Customer Reviews

Gremlins

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

It follows a somewhat conventional monster movie plot. An ordinary guy witnesses his unusual but cute cuddly pet spawn a horde of evil Gremlins. He tries to warn the authorities, but they don't believe him until the creatures show up and go on a rampage throughout the town. Like in many monster movies, a plan is devised to destroy them, which works, but then there's still one left which needs to be defeated.

Every monster movie convention in the book is used, including all the famous shocks such as something jumping out in the foreground and something jumping out in the background, but what makes this film original is the Gremlins' silly personalities. They don't eat people or kill them in order to survive in any way. They just want to have fun and cause chaos! Their personalities are almost human and seem to represent a side of us that has no morals and just wants to let loose in a world without regulations. At times, you are cheering for the monsters, which makes this movie so unique.

Two major highlights are the bar scene and the movie theater scene where all the gremlins gather together and have a great time!

This is not worth the upgrade for the cost it is going at right now. WB did not remaster Gremlins for Blu-Ray. In my opinion (and many others) the BD is only a small improvement over the DVD. I'd say the improvement in clarity and detail varies between 5%-30% better throughout the film. The audio is much better though, really fun to hear the score in HD audio. Wait till the price drops, then pick it up.

How can something so sweet and cuddly as a Gremlin become so mean and angry like your own kids when they don't get what they want. The ideas behind this hilarious transformation are so marvellous you'd want to watch this one again and again - with or without your own kids present (who knows, they might get ideas). Gremlins is one of the funniest movies ever. A cult-classic.

Inventor Randy Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) has bought a special gift for his son Billy (Zack Gallaghan) and it's a furry Chinese creature called a Mogwai (voiced by Howie Mandall). But there are three important rules that must be followed if he wants to keep the creature such as number 1 which means to keep him away from bright light especially sunlight cause it will kill him, number 2 is to never get him wet and number 3 which is the most important rule of them all which is never feed them after midnight. But Billy does what he can but he accidently gets him wet one day and it makes him mutiply other Mogwaii like him and he accidently feed the Mogwaii except Gizmo after midnight as it makes them into ghastly reptilian ghouls that cause havok in the town of Kingston Falls.

Brilliant and highly original Horror fantasy comedy from executive producer Steven Spielburg, director Joe Dante ("The Howling") and writer Chris Columbus. This movie became one of the biggest box-office hits of 1984 and of all time, this movie has a great sense of charm and of course black humor thrown into it with gruesomeness. The film co-stars Corey Feldman, Phoebe Cates and Dick Miller and special appearences by Robby the Robot and Chuck Jones, this movie did caused some controversy when it came out because parents thought it was too violent for small children even around the same time "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" came out. So the MPAA created the "PG-13" rating was created that year, i love how make-up artist Chris Walas did the lovable furballs and the hideous beasts and made them some of the most memorable creatures to hit the screen. The film has often been imitated much with films like "Critters 1 & 2" (Which are great movies in their own rights), "Ghoulies", "Munchies", "Beasites", "Elves", "Evil Toons", "Troll" and the worst one of them all "Hobgoblins", this one is a true must see even around the holidays.

This special edition DVD has excellent sound and picture with nice extras like deleted scenes, Trailers, 2 audio commentaries, behind the scenes featurette, photo and storyboard gallery and filmmaker and cast highlights.

Also recommended: "Gremlins 2 : The New Batch", "Black Christmas (1974)", "Small Soldiers", "Critters", "Critters 2", "C.H.U.D.", "The Pit", "Evil Dead II", "It's a Wonderful Life", "Grindhouse", "Silent Night Deadly Night", "E.T.", "Troll", "Dead Alive (a.k.a. Braindead)", "The Witches of Eastwick", "Cat's Eye" and "Monsters Inc."

