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Howie Mandel and Tony Randall in Gremlins 2 - Die Rückkehr der kleinen Monster (1990)

Benutzerrezensionen

Gremlins 2 - Die Rückkehr der kleinen Monster

226 Bewertungen
7/10

Respectable sequel

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is the 1990 sequel to the 1984 box office hit "Gremlins" which is one of my all-time favorite movies. The sequel is not as good as the original, but its not bad either. Here the filmakers did something different. They tried to make this one more of a comedy than the original. The first film was funny but also scary. "Gremlins 2" plays more like a Mel Brooks-type movie with some of the jokes that are in it. But its hardly scary. Plus, it got a little tiresome to watch the gremlins do some of the exact same things that they did the first time around like drinking, smoking, etc. Nevertheless, this is for the most part an entertaining movie that I'd wish had done better at the box office. I think if they had made this three years after the original instead of six years, it would have done better. In between the two "Gremlins" flicks there were all those ripoffs ("Critters", "Ghoulies" and their sequels) and by 1990 moviegoers became tired of it all. But the two "Gremlins" movies are much better than the "Critters" and "Ghoulies" movies. A good job by director Joe Dante.

*** (out of four)
  • jhaggardjr
  • 8. Apr. 2000
  • Permalink
7/10

A sequel every bit as enjoyable as the first movie...

I am, and have always been, a fan of the "Gremlins" movies. Especially since they manage to combine comedy and horror in a most satisfying manner, but most importantly because of the Mogwai and the gremlins themselves.

If you enjoyed the 1984 "Gremlins" movie, then you will definitely also like the "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" from 1990.

This is a direct continuation of the first movie in a way, and the writers managed to come up with a story angle that supports the transition between the first and second movie quite well.

In "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" Billy (played by Zach Galligan) and Kate (played by Phoebe Cates) have moved to New York and are working for the Clamp company and work in an advanced skyscraper. When Gizmo finds his way to Billy, and is accidentally exposed to water, New York is in for a repeat of the incident that happened at Kingston Falls.

One might think, at a glance, that I have already seen this in the first movie. And you are right, to a certain extend. Sure, there are similarities to the first movie, but everything in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is taken one step further. More gremlins, more mutations, more mayhem, more comedy, and so forth.

What I love about "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is the great ideas for changing the gremlins, as they are exposed to the various formulas and genetic materials from a research company also house in the Clamp Tower. The gremlins designs are just fantastic, and the creativity behind these ideas is just fabulous.

There are also some great performances in this movie. Of course, first and foremost, it was nice to have Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates return to their roles. But it was equally great to have Dick Miller return as well, despite for a small role only (just as in the first movie). Furthermore, there were some memorable performances by Christopher Lee, Robert Prosky, John Glover and Robert Picardo.

The storyline in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is also good, and it matches the craziness, intensity and the unique style of the first movie very well, and then adds a new element to that.

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" is a movie that you can watch again and again, just like the first movie. And this is one of those types of movies that everyone is familiar with, even if they haven't actually seen the movie. I think that these two movies are definitely something that everyone should take the time to sit down and watch.
  • paul_m_haakonsen
  • 7. Mai 2017
  • Permalink

Even more underrated of a film than the first.

This film is often looked back on as not only the lesser of the two Gremlins flicks but not a very good movie in general. I just don't understand it -- I love this movie! It successfully continues the underlying theme of the original (unlike a lot of sequels which seem to forget their points entirely): "gremlins" are mythical creatures blamed for mechanical errors (if an appliance is broken, it must have been the work of gremlins). In this movie, the gremlins are loose in a totally automated high-rise office building, already suffering from its own malfunctions, which serves as the perfect playground for them. Charles Haas' script is absolutely hilarious, filled with more movie in-jokes than I can recall seeing in a single movie, and it even pokes fun at the more serious original. In fact, I think many people disliked this film because of its total irreverence compared to the first; it didn't try to be scary for a second and Rick Baker's creature effects turned out goofier than Chris Walas's original creature designs. Just realize...this is a comedy! Definitely worth seeing more than once to catch the barrage of jokes and references...and sit all the way through the credits!
  • dgb
  • 5. Dez. 1998
  • Permalink
7/10

Good Gremlins Sequel!

