wants to see it and I mainly just want to check the Cineworld on Glasgow Renfrew Street in order to give my opinion on Glasgow's cinemas.  We went to see the 18.40 showing of the film, so not to late.  However, as soon as we got there I remembered one thing that annoyed me about this cinema the queue was outside the door.  Luckily though we had left plenty time, however, it's February and it’s still freezing outside.  The queue does move quite quickly though- we waited for around 15 minutes- and before you know it you have got your ticket and you are making your way up the many floors to your screen.  It annoys me though how you have to pay extra for 3D glasses but I guess it is my fault I always forget my own pair and then end up with a stack of them at home.

I really like how this particular cinema is quite unique to all the other Cineworld cinemas I have been to.  They all seem to be warehouses but as this one is soooo tall it adds character to the experience. 

The thing that I find differs from this cinema in comparison to the other cinemas in Glasgow is normally you purchase your drinks and sweets when you purchase your tickets.  Here when you get to the floor where your film will be shown that’s where you purchase these, which means another few minutes of standing in a queue and what feels like theft- the drinks and snacks in this cinema are really expensive- then we are all ready to go....

I have to admit the movie 3D Tangled was great, and I would recommend it to everyone young and old.  It's witty, funny, charming and most of all the songs are extremely catchy.  For any people who are going to see it look out for the horse in it - comic genius.  I found the whole experience really enjoyable the seats were comfy, the picture was good, even though the 3D glasses do give you a head ache.  However, if you are going to charge crazy amounts of money for tap Diet Cola at least make it taste good and not like water!

However, on the way back down from the film we decided to go in the glass lift.  The views from this lift are just stunning, and I think if I were a tourist or even a regular THIS would entice me to the cinema over all others.  This makes the cinema special and not only a place for watching films but something of a tourist attraction, as it provides amazing views of Glasgow. 

I really enjoyed the film and will probably be quoting it and singing the songs for the next week, but I was there primarily to analyse the cinema.  Overall apart from the queues and the prices I really enjoyed the experience the sheer height of the cinema makes it unusual and a spectical and its location is perfect for me being right bang in the centre of Glasgow.  However, the staff, the colour scheme and practically everything inside was predictable and it made me think that it is just like all the other chain companies.  You like it but it is exactly what you expect.  It's like when you go to Costa Coffee or Starbucks it's nice but it's always more special when you go to a quaint little cafe.  So I think the next cinema I am going to review I want it to be smaller with hopefully some personality and then I can analyse my experience their in comparison.

There you go that’s my experience on the Cineworld on Glasgow Renfrew Street.  Now share yours....


Hannah xx

Cineworld

Tonight is the night that I am going to try out the Glasgow, Renfrew Street, Cineworld experience.  Unlike all the other cinemas in Glasgow I have actually been to this one many times with my flatmates.  This cinema is based right in the centre - perhaps the perfect location - surrounded by shops, restaurants and near all three Glasgow universities. 

Before my visit to the cinema I thought that I would present some of the basic facts about Renfrew Street Cineworld...
- The cinema was first opened on the 21st of September 2001 by owners UGC, and it changed ownership to Cineworld in 2005.
- It is the tallest purpose built cinema in the world, with 6 floors and 12 stories.
- In 2003 the cinema attracted 1.8million people making it the busiest in the UK.
All these statistics look really impressive but as I have been there before I am going to try my hardest to keep an open mind.  I pass this cinema almost every day for one reason or another and to me it seems like a landmark in Glasgow - a proper tourist attraction.  I think that this is really successful as it entices people into cinema therefore increasing revenue for the cinema and the Glasgow Film scene.

Another thing that interests me about the venue is the fact that this cinema supports the Glasgow Film Festival glasgowfilm.org/festival (which I recommend you all check out!).

So far from looking at film times I have found the website (cineworld.co.uk/cinemas/28) to be quite easy and I am looking forward to going.  What I also found from the website is that cineworld is actually currently advertising showings for around 45 different Film Festival movies.  This shows Cineworlds support and involvement in developing the Glasgow Film Scene.

Tonight my friend wants to go see 3D Tangled...got to be honest not a huge Disney fanatic.  I really want to see NEDS or Gnomeo or Juliet but I guess I can save them for my next trip to a different cinema!  We are hoping to go to the 18.40 showing will keep you guys updated to how the whole experience goes.......


Hannah xx

Glasgow Cinema Review: Take 1...

So...today is the first day of my new blog reviewing Glasgow's cinemas.  For the next few weeks I am going to make it my mission to discover the best cinemas in and around Glasgow whilst giving my opinion on the films I go to see.  I am going to start by analysing the tallest cinema in the world, Cineworld on Renfrew Street.  Where I will be critiquing everything from the staff, location to how good the popcorn is!!

Since the 1940's Glasgow has proudly labelled itself 'cinema city' and over the next few weeks I am going to challenge this statement by going to visit many of the cinemas in and around Glasgow, to see just how good they are- from location to overall experience. Throughout this blog I am going to hope to visit at least three of Glasgow's cinema's in order to give you my opinion on them.  The 02 ABC in Glasgow, first housed Scotland's first cinema in 1896, however, nowadays it's renowned for its live music and clubbing. Firstly though I want to divulge some information on the Glasgow Film Festival which is coming up soon which I highly recommend that you all check out...

Glasgow Film Festival is one of the UK's fastest growing film festivals, and it premiers both Scottish and International Films.  The festival was started in 2005 and it is going to be running from the 17th to the 27th of February this year.  It is going to be showing roughly a whopping 250 films and it is going to be held in 15 different venues in and around Glasgow - perfect if you want to review some of Glasgow's Cinemas along with me.  Venues this year include The GFT, The Arches and Cineworld, to name a few.


Here is a little taste of what the 2011 Glasgow Film Festival opening Gala had to offer:



I really hope that you all decide to join in this cinema goer’s adventure with me.  However until next time Cineworld beware - no cinema is safe...

Hannah xx