An inventor with a penchant for oddities that don't work (Hoyt Axton), while selling his wares in a sketchy section of Chinatown, comes across a young boy who promises to show him some wonderful things within his grandfather's shop. Once inside he does indeed find himself amongst the odd and wonderful. He becomes drawn to the singing of a cute furry little creature known as a Mogwai, and informs the shopkeeper that he simply must have the Mogwai, as he's in dire need of a Christmas present for his son. The shopkeeper hesitates, and finally says no to the inventor, Randall Peltzer, as with the Mogwai "comes great responsibility." Distraught, Mr. Peltzer turns to leave. However, knowing that his family needs the money, the young boy offers to help him out by selling him the Mogwai behind his grandfather's back. The adorable fuzzy little creature comes with three rules. He doesn't like bright lights, he can't get wet, and he can't be fed after midnight.

Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) is elated upon opening his present. He immediately becomes friends with the Mogwai, Gizmo, and makes sure he abides by all the aforementioned rules. When a neighborhood boy comes by to deliver a Christmas tree, he doesn't exercise quite as much caution and accidentally spills water on the Mogwai. This unveils a whole new trait for Gizmo, and a whole new world for Billy. The Peltzer family soon discovers just how much responsibility is necessary for a creature of this caliber, as does the rest of the town they live in. Bad things may come in cute, cuddly, furry little packages.

I rate the movie as five stars, and the DVD as three, hence the average of four stars. The acting is superb, and the effects are brilliant, even if they are a little gory (the whole kitchen scene comes to mind) for the rating given (PG). The gremlins themselves are superbly done, especially when you consider that these are puppets and are not computer-generated! Each of them has their own unique personality that comes out in little snippets throughout the duration of the film, proving that every minute detail was taken into consideration with the making of this movie. The soundtrack is classic eighties cheesiness in all its glory and splendor. Howie Mandel did a good job as the voice of Gizmo, even if it didn't consist of much. Chris Columbus, Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg prove themselves an excellent team, combining a humorous and witty script with some extremely good moviemaking. This movie has become, and will live on as, a cult classic adored by fans of monster and horror films and should not be missed.

However, the DVD package leaves something to be desired. Apparently "Special Edition" need not be very special at all, consisting of only a couple of commentary tracks and the trailer for the film. Both of which are appreciated, yet many DVD's offer much more than that these days. I would have hoped that this very special movie would be released with a little bit more bite, and perhaps someday it will. Until then, this DVD will have to suffice.

"Gremlins" is a heartwarming Christmas movie that your entire family will enjoy! When I think of classic Christmas movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" I always fondly recall "Gremlins." Because isn't it such a great Christmas movie that all the kids will love. Afterall, "Gremlins" has snow, and decorations and Christmas music and even those cute, furry little pe(s)ts!

Seriously though, I do love "Gremlins" because it's such a great example of a totally 80's movie! Beware if you were not a child of the 80's you may find this movie dated, corny and incredibly hokum. Come to think of it, even if you were a child of the 80's you may think that as well! But it doesn't matter because "Gremlins" is all good! When this movie first came out my parents absolutely forbid my brother and I from watching it. Of course we didn't listen to them though.

"Gremlins" was such a huge sensation; telling a kid that they couldn't see it would certainly constitute cruel and usual punishment! We even had our Gizmo stuffed animals and a few other things. Keep in mind that this movie spawned an entire genre of pseudo-horror flicks ("Ghoulies," and "Goonies " come to mind.)

"Gremlins" tells the hilarious story of what happens when you don't follow the rules and let your Mogwai run wild! Billy Peltzer (played by one-hit wonder, Zach Galligan) receives an early Christmas gift, courtesy of his father Randall (played by Hoyt Axton.) Billy is warned not to ever expose Giz to bright lights or water and never to give him food after midnight (just a side note, if the Mogwai is from Asia, how exactly would he know that it was midnight?) Suffice it to say, the little critter soon multiples, courtesy of Billy's friend Pete (a very young Corey Feldman.)

I especially enjoyed some of the special effects. It was so odd watching Gizmo as he multiplied because the others literally popped out of him. It looked so realistic. Speaking of realistic, I also enjoyed watching the Gremlins hatch from the cocoons. They looked so disgusting and evil.

There're so many lucicrisly hilarious scenes. I could not stop laughing when the Christmas tree "came alive" and started attacking Mrs. Peltzer (Frances Lee McCain.) Actually it had one of the little denomic Gremlins hiding in it! The poor thing was badly stabbed in her face before the malicious Gremlin took off to spread some more Christmas cheer!

