boyajian@akov68.DEC (Jerry Boyajian) (05/22/84)
Well, I saw the same sneak preview of GREMLINS that Steve Dyer did, but despite
it flaws, I though it was a *wonderful* movie, and recommend it highly. The big-
gest flaw is one that Dyer pointed out: it does have a schizophrenic nature. It
starts off as a "nice", quiet fantasy, turns into scary horror film for about
20 minutes or so, then metamorphoses into what can only be described as a
demented Muppet movie.
No, Mr. Dyer, I won't say "Hey, it's only a movie; a fantasy; it's only
for fun." I *do* think, however, that you missed the entire point of the film.
It's not simply a fantasy, it's a *fairy tale*! The opening scene shows a fairy
tale Chinatown, all full of steamy atmosphere and bright neon lights. Then we
move into a fairy tale small town; I think that the "phoney-looking artificial
snow" and hokey winter scenes were on purpose. It looked to me like something
out of a 1940's film, oh say like IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (which one of the char-
acters is watching on tv at one point), or like the fairy tale town in SOMETHING
WICKED THIS WAY COMES. Just as Lucas and Spielberg have tried to emulate the
serials of the 30's with STAR WARS and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Dante (& Spiel-
berg appear to be trying to emulate the whimsical fantasies of the 40's with
GREMLINS.
I admit that I found the movie silly and outlandish during the last
half, and there was at least one time when I didn't think I could take any more,
but I had such a good time *laughing*, that I couldn't help but enjoy the film.
To those of you who are hard-core film fans:
1. Watch closely to the backgrounds. There is a plethora of references and in-
jokes. Be especially observant during the scene in which the father (Hoyt Axton)
is attending an "inventor's convention".
2. You might also notice *many* familiar faces. Dante fills the movie with ex-
tras that you've probably seen hundreds of times from hundreds of films from the
last forty years. (This doesn't even count Dick Miller, who has been in every
Dante film to date)
Despite what flaws exist in the film, it comes off as a delightful piece
of whimsy and I had one of the best times at the movies that I've had in maybe
two or three years. It grates me to say this, but I think this will turn out to
be this year's E.T. (it grates me because I despised E.T.).
--- jayembee (Jerry Boyajian, DEC Maynard, MA)
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P.S. If you really want to know what the last half of the movie is like, imagine
this:
Think of Animal, that demented drummer from THE MUPPET SHOW. Not his
physical image, but his psychological image, his *joie de vivre*, his cavalier,
devil-may-care attitude toward life and property, his totally crazed personali-
ty. Now, picture hundreds (literally) of Animals (but looking like vicious lit-
tle things with sharp pointy teeth) wreaking havoc on a small town. [And no one
with a Holy Hand-Grenade of Antioch with which to stop them their depredations]
That's what this film is like. Have fun.