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Gremlins (1984)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
2/26
2/26:
Failing to see Gremlins again since the 80's, what I remembered the most was it was a horror flick
masquerading as a children's picture.
That left a sour taste in my mouth for a long time. After a recent revisit, the sentiment still holds
true, but it's well-made nevertheless. Classic filmmaking is evident from start to finish, especially with
the Gremlins. Two of the best scenes are in the bar and at the theatre that's playing
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. No wonder why this one came through Steven Spielberg, evoking memories
of Raiders of the Lost Ark and
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, but Joe Dante is actually the
director.
However, there are strange parts...lots of them. At the beginning, the feel is akin to
It's a Wonderful Life as confirmed by playing the aforementioned
movie on TV. Then, it's combined with some elements of
Invasion of the Body Snatchers. At the same time,
there are many product placements such as Burger King, Mobil, and Prince. The fake snow is easy to
laugh at because nobody ever breathes cold air.
How about Phoebes Cates' character? That's some depression she likes to lay it on thick as in "while everybody
else is opening up their presents, they're opening up their wrists." Um, okay. A virtual nobody hitherto,
Zach Galligan is quite useless as Billy. It's comical how everybody treats him like a 14-year-old kid
even though he's 20. Why is he hanging out with Corey Feldman who's half his age?
Ah, Mogwai...it's interesting how everybody's reaction to this unique furry animal is calm as opposed to
"Oh, my God...this is totally cool!" If feeding him isn't allowed after midnight, what time does that end
the next day? Why put the Mogwai in the store if the old Chinese man didn't want him sold to the public?
At the end, when he got him back and everybody was like, "Oh, well...too bad," nobody thought for a second
about the havoc that his offsprings, namely the Gremlins, had wreaked on the town? By the way, where did
the Gremlins get the little clothes?
All in all, despite the faults, it's hard to deny the uniqueness of Gremlins.