This ultimate feel-good festive favourite. From Oscar-winning director Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as despairing businessmen George Bailey. One fateful Christmas Eve, George receives a visit from Clarence, a celestial messenger, who prevents him from jumping into a freezing river. The pair travel together through moments in George’s life to show him what the world would be like if he had never existed. A genuinely tender and enduring piece of yuletide cinema. Capra’s post-war fable is a fascinating melange of social and personal impulses and the questionable charms of home. It's A Wonderful Life is an enjoyable film and loved by all who see it. Last year it topped the Radio Times Christmas Film list. If you haven't seen this film all you need to do is that this classic is both sweet and knowing. You will love its engaging story that takes on the human condition in all its complexity. The screenplay is witty and the film has a grand old score. Make sure you come and see it in its original, glorious black and white form.
*You'd have to possess a very hard heart not to find something to love in this story.* Film4
*Although peppered with colourful, sharply drawn characters, this is Stewart's movie, instantly loveable as a small town dreamer who sacrifices everything for others. His journey to despair and back warms the cockles like little else. Enjoy it in a cinema so you can sob among others.* Empire
Watch the trailer here:
Catch it only at The Guildhall on Saturday 22nd December at 7.45pm
Come along to The Guildhall for this truly lovely festive double bill adapted from Raymond Briggs’ books that will appeal to kids and grown-ups alike. Father Christmas is a 1991 animated short based on two books: Father Christmas and Father Christmas Goes on Holiday, published in 1973 and 1975 respectively The Snowman was first published in 1978 and has been enchanting generations since 1982 when it was first seen on our screen. The Snowman needs little or no introduction. A wordless animated adventure about a young English boy who makes a snowman one Christmas Eve, only for it to come to life that night and take him on a magical adventure to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. Featuring the iconic song Walking In The Air.
After a hard night's work, Father Christmas decides to go on a vacation, builds his sledge into a caravan and holidays in France, Scotland and Las Vegas before coming home and settling down, with a bit of grumbling, to answer the mail, get the gifts ready, deliver them and get to the snowmen’s party on time - only this time he's forgotten something...
*The music perfectly complements the animation, especially during the flying scenes where the landscape unfolds in rolling images like waves.* BBC Films
The one and only screening of this is at 3pm on Saturday 22nd December be sure not to miss it!
The all too familiar cast of voices has been re-assembled for this latest installment of the sheer manic animated anarchy, that is Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. Yes, that includes the brilliant Ben Stiller, as Alex the lion, Chris Rock, as Marty the zebra, Jada Pinkett Smith as Gloria the hippo and Sacha Baron Cohen returns as bizarre King Julien, the ring-tailed lemur. This latest episode promises even more entertainment, bursting with just as much colour, light and energy, which both parent and child will equally enjoy. The film's great eye-pleasing visuals also comes with a great, enjoyable and slick script from Eric Darnell and Noah Baumach. This time, the animals decide they must return to New York by hitching a ride with a circus that first travels around Europe. There is plenty of laughs along the way, not to mention some very moving sequences too that promises to engage all ages.
From the very opening segment where we're thrown into a high-octane chase through Monte Carlo to a much anticipated final circus act, DreamWorks Animation has successfully found its groove with this much loved crowd pleasing franchise. Basically, it doesn't disappoint. Tremendous entertainment.
*An energetic family threequel that will surprise most* - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
*The third instalment of the Madagascar franchise finds its rhythm in 3D* - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
Take a look at the trailer, below:
Showing at Gloucester Guildhall, on Friday 21st December at 10.45am & 3pm & Saturday 22nd December at 10.45am.
Gloucester Guildhall is welcoming one of the modern Christmas classics to the big screen, the 2003 film Elf. It needs very little introduction, this modern comedy gem was brought to life by actor turned director Jon Favreau, with the film itself boasting a well - assembled cast who hilariously gel together. Headed by comedy fans favourite Will Ferrell (Step Brothers, Anchor Man and The Other Guys) he's supported by the likes of James Caan (The Godfather), Bob Newhart, Zooey Deschanel (Yes Man, 500 Days of Summer) and Mary Steenburgen. Released in 2003, Elf has grown to become a world-wide success and it now a firm favourite in the run-up to Christmas. Elf tells the story of Buddy (Ferrell), an orphan who snuck into Santa's sack ending up in the North Pole, where he grew up as an Elf, hilariously bigger than everyone. Santa grants buddy his wish to return to New York City to find his birth father Walter (Caan) who has no idea Buddy was even born.
