For
the most part, second helpings are rarely as satisfying as the first, but GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH proves to be as much fun, if not more fun than the
original. After the destruction that befell Kingston Falls in GREMLINS,
Billy Peltzer and Gizmo came to a parting of the ways, with the little
Mogwai returning to his elderly Chinese caretaker. Years pass, Billy has
left Kingston Falls and moved to the big city; while Gizmo finds himself
captured by a scientist after his caretaker passes away and the curiosity
shop in which he lives is demolished.
As
it turns out Gizmo it taken to a genetics lab in a super hi-tech office
tower, which also houses the media conglomerate for which Billy works. As
you might expect, Billy and Gizmo are reunited, but not before the little
Mogwai gets wet and breeds a new batch of Gremlins. However, unlike the
scaly destructive creatures from the first movie, the new batch of
Gremlins manages to get into the materials from the genetics lab and
transform themselves into all sorts of new little beasties. Before you
know it, the new batch has managed to overrun the entire high-rise office
tower- destroying anything and anyone that gets in their way.
What
makes GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH a whole lot of fun is the film's
irreverence and dark cartoony nature (gotta love that Chuck Jones animated
opening sequence). The filmmakers even manage to poke fun at the original
movie by pointing out the absurdities that govern the care and feeding of
Mogwais. Also, having Leonard Maltin come in for a mock GREMLINS
review, then having the film critic attacked by the little creatures is an
example of the film's inspired lunacy. The cast of GREMLINS 2: THE NEW
BATCH features Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Robert
Picardo, Christopher Lee, Haviland Morris, Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph,
Gedde Watanabe, Keye Luke, Kathleen Freeman, Julia Sweeney, Paul Bartel,
Kenneth Tobey, John Astin, Henry Gibson, Hulk Hogan, Dick Butkus, Bubba
Smith, Howie Mandel as the voice of Gizmo and Tony Randall as the voice of
the Brainy Gremlin.
Warner
Home Video has made GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH available on DVD in a
1.78:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. While the cinematography isn't the caliber of a brand
new movie, Warner has provided GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH with a
great looking transfer. The image is quite sharp and really nicely
detailed. Some of the darker sequences are just a hair murky, but overall
the resolution is very, very good. Colors are outstanding thanks to the
filmmakers' choice of using bright, cartoony colors throughout the course
of the movie. All of the intense hues are reproduced without a trace of
chroma noise or smearing. Blacks are deep and inky, contrast is smooth and
the level of shadow detail is everything one should expect from an early
nineties production. The film element used for the transfer is very clean,
displaying relatively few blemishes, plus there is very little by way of a
noticeable grain structure during the presentation. Dual layer authoring
keeps the digital compression artifacts well camouflaged throughout.
GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH is presented with
a remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. While the track sounds
pretty darn good, its origins in the pre-discrete era are clearly evident.
Because of this, the forward soundstage dominates the mix, although there
is some lively stereo imaging across the front speakers. The surround
channels are pretty subdued throughout much of the film, but snap to life
anytime the Gremlins begin their shenanigans. Dialogue is very cleanly
rendered, with every line coming across in a completely understandable
manner. The bass channel doesn't have any serious boom to it, but the
track certainly isn't top heavy. English, French and Spanish Dolby
Surround tracks are also encoded onto the DVD, as are English, French and
Spanish subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide access to the
standard scene selection and set up features as well as the supplemental
materials. Director Joe Dante, actor Zach Galligan, screenwriter Charlie
Haas, and producer Michael Finnell are on hand for a fun and informative
running audio commentary. The DVD also features over twenty minutes of
additional scenes with optional director's commentary, as well as
five-minute gag reel, a six minute "making of" featurette
parody, a short recap on some of the film's gags, a theatrical trailer and
a cast listing. Additionally, keep an eye out for a neat Easter egg, which
shows an alternate sequence from the original home video version of GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH.
GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH is a fun movie and
one of those rare sequels that is as much fun as the original. Warner has
done a fine job with the film's presentation, producing a great looking
and good sounding DVD. The supplements are also enjoyable, making this
disc well worth acquiring for any GREMLINS fan.