  • gwnightscream
  • 17. März 2012
  • Permalink
7/10

balls to the wall

Dont go in looking for any sort of meaningful sequel. Pure satire at its peak. This movie is great at being funny and its main use of practical effects really make the film feel authentic. Hilariously insane. Keeps its core characters, but invests new ideas entirely into the gremlins. Chefs kiss.
  • sagastaxavier
  • 3. März 2022
  • Permalink
7/10

smarter, faster, funnier than the original

Those adorable critters and their malicious alter egos are back, in a belated sequel, which dares to do more than simply copy the original. It's actually more of a corrective remake, with Galligan and Cates trading their generic back-lot small town for the hustle of metropolitan Manhattan, where after a deceptively slow start they're reunited with the cuddly Gizmo (the perfect surrogate child) and his/her malevolent offspring. The resulting mayhem doubles as an attack on consumerism and corporate greed, at the expense of a Donald Trump/Ted Turner clone (John Glover) who is less a villain than an innocent, almost childlike fellow victim. The apocalyptic anarchy will be enough to warm any child's heart, but only adults will appreciate the swift, satirical jabs and constant stream of film references, including a parody of the embarrassing soliloquy by Phoebe Cates in the original. At its frenetic best the film shows director Joe Dante in top form.
  • mjneu59
  • 23. Nov. 2010
  • Permalink
7/10

A very similar film to its predecessor, naturally

A very similar film to its predecessor, naturally.

It doesn't quite hit the same positive beats as the 1984 film did, yet 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch' still makes for solid viewing. The Mogwai again look splendid, as Gizmo remains awesome.

There are a few negatives, Zach Galligan's acting was weaker and Dick Miller was shoehorned in, but they don't damage the film all that much.
  • r96sk
  • 7. Feb. 2020
  • Permalink
8/10

Dante does satire and nobody noticed ?

I rate both films exactly the same but for very different reasons, the first film was an enjoyable romp fusing horror and comedy to great effect. When I saw that there was to be this sequel 6 years later I was very pleased indeed. What I hadn't bargained for was the sharpness of the writing and the satirical structure that director Dante laid out for audiences to watch.

Focusing very much on the then modern obsessions like tearing things down to build state of the art monstrous complexes, or the need for a better world; be it the laboratory testings for better life forms, or machines to run our lives; Gremlins 2 plays out as a sort of morality tale that sees the creatures themselves as byproducts of the human condition. In true classic creature feature fashion, Dante manages to garner a level of sympathy for the Gremlins. These vile offspring of the offspring are party animals, they have fun, they like to sing and go nuts, they are in short, quite like a stag party on the Costa Del Sol! Throwing in as many film references as it can, Gremlins 2 may have a satirical slant at it's heart, but sure enough the fun from the first film segues nicely into this picture to make this one of the better, and more smarter sequels on the market.

And those darn Gremlins are nastier and uglier than ever as well! 8/10
  • hitchcockthelegend
  • 3. März 2008
  • Permalink
6/10

gremlins 2

Gremlins 2 is film that far more satirical and goofy then the first one and becase of that it was fun to watch in some scenes but in some all of that just become to much and even if some staff or referances and 4wall breaking was nice to see it was felt like out of place and like they tried to hard to make us laugh and cause of that they werent able to achieve their mission,what i like in first gremlins is that it mixed comedy and horror elements rather well and it had a dose of seriousness in it,but this one had none of that,gremlins 2 is at leved down compared to first but satirical jokes and use of said referances will made up for some lack of quality
  • marmar-69780
  • 19. Feb. 2020
  • Permalink
4/10

Extremely self indulgent.

After having a bout of nostalgia, I just finished watching a Gremlins 2-pack DVD set tonight.

I have to say, I thought the first one holds up fairly well.

However, the sequel sadly does not. I'm really quite surprised at the high number of positive reviews here.

This film is terrible.

