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

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