For
the most part, second helpings are rarely as satisfying as the first, but GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH proves to be as much fun, if not more fun than the
original. After the destruction that befell Kingston Falls in GREMLINS,
Billy Peltzer and Gizmo came to a parting of the ways, with the little
Mogwai returning to his elderly Chinese caretaker. Years pass, Billy has
left Kingston Falls and moved to the big city; while Gizmo finds himself
captured by a scientist after his caretaker passes away and the curiosity
shop in which he lives is demolished.
As
it turns out Gizmo it taken to a genetics lab in a super hi-tech office
tower, which also houses the media conglomerate for which Billy works. As
you might expect, Billy and Gizmo are reunited, but not before the little
Mogwai gets wet and breeds a new batch of Gremlins. However, unlike the
scaly destructive creatures from the first movie, the new batch of
Gremlins manages to get into the materials from the genetics lab and
transform themselves into all sorts of new little beasties. Before you
know it, the new batch has managed to overrun the entire high-rise office
tower- destroying anything and anyone that gets in their way.
What
makes GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH a whole lot of fun is the film's
irreverence and dark cartoony nature (gotta love that Chuck Jones animated
opening sequence). The filmmakers even manage to poke fun at the original
movie by pointing out the absurdities that govern the care and feeding of
Mogwais. Also, having Leonard Maltin come in for a mock GREMLINS
review, then having the film critic attacked by the little creatures is an
example of the film's inspired lunacy. The cast of GREMLINS 2: THE NEW
BATCH features Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Prosky, Robert
Picardo, Christopher Lee, Haviland Morris, Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph,
Gedde Watanabe, Keye Luke, Kathleen Freeman, Julia Sweeney, Paul Bartel,
Kenneth Tobey, John Astin, Henry Gibson, Hulk Hogan, Dick Butkus, Bubba
Smith, Howie Mandel as the voice of Gizmo and Tony Randall as the voice of
the Brainy Gremlin.
Warner
Home Video has made GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH available on DVD in a
1.78:1 wide screen presentation that features the anamorphic enhancement
for 16:9 displays. While the cinematography isn't the caliber of a brand
new movie, Warner has provided GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH with a
great looking transfer. The image is quite sharp and really nicely
detailed. Some of the darker sequences are just a hair murky, but overall
the resolution is very, very good. Colors are outstanding thanks to the
filmmakers' choice of using bright, cartoony colors throughout the course
of the movie. All of the intense hues are reproduced without a trace of
chroma noise or smearing. Blacks are deep and inky, contrast is smooth and
the level of shadow detail is everything one should expect from an early
nineties production. The film element used for the transfer is very clean,
displaying relatively few blemishes, plus there is very little by way of a
noticeable grain structure during the presentation. Dual layer authoring
keeps the digital compression artifacts well camouflaged throughout.
GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH is presented with
a remixed Dolby Digital 5.1 channel soundtrack. While the track sounds
pretty darn good, its origins in the pre-discrete era are clearly evident.
Because of this, the forward soundstage dominates the mix, although there
is some lively stereo imaging across the front speakers. The surround
channels are pretty subdued throughout much of the film, but snap to life
anytime the Gremlins begin their shenanigans. Dialogue is very cleanly
rendered, with every line coming across in a completely understandable
manner. The bass channel doesn't have any serious boom to it, but the
track certainly isn't top heavy. English, French and Spanish Dolby
Surround tracks are also encoded onto the DVD, as are English, French and
Spanish subtitles.
Music
underscores the basic interactive menus, which provide access to the
standard scene selection and set up features as well as the supplemental
materials. Director Joe Dante, actor Zach Galligan, screenwriter Charlie
Haas, and producer Michael Finnell are on hand for a fun and informative
running audio commentary. The DVD also features over twenty minutes of
additional scenes with optional director's commentary, as well as
five-minute gag reel, a six minute "making of" featurette
parody, a short recap on some of the film's gags, a theatrical trailer and
a cast listing. Additionally, keep an eye out for a neat Easter egg, which
shows an alternate sequence from the original home video version of GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH.
GREMLINS
2: THE NEW BATCH is a fun movie and
one of those rare sequels that is as much fun as the original. Warner has
done a fine job with the film's presentation, producing a great looking
and good sounding DVD. The supplements are also enjoyable, making this
disc well worth acquiring for any GREMLINS fan.
