About The Guild
Brief History
It is unknown the exact year the Amateur Critics Guild (ACG) was instituted but rest assured, there were people criticizing Eadweard Muybridge’s stereoscopic galloping horse images in the 1870′s. As long as there has been art, there has been a critic.
The modern incarnation was formulated in early 2010. A nameless patron invited current and contemporary keystone members William and Benjamin to resurrect the Guild. Under the call and oath of the Guild, both men now strive to uphold the honor and code that was constructed decades ago.
Our Function
The Amateur Critics Guild is a nonspecialist organization committed to cinema appraisals that are neither professional nor conventional. The ACG strives to present an everyperson’s view of films and does not pretend to have any formal training in their craft. The assessments are offered in the hopes that the Guild’s patrons (as well as themselves) will gain an expanded knowledge, extra insight, and love of cinema.
The members of the Amateur Critics Guild are spread across all corners of the country. All films appraised by the Guild should be readily available to most readers as the Guild will evaluate strictly rental films (for the most part).
The Amateur Critics Guild highly values the opinions of the communities that it serves. Please feel free to share your views in the comments section of each review, as well as film and genre suggestions through the Contact the Guild page on the ACG internet portal.
Guild Members
Abby
Post #667 | Pittsburg, Kansas (Home of the Pitt State Gorillas) | Top 3 Movies: The Third Man, Layer Cake, The Royal Tenenbaums
From the waving prairies of the Great Plains comes Abby, film fanatic and proud Kansas Jayhawk. As a child, she eagerly awaited the weekend movie reviews in Friday’s paper. Now, thanks to the magic of the internet, she enjoys writing her own opinions at the Guild and her own blog, No More Popcorn. Her tastes run the gamut from British period dramas to messy horror movies and beyond. She hopes to share her enthusiasm for the art, philosophy and cultural value of movies, as well as just generally have a good time. She also hopes you have a great day.
Benjamin
Post #941 | San Francisco, CA | Top 3 Movies: Blues Brothers, Braveheart, Citizen Kane
Benjamin heads up the West Coast post of the ACG (Post #941). As a somewhat recent transplant to the Bay Area, Benjamin, or Ben, as he is known to his friends, colleagues, equals, and rivals, is in a state of constant flux as he continues his quixotic quest for the perfect piece of cinema that accurately and artistically reflects his heroic ilk and square youth (okay, the man is still, to this hour, an unabashed geek-at-arms). Reviled by few and loved by many, Benjamin is the most tenured member of the ACG in regards to the practice of unprofessional appraisal. Ben always strives for a clear message with a large helping of awesomeness as he relays his scathing assessments and upright truths to his simpleton readership.
Christopher
Post #999 | Atlanta, GA
Christopher is the devil down in Georgia, leading post #999; the true sign of the Beast. Coincidentally, Christopher doesn’t enjoy what layman’s term as “scary” movies; they make him shiver under his sheets at night. Still, a devote follower of the Guild and beliefs in Cinema have led him to feel compelled to critique the work of others. For it is the joy of being whisked away to a world of fantasy and imagination that film provides, and epic failures in this regard, along with those responsible, deserve to be humiliated and punished for their sins against humanity. Alas, it is not all darkness and deprecation; rays of light will always shine through. As for the rest: their souls are Christopher’s. Muhahaha!!! …
Robert
Post #201 | Washington, D.C.
The Guild’s resident professor, Robert is a part-time contributor to the Guild but a full-time cinema aficionado.
William
Post #201 | Washington, D.C. | Top 3 Movies: Rushmore, Say Anything, Big Fish
William heads the ACG’s most historic post, which is located in the nation’s capital. Of the members of the ACG, William is the longest standing. It was his inspiration that led to the reformation of the Guild, and his vision that would shape the current mission accepted by all members. William loves all cinema, but avoids the horror genre due to the high cost of cleaning soiled Guild robes. William hopes that his film appraisals will bring light to the darkness that envelops the renting of high-quality movies.
