Gremlins 2: The New Batch on DVD

Had Gremlins 2 been released in the 80s as opposed to 1990, it may have been more a bigger hit.

Instead, the release in the dawn of a new decade probably hurt it more than anything. People were ready to move on to something new, rather than be reminded of one of the oddest ten years imaginable.

Gremlins is probably director Joe Dante’s weakest film to date, but Gremlins 2 ties it. It’s a bad movie - though it’s a pretty entertaining bad movie.

This time around, Gizmo manages to find his way back to Billy after the old Chinese man passes away. Billy leaves Giz in his office overnight, and we can pretty much figure out what happens from there. Yes, Gizmo gets wet. Yes, the Mogwais eat after midnight. Yes, the Gremlins start wreaking havoc all through the building.

But, to add a fresh twist to the story, some of the Gremlins find their way to a science lab and end up mutating. There’s Arachno-Grem, Electro-Grem, and even Intelli-Grem. Even the non-mutated Gremlins have different personalities so we can tell them apart.

The movie’s main strong point is its ability and willingness to parody itself. Not only does it parody the original Gremlins, but it even parodies the fact that we’re watching a movie when the Gremlins take control of the theatre and wreck the film. Watch for a cheesy but amusing cameo that gets the movie rolling again.

Gremlins 2 may not be a great movie, but it’s a good Saturday afternoon watch. And if you enjoyed the first film, you’ll probably enjoy the second. Otherwise, be warned…

The DVD is pretty sharp considering Gremlins 2 is by no means a classic, and it wasn’t much of a success. Still, Warner has put together a nifty package.

The picture is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, and is pretty good. The film is 12 years old and it’s not that hard to tell, but when you take that into account, the quality of the picture is eyebrow-raising. There are surprisingly few foreign objects, it’s crisp and clear, and halo effects are non-existent. In short, they've done a nice job.

The audio, though not as impressive as the picture, is also pretty good. Surrounds are used more than they need to be, generally being used more for humor’s sake than surround’s sake. But it’s a nice Dolby Digital 5.1 track, and there is also a 2.0 track included.

The most notable extra is an audio commentary by Joe Dante, Zach Galligan, screenwriter Charlie Haas and producer Michael Finnell. It’s a fun track, the kind that is more entertaining than informative, and more engrossing than boring.

You also get over 20 minutes of deleted scenes, none of which are anything special. Advertised on the box as a “behind-the-scenes documentary,” the bit is really just a five-minute promo reel, although they did take a nicely unique approach. There is also a gag reel, a kind of video game, an easter egg, and the trailer.

It’s a very nice disc, even if the movie doesn’t quite deserve it.

Gremlins 2: The New Batch, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
107 minutes, anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) 16X9 enhanced, 5.1 Dolby Digital
Starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, John Glover, Robert Picardo and Christopher Lee
Produced by Michael Finnell
Written by Charlie Haas
Directed by Joe Dante

Tell us at TechnoFile what YOU think