Don't get me wrong, I love Joe Dante and I can see where he was coming from. He knew it was a totally unnecessary sequel, so he wanted to spoof the whole thing and just have a good time.

He really should've stayed home. This is quite possibly the most self-indulgent, stupid, shallow mess of a film I've ever seen.

There's virtually no plot to speak of. The supposed "main" characters run around like morons amongst a barrage of childish Gremlin gags. Most of which, are plain idiotic and verging on embarrassing.

I felt for the actors here, as they really gave it their all.

I know Dante is obsessed with Warner Bros cartoons, but including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck in this film was totally unjustified and insipid. Their scene couldn't have been less funny and I can't believe Dante got away with it.

In fact, I can't believe he got away with the whole movie.
  • the_daz
  • 8. Jan. 2007
  • Permalink
9/10

Underrated sequel

Fancy some Gremlin Stew? Three underrated sequels came out in 1990. Predator 2, RoboCop 2, and Gremlins 2. I remember waiting in the lobby of a cinema in Orlando, Florida before a screening of Back to the Future 3, looking at the cardboard standees for Gremlins 2 and RoboCop 2 side by side. My 9-year-old self was a HUGE fan of the first movies and staring at a standee taller than me, featuring wonderful artwork, for those sequels was big deal for me. I pity kids nowadays who don't have the attention span to soak up little moments like that.

Dante takes everything that was great about Gremlins and cranks it all the way up to a zillion. The original movie was a dark xmas comedy horror with B-movie undertones. The sequel goes so over-the-top it launches itself into the stratosphere and doesn't come back down until the very, very end of the credits. It's just wall-to-wall mayhem with so many in-jokes it'll make your head explode. The movie even attempts to begin as a Looney Tunes cartoon.

Gizmo, now back with Mr. Wing, escapes the curiosity shop after the old man dies and is found by a scientist working at Splice of Life, a laboratory located in the Clamp Premiere Regency Trade Centre and Retail Concourse (a big skyscraper in Manhattan). Working in the art department of that skyscraper is Billy Peltzer, hero of the first film. Billy eventually locates and rescues Gizmo, but he gets wet before Billy can take him home, spawning a new generation of cute, fluffy, malevolent Mogwai (Mohawk, Lenny, Edward G. Robinson-lookalike George, and the absolutely mad Daffy). They eat after midnight at a Yoghurt stand in the lobby. The following day the Clamp building, and all of the tenants (from the Archery Channel to the movie print itself, leading to an amusing cameo from Hulk Hogan) are besieged by a horde of gremlins intent on mass destruction and good times at any cost.

One can accuse the film of having no story beyond giving the Gremlins a lively backdrop for their wild antics, but when you're having so much fun isn't that what matters most? Goldsmith's score (sadly underrepresented on the 22-year-old Varese Sarabande CD) has a lot more weight second time around, backed-up by a large orchestra and string-based action cues. You'll absolutely love it! Chris Columbus didn't return for this movie, leaving scripting duties to Charlie Haas. He uses the Gremlins and the location to skewer big city culture and satirize business tycoons. John Glover is brilliant as the easily excitable Daniel Clamp, a Donald Trump-like property magnate who has more money and power than he knows what do with.

It's amazing that a third Gremlins movie was never made. Despite it now being 22 years since Gremlins 2 and 28 years since the first movie virtually every kid knows what the Gremlins are and are familiar with Gizmo (who may well be the cutest thing that ever existed). It's still a huge cash cow and a recognizable brand, and why Warner never greenlit Gremlins 3 is puzzling to say the absolute least.

One last thing. Stay with this film until the end of the credits.
  • CuriosityKilledShawn
  • 3. Aug. 2000
  • Permalink
6/10

Comedy horror sequel with entertainment , fun and deft satiric edge

The sequel to Gremlins is inferior to original that was quite good. Set in a futuristic skyscraper in the Big Apple where the young couple of Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) now work for the money-grubbing tech-mogul, Daniel Clamp (John Glover) , in his colossal Clamp Tower high-rise . But, before long , things go wrong , as Gizmo (Howie mandel voice) , the orphaned Mogwai, falls prey to the nasty scientist, Doctor Catheter (Christopher Lee) . Once again , Gremlins , and Brain Gremlin (Tony Randall voice) appearing to cause chaos , as they don't execute the rules , neither warnings : ¨don't expose them to bright light, don't ever get wet and don't ever , ever feed after midnight¨. The Gremlins are back, and this time, they've taken control of a New York City media mogul's high-tech skyscraper !. Take Your Batch to See the New Batch !. Look out , a new batch is on the way !. Here they grow again , we warned you !. Remember the rules !. You didn't listen !.