Ruby Deagle! She was a Super (starts with a Capital-B & rhymes with) Wiiiiiiiiiiiiitch. Mrs. Deagle was sure a far cry from Polly Holliday's days as Flo, the man-hungry waitress. Actually I'm not sure which was more terrifying, the entire pack of Gremlins or Mrs. Deagle! Her voice was entirely filled with hate and her eyes looked at Billy the way a king-cobra stares at her trapped prey! She was a bitter, old woman, that hated all people and dogs and any other sentient being with a smile (much like my mother-in-law.) Did you catch the part when Deagle went flying the hell out of her house! OMG so funny when that she-dog took off like that!! Polly played that role perfectly!! Because she managed to make Mrs. Deagle appear just as mean-spirited and vicious as any violent monster, even Naomi Campbell!

Here's some fun facts and trivia about "Gremlins" and the people who were in it:
* The voice of Gizmo was voiced by Howie Mandell.
* As a result of the controversy that erupted, the MPAA formed a new rating (PG-13.)
* The scene with Mrs. Peltzer killing one of the Gremlins in the microwave caused the most controversy.
* There really is a mythical creature called a Mogwai (keep in mind, it is mythical.)
* Because of its huge worldwide, unprecedented popularity, Warner Bros. decided to re-release "Gremlins" to theaters the following summer after its initial success.
* Zach Galligan guest stared on one ep of "Melrose Place" during the first season.
* Phoebe Cates stared in another cult-favorite, 1991's "Drop Dead Fred."
* Since taking the role of Mrs. Deagle, Polly Holliday has never been able to shake the image of a homely old lady, and has been typecast ever since.
* Zach Galligan has often been confused with Randall Batinkoff (who stared in Molly Ringwald's "For Keeps.")
* There was a little-known horror movie from 1987, "Munchies," which had very similar-looking creatures.
* There was actually one Mogwai (from the first batch, before any of them morphed into those destructive Gremlins) who actually showed kindness towards Gizmo; he was named Earl.

Why do I consider this the granddaddy of all 80's comedy/horror movies? Just because it's the whole good over evil saga; you know, the David and Goliath Story. And of course there's a sexy girl to keep Billy company, Kate Beringer (Phoebe Cates) who is always eager to help fight the good cause. And the entire movie is so implausible, you just can't help but laugh at the blatant and utter foolishness.

Over the years there's been a lot of speculation on the true meaning of "Gremlins." I've heard so many different stories. To me, the moral of the story is that not everything is the way it seems. Take this movie for instance, when it came out 24 years ago, everyone got their p@nties all knotted up because it was only PG. But most of these people probably never even watched the movie. Because it wasn't scary or vulgar or offensive in the least bit. It was a comedy mixed with satire. Often, people are most afraid of things that they never even look at.

I've loved Gremlins since I was a wee girl of only about 5 or 6, and previously my only copy of the film was a tattered VHS, worn out and almost grainy from repeated viewings. I purchased Gremlins on DVD and was astonished at how beautiful the transfer from film to DVD was. The details are crystal clear and the sound is impeccable. Certain small visual details of the movie were totally lost on my old VHS, but stand out gorgeously on this DVD.

The movie itself doesn't need further praise from me - it's fun and funny, gory and touching at the same time. My personal favorite scene is when all of the Gremlins are in the movie theater, singing "Hi Ho" right along with the dwarves in Snow White. The special effects are amazing for the time, the score was perfect, and Gizmo never ceases to be adorable. A must-buy.

The first time I saw this was on my birthday, at the theatres, no less. I went to see it two more times after that. The familiar concept of bringing the other, the unknown, the unique, to a picture postcard small town like Kingston Falls, is typical of aliens landing on Earth-type sci-fi. OK, there is a difference between Chinatown and Mars, but still...

To say that Kingston Falls and indeed Billy Peltzer, the son of the man who brings the Mogwai Gizmo to town, will have the most memorable Christmas in its history is quite the understatement, and all because three strict rules regarding Gizmo are unwittingly ignored. They are, keep him away from bright lights, keep him away from water, and never ever.... let him listen to Barry Manilow...just kidding, never ever feed him after midnight. Guess what happens?

