Showing posts with label Glasgow Film Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Glasgow Film Festival. Show all posts

Monday, 21 March 2011

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

Monday, 14 March 2011

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

Thursday, 17 February 2011

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