Director Joe Dante presents a less violent but far more campy vision , paying myriad surreal tribute to soudtracks of movies and with great sense of amusement . Naturally, there're lots of mayhem , frolics , antics and jokes , this all happening at the skyscraper and the result is a gang of nasty gremlins who decide to tear up the building and after the city . This watchable enough motion picture was regular but professionally directed by Joe Dante displaying their characteristic surrealist humor and sense of style . The story is nothing more than a fleeble excuse to string together gags , silly sketches , ironical craziness , several cameos and fast-paced set pieces . Dante is surely right to let his visual imagination run riot , in fact in this follow-up there's more comedy , more irony , but perhaps less inventive . Including ¨The Wizard of Oz¨ and other famous film parodies and other musical extravaganzas of the past . Also incorporates a Donald Trump parody , takes on TV news and body-slams modern urban living with funny action , adding a lot of rapid-fire surreal sight gags . Along with ordinary starring : Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates , appearing here and there a number of familiar secondaries : Robert Prosky , Robert Picardo , Christopher Lee, Haviland Morris , Dick Miller , Raymond Cruz , Julia Sweeney , Keye Luke, Kathleen Freeman and various cameos , such as : Paul Bartel , Kenneth Tobey , Howie Mandel , Tony Randall , John Astin, Henry Gibson, Leonard Maltin , Hulk Hogan, Bubba Smith , Isiah Whitlock Jr , Dean Norris , and musician Jerry Goldsmish who composes a lively and enjoyable score similar to Gremlis I .

Lavishly Produced by Steven Spielberg , and professionally directed by Joe Dante, but without originality, because copying situations from previous film . Dante's most hits took place when found himself working alongside Steven Spielberg, John Landis and Australian director George Miller for the anthology movie ¨The Twilight Zone, The Movie¨ (1983) in which Dante directed the third segment . Steven Spielberg then hired him to work as director for ¨Gremlins¨ (1984) which was another box-office success. He directed some episodes for the Sci-Fi series "Amazing Stories" before directing his next Science Fiction feature which was ¨Innerspace¨ (1987) which, whilst critically well reviewed, was another box office failure. After directing five episodes of "Eerie, Indiana", Dante returned to the big-screen with the well-received ¨Matinee¨ (1993), an affectionate period satire set in 1962 against the background of the Cold War. Dante spent the next several years working for television and directed a satire on politics with ¨The Second Civil War¨ (1997) . Dante's next two films, ¨Small Soldiers¨ (1998), and ¨Looney Toons: Back in Action¨ (2004) garnered good reviews but were not commercial hits. Gremlins 2 rating : 6/10.
  • ma-cortes
  • 5. Feb. 2023
  • Permalink
5/10

Disappointing Sequel

The horror element of the original "Gremlins" is replaced entirely with lame comedy in this disappointing sequel. Zach Gilligan and Phoebe Cates return as Billy Peltzer and Kate Beringer, now living in the Big Apple. It's not long after their reunion with Gizmo (he's so cute it's sickening) that the little guy is accidentally hit with water and the villainous title characters return to wreak havoc. This time their target is a high-tech corporate skyscraper run by a Trump-like suit.

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" tries hard enough, and it's certainly original and creative. But it just never really clicks. The film plays like a bad episode of "The Muppet Show" as the cartoonish gremlins sing musical numbers, destroy property and morph into giant bats and spiders. It repeatedly attempts to poke fun at itself, but those efforts, too, fall flat on their face. Maybe the gremlins just aren't cut out for comedy. Chalk this one up as one of the weakest efforts from highly-talented director Joe Dante.
  • ReelCheese
  • 10. Aug. 2006
  • Permalink

One of my favorite films. ***** out of 5

This here is Joe Dante's best film. It's a delightful and absolutely charming dark comedy. I begged my mom to take me to see this back in 1990 and thankfully I can say I saw this on the big screen.