Buddy enjoys the experience of New York City resulting in hilarious encounters with an escalator to abusing a midget, as he comically struggles to adapt to his new life. Falling in love with a human elf Jovie (Deschanel), Buddy unannounced moulds into the life and work of his unexpected scrooge father Walter, who now has to re-evaluate his own life. As funny as it is festive, Elf is a Christmas film for the whole family to enjoy.
*A comedy which makes you believe in Christmas movies again*
Neil Smith
*Consider this to be the perfect holiday present for the whole family*
Holly McClure
Have a look at the trailer below to remind yourselves of this festive film;
Elf has become and will remain a modern Christmas classic so why not bring the family and see it again on the big screen its showing at Gloucester Guildhall on Friday 21st December at 7.45pm
Come along to Gloucester Guildhall this week to see a film which has already started to sweep away awards at film festivals.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild is a film about Hushpuppy is a little girl who lives a semi-feral life of freedom in the rundown Louisiana town The Bathtub, a place with no rules and no planning regulations. So when a storm floods the area, so she sets off with her sick father on a mission to reclaim their land.
Beasts Of The Southern Wild is an extraordinary, deeply moving film that's one of the best of 2012. The emotional journey which the characters and audiences go on during this film is emphasied with the astonishing performances brought to us by Wallis (Hushpuppy) and Henry (Wink), two non-professionals drafted in from the metropolitan areas of New Orleans.
Both sink effortlessly into roles that have no template, Henry being especially convincing as the unsentimental Wink, who tries to reassure Hushpuppy on the night of the storm by picking an angry fight with it, blasting his shotgun up into the torrential rain. Wallis, however, holds her own, showing no fear as the intrepid, shock-haired tomboy.
*Beautiful, funny, timely and tender, this is the American arthouse movie of the year* Empire
*This film is a remarkable creation, imagining a self-reliant community without the safety nets of the industrialized world.* Chicgo Sun-Times
Watch the trailer to this amazing film below:
Beasts Of The Southern Wild is screening on: Friday 14th & 7.45pm, Saturday 15th at 10.45am & 7.45pm, Monday 17th at 2pm & 7.45pm.
The Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall could not say
farewell to 2012 without screening a film that has become, in the space of
merely 6 weeks,the highest grossing film at the UK
box office of all timesurpassing
James Cameron's juggernautAvatar.At
£95m and counting,not only is
this the 23rd film in the series but 2012 marks half a century of a cinematic, nay national, institution that has enthralled audiences around the world since
the release ofDr.Noin
1962. All the girls, gadgets, cars, villains, exotic locales and Vodka Martinis (shaken not
stirred) have lead to this moment.The name's Bond...James Bond. The film?Skyfall.
Once again seasoned
regulars Daniel Craig as Agent 007 (hot off his previous appearances inCasino
RoyaleandQuantum
Of Solace) and Guidlhall favorite Judi Dench as M (marking
her 12th year in the role) lead an all-star cast including Academy Award
Winners Javier Bardem, Albert Finney and Ralph Fiennes along with Naomi Harris
and Ben Wishaw as a younger nerdy Quartermaster. They are all under the
direction of what can only be described as the best possible production team
assembled for the 50th anniversary. Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American
Beauty, Road To Perdition) helms some of the best people working in the
business including cinematographer Roger Deakins, composer Thomas Newman and
multi-award winning artist Adele who provides the title theme song. It
certainly the biggest Bond film in history but it is the best?
Of course we don't want to give too much away
about the plot, but in short...Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes
back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy
the threat, no matter how personal the cost.
