Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
Cross It’s A Wonderful Life with ET and Invasion Of The Body Snatchers and you’ll get something close to these entertaining and occasionally grotesque tales from producer Steven Spielberg, writer Chris Columbus and director Joe Dante.
In the first film we meet Billy Peltzer (played by Zach Galligan), a young man whose inventor father (Hoyt Axton) gives him an odd Christmas present in the shape of a tiny, adorable furry creature called a Mogwai, which is named Gizmo. The pet comes with a set of rules: don’t get him wet, don’t feed him after midnight and keep him away from direct sunlight. But Galligan breaks the first rule and the damp little critter pops out a dozen smaller offspring. Then the offspring break the second rule and, overnight, turn from cute furry guys to malevolent scale-covered trolls with world domination on their mind. The only way to stop them: rule three. But it’s an anxious (and extremely funny) battle to make it to daylight, with the bad gremlins finding ingenious ways to multiply over and over until they’re a force to be reckoned with.
In the sequel, Zach Galligan is back, along with Phoebe Cates, his girlfriend from the first film. They’re both working in an ultramodern skyscraper owned by a Donald Trump clone (a hilarious John Glover). Galligan’s furry little buddy is captured by a mad scientist, who not only helps it multiply, but invests the nasty, scaly offspring with intelligence and the ability to talk. What follows is imaginative mayhem that spoofs old movies, modern television, and the conveniences of postmodern technology. In many ways, the sequel is even more inventive and laughter-inducing than the original.
Both films are packed with special effects, all the most impressive when you consider the gremlins are puppets, not computer generated imagery. Expect a wild and fun-packed (if occasionally dark and scary) ride.
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Review by Lew 1 for Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
For a long time, the only hint of Gremlins on DVD Region 2 was the first film. Those of us after the second installment had to wait for this set to be released – which contains both the original film (in the exact same release that it had on its own) and “Gremlins 2: The New Batch”.
If you already own the first one, this may be your only hope of getting your paws on the second, so is it worth shaving out for a copy of a film you already have?
It’s fairly ironic that these films are released together, because they bare nearly nothing in common. The first one was a B-type horror movie with some comedy thrown in. Gremlins 2 is very much a comedy movie with a few scares thrown in. The way it lampoons the first movie and even mocks its success is rarely seen in Hollywood.
Set in a futuristic building housing offices and a TV network in New York, Gizmo the cute little mogwai causes havoc once again and gives birth to a whole host of new critters including talking and singing gremlins who take over the building waiting for nightfall to spill into the city. It’s down to those trapped inside the building the stop the invasion force with the help of a couple of returners from last time round.
The fast paced film leaps from one joke to another as the gremlins broadcast live to New York and mount musical numbers as they wait for their chance in the Big Apple. A full-length commentary is a great listen, and the blooper-reel, deleted scenes and easter egg are fun to watch.
This is one of the few occasions where a sequel is much better then it’s first incarnation, and this set is worth buying for the second film alone. And if you end up with two copies of the first film, they make a great coaster.
Review by kaiser for Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
(3 / 5)
Rating:
Bought this item for my nephews birthday. Disc 1 doesnt work but disc 2 is fine. had to buy a replacement from else where
Review by nypj69 for Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
(5 / 5)
Rating:
20 years on…these movies are still great, loved them as a child/teenager and now in my adult years, great for the time they came from, and ya just gotta love spike, he oozes coolness!
Review by Mr. Mark Mcintosh for Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
We bought the DVD’s to replace the video tapes. We found the DVD’s are well packaged and to watch the Gremlins again and again it is very enjoyable but compared to the video the DVD wins hands down. Better sound and definition. Highly recomended.
Review by Mr. J. M. Wicks for Gremlins/Gremlins 2 – The New Batch [DVD] [1984]
(4 / 5)
Rating:
Gremlins, a funny and scary film for the whole family to enjoy. Until they go and give it a 15 certificate. loads of kids are missing out on humour and scares just because some minor scary scenes, no scarier than the likes of Jaws or jurrassic park (both PG) get decided to be 15 material. I’m not saying its not scary, because it is, but its not ‘age 15′ scary.
Then there’s gremlins 2. It starts ok, with the whole renunion and then transformation. Then halfway through the movie (spoiler warning!) they start to talk and fly. HAve you ever seen Jaws jump onto the boat and discuss the latest gossip or a T-rex start sprouting wings and zooming off? No, so why do these guys start?
You might be better off with just gremlins, but if you’re a big horror/humour lover you could try this. Just don’t feed it after midnight