Years later when I watch it, I can catch all of the little references and nods to other great films of the past. The Warner Brothers Looney Tune cartoons have obviously made an impact on the directorial style of Joe Dante. What's great is the combination of this type of humor blended with these devious little monsters wrecking havoc in the Clamp Building. Speaking of Clamp, John Glover was excellent as Daniel Clamp (a parody of Donald Trump). He's absolutely hilarious!

There are many terrific special effects and sequences in the film. It's hard to tell you which scene is my favorite because I adore every moment of the film. I will say one of the scenes that sticks out for me is when the Bat Gremlin flies out into New York City by day. I just love those excellent shots of him flying through the sky. Of course, the Brain Gremlin and the 'New York, New York' number is fantastic as well. "Is eeeverybody heere?" And who could forget when the Gremlins got their revenge for Leonard Maltin's lambasting of the first Gremlins movie?

All this is accompanied by a fantastic Jerry Goldsmith score (which happens to be one of my favorites of his as well). The collaboration between Goldsmith and Dante isn't unlike that of Hitchcock and Herrmann or Spielberg and Williams.

The film abounds with dark jollity and watching it you can tell that the filmmakers had a fun time making the picture. To include the audience as part of the goings on, is a real treat.

Out of all the thousands of films I have seen, none have been or ever will be more entertaining than Gremlins 2.

I LOVE it.
  • pumpkinhead_lance
  • 20. Apr. 2005
  • Permalink
6/10

Superior sequel

A Gremlins film for people that hated the original Gremlins? Well, maybe not quite. But this sequel does come close.

I initially detested the 1984 film, though seeing it a second time did make me respect it a little more. It's skewed Disney-meets-horror sensibility and sub-Bedford Falls setting is quite literary, and rewarding. The humour is still unfulfilling, however, as it operates at face value. Put simply, an elderly lady crashing through her attic in an electric stairlift is a joke about an elderly lady crashing through her attic in an electric stairlift. In this sequel the jokes have wider, and more irreverent, reference. It even dares to insult the original. Whereas the first took it's time to establish the situation and only really got going in the last forty minutes, the second is a constant stream of gags that begin even before the opening titles. The first is the better film, but Gremlins 2: The New Batch is the better movie.

The first real appearance of the Mogwai, Gizmo, sees him jiving to Fats Domino in a delightfully showoffish scene that only exists to brag about how much more advanced the special effects are. Film referencing is the game here, not always subtle, but diverting. Dracula gets several knocks, most obviously the Universal '31 version. Yet Christopher Lee, who played the count in 1958 for Hammer Films, also gets to double take at the bat homages. And is just me, or is the television "Grandpa Fred" a take-off of Fred Gwynne from The Munsters?

64 minutes in and the picture crashes as the Gremlins actually take over the film. Unusually, two versions were shot, the video version and a cinema one with Hulk Hogan, which I didn't get to see. Though this is pleasing as John Wayne telling them to "go on back to your own movie" is more inspired. Their gunfight with Wayne as he tries to force them out of his film is a nice gimmick, though the makers lacked the guts to allow the Gremlins to shoot him. Still, a nice touch all the same.

Leonard Maltin appears as himself, slating the original movie, while the somewhat silly "rules" of the first are mocked by those that hear them. Another top ‘84-bashing moment is Phoebes Cates beginning another anecdote about how she was made miserable on a public holiday, to match the original's "dad dead on Christmas" story. "Honey," says Zach Galligan, "I really don't think we've got time for this now, y'know?" The rest of the cast look on in disapproval.