It's perhaps fair to say that for all its longevity and mass appeal, the Bond franchise has had its fair share of high
and low points, none more so than the immediate and misguided predecessor
Quantum Of Solace. It is therefore such a relief to find that, thanks to Mendes
and everyone involved, the series has surged into the stratosphere and has
produced a completely smart, sexy and riveting action thriller that
automatically qualifies as one of, if not THE, best 007 film to date. Part of the genius behind Skyfall is that it takes it back to the classic formula but
updates it for 21st century. It has jaw-dropping set designs and some of the
most exciting action scenes of the entire series but it also features complex
characters and an overall sense of fun that has been lacking from the series of
recent. The reboot that began in Casino Royale has now come full circle
and even if you have never seen a single Bond film before, you owe it to
yourself to see this one.
"Skyfall
is a resurrection, and will go down as one of 007's best"
Kate Muir, The Times
“This film is a supremely
enjoyable and even sentimental spectacle, giving us an attractively human Bond”
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian.
“Skyfall shakes together familiar
elements of the Ian Fleming canon - the cars, the guns, the exotic locales with
the dames to match - into a blistering comic book escapade.”
Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph
Check out the trailer below:
Skyfall (12A) opens Tuesday 18th December until Thursday 20th December @ 7:45pm except Tuesday which is Screen Tea (2pm) only.
Russian filmmaker Genndy Tartakovsky best known for his work on children's TV shows and short films brings us his first full feature film, as he teams up the writer of Arthur Christmas bringing us Hotel Transylvania. This frightfully, festive, family animation has an array of talented actors voicing the characters. Headed by the well-known Adam Sandler (Waterboy, Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy) bringing to life the character of Dracula. Sandler is joined by the likes of children's favourite Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi and Kevin James. It's a strong cast that bring a fantastic film to life. Hotel Transylvania introduces once more horror favourite Dracula (Sandler) who has set up and owns a hideaway for all the ghouls, beasts and creepy creatures from the Mummy to Frankenstein, they all roam free in the house of fun, hidden away from communication with the humans of the world.
Dracula's daughter Mavis (Gomez) however, has always dreamt of escaping to see the wider world however, her overprotective vampire of a father Dracula has always halted her progress. Until that is a dorky human hitchhiker turns up unannounced at the door as all chaos erupts within. Instantly Mavis and the human fall in love and so let the laughs and carnage commence as Dracula battles his daughters love and the human enjoyment of the fun and carnage that the ghouls and creatures offer. Hotel Transylvania is a funny children's animation that brings together all the creatures of Halloween in a funny laugh a minute film.
*Children will find it as much fun as Halloween*
Philip French
*The animation is crisp and the action well designed... supporting characters, notably Steve Buscemi’s put-upon Wolf Man are memorable*
Tom Huddleston
Take a look at the trailer for Hotel Transylvania below:
Hotel Transylvania is screening at Gloucester Guildhall on Friday 7th December at 10.45am & Saturday 8th December at 3pm
Our look back at the most popular films of the last 12 months would not be complete without a bit of Guildhall favourite Judi Dench! The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sees A variety of late-middle-aged Brits decide to see out their twilight years in an elegantly dishevelled Jaipur hotel run by the quixotic son (Dev Patel) of a highborn family. There's a lonely widow (Judi Dench), an unhappily married couple (Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton), a retired high court judge (Tom Wilkinson), and two old swingers (Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup), plus a bigoted old bag (Maggie Smith) who's only going to India for a hip replacement. A group of British retirees who decide to "outsource" their retirement to less expensive and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. This film has been loved by audiences since it was premiered in 2011, in 2012 the film was even nominated for the European Film Awards Audience Awards.
*a charming, funny and heartwarming movie this is, a smoothly crafted entertainment that makes good use of seven superb veterans* Chicago Sun Times
*Judi Dench is especially good; playing a vulnerable character, for a change, she allows her habitual toughness to give way to uncertainty, fear, and moments of gathering resolve, and she delivers one of her most wide-ranging and moving performances.* The New Yorker
Watch the trailer below:
Do not miss The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at Gloucester Guildhall on Tuesday 11th December at 2pm & 7.45pm and Wednesday 12th December at 7.45pm.