The glowing green and steam emerging from the YMCA swimming pool is the prelude of the mayhem that is to come from the red-eyed, growling, cackling reptilians, and who also seem to have full-time munchies. Anyone happening to drive or walking on Christmas Eve happens to pick the wrong night to be human. Contrast that with the ghastly neon glare of the red lights splashed on the Chinatown streets in one shot. Red light for peaceful standby...green for go mayhem.

The adorable Gizmo's clearly the star in this It's A Wonderful Life meets Invasion Of The Body Snatchers/War Of The Worlds picture. His facial expressions alone are very articulate, from his smiles, expressions of horror, sadness, and disgust, and a silly grimace when he's emulating Clark Gable in the racing car movie, To Please A Lady, which he's watching on TV. Howie Mandel also deserves credit for providing Gizmo's voice. And as he was raised by a Chinese man, it makes sense for him to have huang chung, or perfect pitch in the synthesizer scene.

Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates make a nice couple as Billy and Kate, but Hoyt Axton as Rand Peltzer has a great turn as an inventor who keeps on trying to find an invention that's marketable and isn't frustrated by setbacks to the Bathroom Buddy, a kind of Swiss Army Knife of toiletries. He keeps on trying, as evidenced by the plethora of inventions in his household, such as the Peltzer Peeler Juicer (great scene), and the electric hammer. And the phone remote kind of previews handheld cordless models so commonplace today.

Yet there's an undertone of enterpreneurial, corporate capitalism going on. Rand Peltzer is an example of it for good. Gerald's remarks to Billy is of the bad. He boasts how he is a junior vice president of the bank at age 23. "At 25, I'll have Mr. Corben's [the president's] job. At 30, I'm going to be a millionaire. The world's changing, you gotta change with it. You gotta be tough." And Mr. Futterman's jab at foreign cars reminds us of the trade gap between the US and Japan during the Reagan era, as well as the accompanying Japan-bashing. And the rich and powerful harridan Ms. Deagle is a cariacature of robber barons meet Ebenezer Scrooge. In fact the exchange between her and tenant Ms. Harris is a variation on Scrooge and Bob Crachitt.

Trivia notes: note the Indiana Jones style writing on the Rockin' Ricky Rialto sign at the beginning, which figures, as both were Spielberg-Kennedy-Marshall productions. And at the inventor's convention, executive producer Steven Spielberg, cast on his leg, wheels past Hoyt Axton watching TV on an electric sofa/wheelchair. And the Coleco-vision Donkey Kong Stripe is playing is an example of 80's technology long gone.

Yes, another return visit to my golden decade. Some aspects of this movie have not worn well. The behaviour of the gremlins are rather uneven, ranging from extremely malicious (the traffic lights) to downright comical (the Christmas carolers, the different outfits worn by the gremlins), to the rare poetic justice (Mrs. Deagle). But the otherworldly teddybear with elfin ears, whose furry hands grip the edge of the box he came in, then slowly raises his head for all to see, that's what I remember the most. (Rating: 4.5, rounded to 5).

"Gremlins" is one of the great guilty pleasures of motion pictures. It's an absolute classic, tremendous fun every time you watch it. As one reviewer said, it's "a hoot".

Though "Gremlins" comes across as a perverse take on the holiday cheer of "It's a Wonderful Life" (the dis-connection is explicitly made within the film), one cannot overlook "Forbidden Planet". Just as the "Great Machine" allowed the Krells' inner demons to take physical form, so are the gremlins a representation of our normally suppressed murderous impulses. Otherwise, why would Billy Peltzer * be so careless about the rules?

This is not as much of an interpretive stretch as it seems. Most of the scenes in which the "bad" or unlikeable characters are punished or killed were removed from the final cut. Mrs. Deagle (the film's equivalent of Old Man Potter) is murdered in a grotesquely comic manner, but the scene which "justifies" her offing (she's forcing the bank to foreclose properties on which a chemical plant will be built) was deleted. (Though the director's desire to keep the film moving along is justifiable, most of these scenes should have been restored for home video.)