The humour is still perhaps a little too unsophisticated to really engage as satire, but as an option over the first it does extremely well. The idea of a sequel trashing its source is fairly unique, and must be praised. The weirdest thing about the film, though, is the hilarious mock footage clip of the film "The Attack of the Octopus People" ("And boy, is it scary!") It turns out that this ridiculous fake clip is actually a genuine film – 1971's Octaman.
  • The_Movie_Cat
  • 16. Okt. 2000
  • Permalink
6/10

When a Gremlin gets milked it makes a second movie

Billy Peltzer, Kate Beringer and Gizmo the Mogwai are back - but this time they are in New York. If you've seen the first Gremlins film you know what to expect, and you know the rules to follow. Unfortunately though they aren't followed (of course - or there wouldn't be a film), Gizmo gets wet, produces some Gremlins, and they go on a chaos fuelled rampage through a high-tech corporate skyscraper.

This film often gets ignored as a rubbish sequel but in truth it's not that bad, it just tries a little too hard for me. It was made at a time when sequels where the in-thing, trying to expand a story sometimes for artistic purposes, sometimes to squeeze a few more dollars out of a story. Gremlins 2 falls somewhere between those two reasons - putting a decent concept in a new location but not actually bringing anything massively new - albeit a few laughs poking fun at itself. Expect more horror, and there definitely are a lot more laughs - but this is certainly nothing revolutionary which you won't see coming a mile off once you start watching the film. It doesn't take itself too seriously and often parodies itself in-between parodying some of Hollywood's finest films. Despite any negatives I may be writing, it isn't a hard film to watch and can easily be viewed without having to engage your brain too much. Unfortunately though, this sequel won't be a timeless film like the first outing of Gremlins. Decent without being brilliant - 6 out of 10.
  • one9eighty
  • 11. Feb. 2020
  • Permalink
7/10

Loads more fun

  • gcd70
  • 28. Nov. 2007
  • Permalink
6/10

Good, Not Better

New York has enough problems without gremlins mucking things up. That was what NYC was looking at when the lovable Gizmo was pretty much kidnapped by some geneticists in downtown New York. By pure coincidence (read: writer's design) Gizmo ended up being housed in the same building Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) worked in. It was only a matter of time before Gizmo would get wet and his evil spawns would eat after midnight (otherwise there'd be no movie).

BTW: what is the cutoff time in which they can eat? I mean, they can't eat after midnight, but at what time can they eat: 1 a.m., 2 a.m., sunup?

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" was about having fun, they even broke the fourth wall. I admit, it was funnier than its predecessor though it wasn't better. Good, not better.
  • view_and_review
  • 20. Feb. 2020
  • Permalink
10/10

Strange, weird, bizarre, brilliant

  • cryofry
  • 23. Apr. 2005
  • Permalink
6/10

Pros and cons

  • benjyboom
  • 21. Dez. 2019
  • Permalink
3/10

This movie is more stupid than funny.

The first Gremlins movie was great. It combined humor with thrills, and was a good movie overall. Gremlins 2, however, was not. It tried so desperately to be as good as the original (such as the girl gremlin hitting on that guy near the end) but in the end just came out being foolish and boring. The movie is not terrible, but it is not good either, and I bet if they made this movie more like the first Gremlins, then I would be giving it a perfect score right now. But no, they had to screw it up. The only thing that brought this movie a lot of money was Brian Gremlin and the Gremlins' antics, and even those get poor after awhile.

3/10
  • sinisterdrecc88
  • 27. März 2009
  • Permalink
8/10

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch"- A brilliant satire and self-parody filled to burst with clever commentary and hilarious humor.

I have something of an odd history with director Joe Dante's 1990 release "Gremlins 2: The New Batch." Having been born in the late 80's, I grew up in "Gremlins"-mania. The original classic of black humor and creature-feature thrills was everywhere... everyone loved it and everyone loved to watch it constantly. And as a young child, as much as I loved that brilliant first film, I equally loved it's twisted and demented follow up. I'd watch them back-to- back practically once a week when I was in Elementary school. They just worked so well together in my mind: a more subtle first film followed by a more over-the-top and in-your-face sequel chocked full of constant gags and twists. Then, about age 10 or 11, I stopped enjoying it. It's radical tonal departure from the original and seeming discontent with its predecessor just didn't sit well with me... it seemed so insane and ridiculous, I just stopped loving it. It felt too much like it was making fun of the original rather than honoring it, which I hated.