This is intimate, intense coming-of-age drama, which is an evocative and beautifully shot portrait of post-war Britain. A mushroom cloud fills the screen to signal that this is 6 August 1945, the day the first atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It's also the joint birthday of Ginger and Rosa. This is a film which is seen through the eyes of impressionable young teenager, Ginger, who finds herself increasingly estranged from her mother and drawn further into the world of her pacifist and anti-nuclear activist father. As the Cuban Missile Crisis escalates - and it seems the world itself may come to an end - the lifelong friendship between Ginger and Rosa is also shattered. Leaving Ginger clinging to one hope: if she can help save the world from extinction, perhaps she too will survive this moment of personal devastation. Audiences will be delighted to see well-known actors and actresses in this emotional and dense British Drama. The title roles are played but Ella Fanning who is outstanding in this role and Alice Englert who is the daughter of renown film director Jane Campion in her first feature film. The cast includes British favourites such as Timothy Spall and Jodhi May. The films also has American favourites such as Annette Bening and Christina Hendricks.
*Fanning ... comes of age with a luminous and astute central performance – her best yet* The Telegraph
*Fantastic performances, especially from the young stars, make up for moments of artificiality.* Film Four
Watch the trailer below:
Ginger & Rosa is screening on Friday 7th at 7.45pm, Saturday 8th at 10.45am & 7.45pm, Monday 10th at 2pm & 7.45pm
You may of heard that the Cinema at Gloucester Guildhall is bringing back two favourites from 2012. The first one is The Artist and then it will be The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. To set the scene for you it is 1927 and we are transported to Hollywood. The wonderful Jean Dujardin plays George Valentin a silent movie superstar. The advent of the talkies will sound the death knell for his career and see him fall into oblivion. For young extra Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), it seems the sky's the limit - movie stardom awaits. The Artist tells the story of their interlinked destinies. This is a film which is a heartfelt love letter to Hollywood's silent era, filmed in black and white and almost entirely silent. Lets not forget that this is the film that swept away a 5 Oscars and 7 BAFTAs and about a 100 other awards at various festivals or awards ceremonies. Some of the awards which The Artist won at The BAFTAs; Best Cinematography, Costume Design, Director, Film, Leading Actor, Original Music and Screenplay. This is a film which is full of charm and allows audience to go on a delightful journey of discovery. This charm and discovery is intertwined by drama, comedy, action and romance which of course are gorgeously photographed and brilliantly directed. The lead performances are thoroughly engaging despite no words being uttered so rather coincidentally the audience are left speechless at the wonderful performances.
*Simply irresistible* Empire
*Gloriously funny and achingly tender film by the French director Michel Hazanavicius* The Guardian
Watch the trailer below:
Don't miss your chance to see The Artist on Tuesday 4th December at 2pm & 7.45pm.
This intimate but level-headed documentary is a brave account on people, victimised for their choice of sexuality, openly standing up for their rights. It's no wonder why such a film has dominated interest and acknowledgement at recent festivals, winner of seven awards and nominated for a bunch more, Call Me Kuchu is going to open a lot of eyes.
In Uganda, a new bill threatens to make homosexuality punishable by death. The story centres itself around Uganda's first openly gay man, David Kato, and other activists as they collectively attempt to spread the word fast on trying to defeat legislation while combating vicious persecution in their daily lives. What makes this documentary even more brave and infectious is that we are also introduced to the opposing side.
The film takes a dramatic turn mid-way through, but by no means is it captured for cheap dramatic effect. If you have any knowledge of Kato's story, you will be aware of his meaningless murder. No one, not even the filmmakers, is prepared for the brutal murder that shakes the movement to its core and sends shock waves around the world. He is painted as a man who realises that his activism may cost him his life, and as a result of this documentary's structure and choice of subjects, there is a strong reminder of an irrepressible evil lingering in the background.
The film embraces Kato's life and what he stood for by turning the overwhelming sense of loss and grief into a wake-up call, demonstrating that civil liberties of minorities such as homosexuals are still under threat, in this day and age.
*Such horror, such bravery. Call Me Kuchu tears at the heart*
Rachel Cooke - The Observer
*This intimate documentary about Ugandan homophobia speaks with both gay activists and those persecuting them*
Steve Rose - The Guardian
Take a look at the trailer:
Call Me Kuchu can be seen on 5th at 7.45pm & 6th at 7.45pm
