Guild Cinema = endless downer

[Celine]

Don't get me wrong, I love the guild, or rather I WANT to . . . I was raised going to funky little old theaters, doing the Rocky Horror thing (before the military chants and stupid pre-shows; in my day only the film had a staring role-but I digress). Tonight I went out with my husband; great meal at the Korean Barbecue House, we went to the guild. I had seen in the Alibi they were playing a Hammer film with Oliver Reed (William Shatner wishes he could over-act so perfectly) in a biker gang.

I thought the film was a fun campy one I remember seeing on tv (Chanel 5 Southern California) in the 70's, something about British kids in a gang that make a deal with Satan, if they kill themselves they become youthful undead.
Should have known better, the film I remember (anyone know the title?) though a horror film it was FUN, the guild films I have seen over the last eighteen years are without exception an endless f-----g downer. Why? Someone explain to me why every film has to be endless misery with a dash of misogyny thrown in? How about one night a week a film that is not as depressing as a presidential address. . . . a Bollywood night? Fun Asian fairytales? Why do I have to give my money to netflix when I can't find it at the local library? The Guild has never been filled when I have been there, so obviously the endless misery theme is not bringing out the neighborhood.

Please Guild folks, the country is in a bad place, perhaps one night a week without the doom and gloom, or just a little joy in films? Tuesdays?

[hettie]

maybe you should go more often. we've seen as many uplifting movies as downers there. a recent one off the top of my head is "the cats of mirikitani." there was the asian film about a flubbery-like toy that was really an alien (can't remember what it was called, but it had initials and numbers in the title). then there was the doc "girls rock" those are just a couple from the last 6 months or year that pop into my head. we also loved the breakdance movie and the local zombie flick necroville.

the guild shows tons of movies that aren't "endless misery with a dash of misogyny thrown in," you just have to make an effort to know what's playing there. for instance, tonight's movie was a "halloween horror classic," part of their lead up to friday, which you can find out by checking their website or picking up a monthly movie calendar at the theater. you can also check the alibi website for movie summaries.

I, for one, am grateful that abq still has a theater that shows films and docs none of the national chains will pick up because they're too busy showing hollywood's latest superhero/disney/romcom crap to make a greasy dollar (or $10). (I do wish the lobo theater was still a going concern. I have so many great memories of misbehaving in the balcony.....)

[sophie]

I agree with Hettie. The Guild brings in a really diverse group of non-mainstream films, but you have to watch for the ones you want, because the runs are short, short, short. That's the way art houses work. Speaking of fun, PORNOTOPIA opens at the Guild in November.

[the hand model]

I think this is a misguided slam on The Guild.
Why not Netflix yourself some Disney movies?
Although, Bambi can be a bit of a downer, too.

[slamwagon]

Hey, you're trying right?

Keep at it! You'll catch an uplifting film. :)

[SteveJ]

I like the Guild also, but my wife thinks it smells bad in there. I am willing to look past it, but maybe something could be done to get rid of the musty smell to bring more folks in.

[rf]

I've seen some really great films at the Guild, none of which have been downers. Perhaps you should be more discerning about which films you go to see there.

[secret squirrel]

You must not get to the guild very often, I've seen some of the most amazing and beautiful films there. Most recently Werner' Hertzog's "Encounters at the End of the World" and "Man on Wire". Where else would you see such memorable films on the big screen?

[Black is the new Black]

There are plenty of films the guild shows which are uplifiting. Try checking out rottentomatoes or another review site before randomly trying whatever they happen to be showing if uplifting/non-downer is a prerequisite for you to enjoy a film

Keep in mind though that the Guild Cinema is an independent movie house. Hence they don't have to play films that appeal to the mainstream and can instead focus more heavily on art films made by people such as Fellini, Greenaway, or even Gilliam. These are films not designed with the primary purpose of being liked by as many people as possible but instead with the intent to make something the film maker appreciates (note I didn't use the word "enjoys"). Sort of like a really good Belgian beer they may even leave a bad taste in the mouth of the people who do enjoy the films. These film makers create films that fit the "good art doesn't match your sofa" rule of thumb, in which things may not make sense, may not be pleasurable, might make you uncomfortable, and likely won't tie things up in a pretty bow at the end.

[Brendan]

Have to agree with Celine.

It's not that the movies the Guild is showing are bad, but they often explore man's inhumanity to man, as it were. We all know Hollywood movies are generally crap because they're shooting for mass appeal, but that's not what Celine is talking about. As am example, the stereotypical Bollywood movie has a central theme of love, not pain. How about some love, Guild?

the cats of mirikitani: "ighty-year-old Jimmy Mirikitani survived the trauma of WWII internment camps, Hiroshima, and homelessness by creating art. But when 9/11 threatens his life on the New York City streets and a local filmmaker brings him to her home, the two embark on a journey to confront Jimmy's painful past..." I'm sure this is a good film, has depth, insight and so forth. But the description is also strongly rooted in suffering!

girls rock: Hey, that might be pretty good. It sounds like people are loving the documentaries at the Guild more than fictional stories.

[sophie]

Just as an FYI, Bollywood is actually super-hard to obtain (believe me, I speak from actual knowledge). The folks who've had the best luck in getting Indian films into ABQ happen to be... wait for it... the local Indian community. And they throw semi-frequent and super-successful screenings whenever the films show up. But it really is a crapshoot, that "when they show up" bit. So the announcements are very spur-of-the-moment, and if you're not on the list you'll never know.

In the same way that I would never argue that the Guild should happy it up (come now, the premise of an art house is that they program for an art audience, and these guys actually do a really good job), I would never tell the local Indian promoters that they should change their screening model.

One thing more -- and I think this is worth noting. The current Guild owners have been there for about six years (correct me someone, if I'm off!) So you really can't blame them for the full 18 years you've been attending. And did I mention PORNOTOPIA?