In Renoir's "Boudu Saved from Drowning", the title character is another "id monster" whose animal presence utterly disrupts a middle-class family. There's little doubt that Stripe blowing his nose on the curtains is an homage to Boudu wiping his shoes with a satin bedsheet.

"Gremlins" also has an element of Hitchcockian voyeurism. One of the film's "pleasures" is watching punishment meted out to those deserving it, through an agency (the gremlins) whose behavior we are not responsible for. Our "murdering id" can be vicariously gratified without legal or moral consequences.

"Gremlins" anticipates films like "Puppet Master", "Hostel", and "Saw", which tittillate the audience with scenes of people being murdered or mutilated in a graphic, detailed fashion. **

"Gremlins"' iconic scene, in which Billy's mother kills three of the gremlins -- by grinding up one in a mixer, stabbing another repeatedly, and (classically) blowing up one in a microwave oven -- was the one that most aroused audiences (both pro and con), as it cuts close to the bone of how we would /sometimes/ like to handle our personal problems. Mrs. Peltzer isn't killing rats -- the gremlins are sentient, consciously malicious beings. Like, your boss, maybe?

In the running commentary, Joe Dante remarks several times that, had CGI been available, "Gremlins" would have been an altogether different film. Indeed. One of the film's charms is the audience's awareness that it is watching fur-and-rubber puppets "live" on the soundstage, performing an especially nasty "Punch & Judy" show. CGI just wouldn't be as much fun.

The Blu-ray transfer ranks a B -- "Gremlins" was not a sharply detailed film in the first place. (The image quality suggests an excellent projection print, rather than the camera negative.) On the other hand, one can better appreciate the beautifully complex lighting. And let's not forget Jerry Goldsmith's terrific score, one of his best. It's a pleasure to hear a score in which instruments are selected for their particular effect (a la Herrmann), and which doesn't continually drone on.

Unhesitatingly recommended.

* The name suggests the verb "pelts". The gremlins are very good at throwing things.

** It wasn't the first. "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" (and its sequel) were quite gruesome, but nothing much was said about the violence.

For Christmas, Billy Peltzer's father gives him a cute, furry creature known as a Mogwai that he bought in Chinatown. Billy is warned that he must follow three rules with the Mogwai, whom he names Gizmo: 1) keep him out of light, especially sunlight; 2) don't get him wet; and 3) never feed him after midnight. It doesn't take long before the rules are broken and disaster ensues: the Gremlins multiply and none of them are as cute and lovable as Gizmo. The Gremlins cause much destruction and mayhem in Billy's quiet little town and he and his girlfriend, Kate, rush to stop them before the town is totally destroyed.

Gremlins is a great movie that has a bit of everything: humor, horror, parody and even romance. Billy's town is straight out of "It's A wonderful Life" and the rich and not so nice Mrs. Deagle is a modern day Miss Gulch from The Wizard of Oz. Outside of some scene's in the Peltzer's kitchen and what happens to Mrs. Deagle, the Gremlins are more mischievous than deadly. However, the kitchen scenes are a bit gruesome and not suitable for younger viewers. Most of the film is darkly comic, if a bit violent, especially the bar scene, the scene where the Gremlins call caroling at Mrs. Deagle's house, and the movie theater scene, as well as the final climax. The one scene that feels out of place to me is when Kate describes why she hates Christmas. I've seen the movie many times and still wonder why that scene was left in.

The acting is quite good in this movie. Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates have a nice chemistry together and make a sweet couple. Frances Lee McCain is excellent as Billy's terrorized mother and Hoyt Axton does a great job as Billy's lovable but inept inventor father (some of the funniest scenes in the movie revolve around his inventions). Dick Miller is good as Billy's paranoid neighbor, and Polly Holiday chews up the scenery as the cruel Mrs. Deagle. Judge Reinhold shows up briefly as a potential love rival for Kate and then disappears from the movie, as does Corey Feldman as Billy's young neighbor.

This movie isn't for everyone's taste. I saw the movie with a friend who hated it saying she didn't see anything funny about people being killed at Christmas. Personally, I thought it was wickedly funny and recommend it to fans of darkly comic horror movies.