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