Search - Gremlins on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Suitable for Teens Movie Release: 1984 DVD Release: 08/21/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Restored/Remastered Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 46 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Comedy, Horror, Horror Comedy, Creature Film See Also: Gremlins, Gremlins [Special Edition], Gremlins/Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Gremlins [Widescreen], Gremlins [25th Anniversary Edition] [Blu-ray], Gremlins [Blu-ray]

"Don't expose him to bright light. Don't ever get him wet. And don't ever, ever feed him after midnight." This sage advice is ignored midway through Gremlins, with devastating results. This comic Joe Dante effort is set in a Norman Rockwell-esque small town at Christmastime. Seeking a unique gift for his son an erstwhile inventor (Hoyt Axton) purchases a cute, fuzzy little "Mogwai" from a Chinatown shopkeeper's (Keye Luke) grandson (John Louie), who dispenses the above-mentioned warning before closing the deal. Meanwhile, young bank clerk Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) must suffer such antagonists as rich-bitch Mrs. Deagle (Polly Holliday) and priggish Gerald (Judge Reinhold) while pursuing his romance with Kate (Phoebe Cates). These and a variety of other plot strands are tied together when the lovable mogwai (named Gizmo) is exposed to bright light and gotten wet. In short order, the town is invaded by nasty, predatory Gremlins, who lay waste to everything in sight as Billy and Kate try to contain the destruction. Like most of Joe Dante's works, Gremlins is chock-full of significant cameo appearances: in this instance, such pop-culture icons as Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, Chuck Jones, Scott Brady, Harry Carey Jr., Steven Spielberg (the film's executive producer) and even Robby the Robot all show up briefly on screen. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Zach Galligan - Billy
Hoyt Axton - Rand Peltzer
Frances Lee McCain - Lynn Peltzer
Phoebe Cates - Kate
Polly Holliday - Mrs. Deagle

Those monstrous green devils are back in Warner's new =Gremlins: Special Edition. Presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, this newly produced transfer boasts strong color schemes and well defined black levels. Aside of a small amount of edge enhancement, this is a very crisp and pleasing image. The soundtrack is presented in a newly created Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround soundtrack in English, as well as Dolby 2.0 Surround in English, French, and Spanish. While a few directional effects pop up now and then, overall this is a fairly subdued soundtrack that is focused through the center and front speakers. All aspects of the soundtrack are free and clear of any excessive hiss or distortion. Also included on this disc are English, French, and Spanish subtitles. Fans will be very happy to see Gremlins finally released in a coveted special edition featuring mounds of extra features. Starting off the disc are two commentary tracks, one by director Joe Dante and actors Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller, and Howie Mandel and a second by Dante, producer Mike Finnell and special effects creator Chris Walas. Both of these commentary tracks are funny, informative, and filled with witty stories and recollections about the film's history. A bland behind-the-scenes featurette, which was produced in 1984, runs about eight minutes long and includes standard interviews with the cast and crew (including a very young Steven Spielberg). Some deleted scenes are presented in a non-anamorphic rough version with optional commentary by various cast and crew members. Finally there is a rather short still gallery with about 30 images, some filmographies on the cast and crew, production notes, and trailers for Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide