Customer Reviews

*Batteries Not Included

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

... whether or not you have kids. It has some moments that might make a four-year-old cling to an adult, but every kid I know likes it. No guns, no bloody fights, no chases, and it still holds their interest.

There's plenty here for an adult - "dotty grandma" isn't a completely comic character here. She's not just a tragic figure of senility, either, though she's some of both. Mostly, she's just making her way through each day the best she can, and better than people seem willing to believe. Most of the other characters are similarly on the edge but muddling by well enough, with a little help from their friends.

I honestly can't call this a science fiction movie, despite its SF elements. It's sweet (almost sappy) and funny, the poor-but-honest folk win out over the thugs and evil corporations, and they all live happily ever after. Well, for now, at least.

If there's ever a list of "most under-rated movies", this one gets my vote. I like it.

This 1987 little sentimental ditty was utterly irresistible to the public, even as critics panned it as too schmaltzy. It concerns a squadron of little UFOs who arrive on the room of a NY apartment building, one which is about to be razed as soon as the owners can manage to evict the quirky bunch of tenants. The tenants include Hume Cronin and Jessica Tandy (always and forever a winning pair) as well as a guy who plays a mentally (or emotionally - or maybe both) disabled man who speaks only in set phrases from commercials or TV jingles or product tags, such as that of the title: Batteries Not Included. As the tenants band together to save the lives of the little aliens, including a spine-tingling scene in which one gives birth, the aliens come to the rescue of the folks in danger of eviction - and the tenants, previously a disparate bunch, come together to form a community.
Heartwarming. Great family entertainment

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy have been in many movies together, one reason because they are married in real life (until she died a few years ago) and they were so great together. This movie was heart-wrenching in the fact that Jessica's character had lost her mind since the death of her son in a car accident. It was sweet and memorable and funny with the little spaceships helping them out in their time of need. The little guys brought her back to her senses, and even kept the bad guys from tearing down the building where the people lived.

This is a great show and should be viewed by everyone. If you liked ET, you would love Batteries Not Included. Any movie that has me laughing and crying in the same movie, has got to be great.

When you think about it, there aren't too many movies with a premise like this one. I mean, robot aliens who resemble UFOs that can procreate, raise families, and repair anything at super speed? Pretty unusual.

Something else unusual is that the plot doesn't focus on the robots but the humans who are each trying to hang on to their little piece of home. The robots offer assistance to the main characters and add some comic relief, but the story centers on the human element. The story is well-told and unfolds at the right pace. I thought the acting was also pretty good.

There's one last thing worth mentioning. I notice that the video quality has an odd fuzziness to it. It's barely noticeable and not terribly distracting but potential viewers should be made aware of it. Personally it did nothing to detract from my enjoyment of the movie.

This film was made in 1987 so don't expect the special effects to be impressive by today's standards. Remember that, suspend disbelief, and you'll find *Batteries Not Included to be an entertaining experience.

I have begun looking at some of the movies I loved as a kid and trying to share them with my kids. We had family movie night and I had to drag them in kicking and screaming. Twenty minutes into the movie, I tried to pause the movie while I went potty, and got a rebellion. My three daughters were hooked. My nine year old talked about the cute little robots for months and wanted to know if there were any more of the movies. My oldest (sixteen) was right in on all of the conversations. Even the too cool for the rest of us 15 year old loved it....although we were never allowed to speak of it in public.
Since then they ask me if I know of any other cool movies from when I was a kid. I have a long list, although this one is on the short list for Christmas presents this year.

Spielberg's movies are typically epic in proportion - in contrast to his other movies this special effects masterpiece is aimed at children and the young at heart perfectly targeting its audience with its almost perfect execution, its intimate scale and proportion. Folks this is a miniature and like most miniatures its a jewel. Faberge meets children's science fiction. Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy are delightful, playing themselves in the sunset of their life in love in a condemned tenement in New York. A modern updating of the fairy tale about the impoverished cobbler who is rescued by fairies (miniature flying saucers) - charming, touching, lovely.

In real life, a long time ago, Macy's Dept Store in NYC put up a large store around a stubborn, little o lady who refused to sell or move. She was a symbol for protecting your family home and individual rights. When she passed, Macy's Dept Store annexed the land to fill in her gap, fulfilling their block-size store. BUT, in honor of that little old lady, Macy's left a plack.

THIS VIDEO is a wonderful fictional tale resembling that little old lady who fought a giant and won. A couple played by Hume Cronyn (Frank Riley ) and Jessica Tandy ( Faye Riley ) are confronted by an evil business man named " L a c y " who is using unethical means to force the couple out. When all seems hopeless, the couple meet space aliens who like to fix things. It seems the aliens enjoy the brownstone for their own needs. ADD: Frank McRae, Elizabeth Peña, Michael Carmine, Dennis Boutsikaris, Tom Aldredge, Jane Hoffman, John DiSanti, and John Pankow. This is terrific family film that leaves you feeling great about the universe and its possibilities.

It is a great film to sit back and view without the expectation of learning a "life lesson." It is pure entertainment with a great cast, and beleive it or not nobody gets killed! A true example of a movie that can entertain both adults and children. To the individuals who have put this movie down, I beleive they have either been to removed from the little things in life that makes one enjoy "warm and cozy" movies or are over impressed with the "razzel dazzel" special effects of other moveis. I beleive there is room for both!!

This is a classic from 1987. I remember watching this movie when I was younger and loveing it. Steven Spielberg endorses this film directed by Matthew Robbins. I was happy to see it released in widescreen but not happy with the extras. This film deserves a commentary track and has virually no extras at all. It contains:

Cast & Filmmakers' Bio
Film Highlights
Theatrical Trailer

It is 107 minutes in length and has English, Spanish and French subtitles.

The films most noteworthy star is academy award winner, Jessica Tandy. It is a good movie for children with the exception of a few foul words. It's pretty minor and does not detract from the story.

When my mom rented this movie 10 years ago, I thought it sounded dumb. But I humored her and sat through the whole thing and ended up falling in love with the movie.

The cast of characters are about as dysfunctional as you can get, but they are all brough together by these 'spaceship' creatures. This is one movie where you really really root for the good guy and boo the bad guy.

There aren't many whistles and bells, no expensive special effects, but the movie is wonderful without them. Fancy effects would, I think, ruin this movie completely. The simplicity of this movie is what makes it so much fun to watch.