It wasn't until many years later, as a teen about to enter my 20's that I rediscovered it and gave it a chance...and I loved it more than I had ever imagined I would! And even to this day, my adoration for it continues to grow. Why? Because I realized those things I hated about it years prior were intentional. It was all part of the insane and all-encompassing sense of anarchy director Joe Dante was crafting with this wonderful sequel. I just wasn't mature enough to be in on the gag, and realize that this wasn't just a sequel- it was a brilliant satire filled with great themes based on American culture of the 90's, consumerism and media... and also just a darned well- constructed piece of self-parody. It's poking fun at its own existence as an unnecessary sequel to a self-contained film and just has fun using the concept as an excuse to deliver some biting commentary. And I do think that it may be one of the greatest under-appreciated sequels ever made.

Several years after the events of the original, Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and his girlfriend Kate (Phoebe Cates) have re-located to New York City and are both working for Clamp Enterprises, a company run by eccentric and amusingly naive millionaire Daniel Clamp. (John Glover) Coincidentally, it turns out that Gizmo- the adorable Mogwai- is being held captive for experimentation in the very same building. Soon enough, Billy and his former pet are reunited. But all is not well- an accident causes a new batch of Gremlins to emerge, and it's up to Billy, Kate, Gizmo, Clamp and the visiting Futtermans (Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph) to save the day once again.

Director Dante, along with screenwriter Charles S. Haas craft a deliciously subversive tale that builds off of what came before, but takes it in a wildly creative new direction. Story goes that Dante was simply not interested in making another "Gremlins", especially as every script that was turned in was just a carbon-copy of the original. It wasn't until he was given near full creative control that he stepped back into the director's chair. And thank the lord he did. From the opening minute of the film, you know you're in for something very unique. And almost each and every scene has some layer of parody, satire or commentary that will leave you howling with laughter. You know you're watching something special when there's an uproariously funny gag involving a cable network's "End of Civilization" video announcement being prepped to air and a prolonged sequence where a janitor bemoans the dog-eat-dog world of modern employment while Gizmo is besieged by his evil Mogwai offspring. Special props also go to the brilliant series of gags revolving around Clamp's decidedly inefficient "smart" building and a sequence that openly mocks the "three rules" established in the first film. There's some good, broad humor there.

Beyond that, the rest of the production is just magnificent. The updated creature effects courtesy Rick Baker are a massive step-up, with each and every Gremlin and Mogwai seeming to have their own distinct look and personality. Jerry Goldsmith's score is a comical blast and a half. The cast is fabulous, with all returning actors given their moment to shine and new cast members being very likable and entertaining. Glover is wonderful as the oddball Clamp. Christopher Lee makes for a memorable foil as a deranged genetic research scientist whose work allows the Gremlins to mutate into amusing new forms. And Robert Prosky gives a sense of class as a television host who gets caught up in the action. And the cinematography is also very sharp and works wonders, perfectly complimenting director Dante's unique and quirky visual sensibilities.

"Gremlins 2: The New Batch" might not be for everyone. It's complex and hard-hitting commentary will likely fly over the heads of many viewers, and its deliberately ridiculous and farcical style may turn off the more hardcore fanbase of the original. But if you have an open mind, this is a journey well worth taking.

I give it a very good 8 out of 10.
  • TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness
  • 5. Nov. 2016
  • Permalink
7/10

The next level

Cleaner image than the first movie. The creature effects go to the next level too. Great use of all the speakers except the bass speaker which was a little soft. This takes everything to the next level. There is more comedy, more crazy gremlins and that's your lot. Much less serious than the first and I prefer it that way.
  • hellholehorror
  • 24. Okt. 2017
  • Permalink
4/10

A not-so-fun sequel to Gremlins.

Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) and Kate Beringer (Phoebe Cates) return in this sequel, working at a giant media corporation. The Gremlin Gizmo has been captured and given to the corporation's genetics unit and, as a result, it gets accidentally exposed to water again and multiplies, sending a new batch of mischievous, hideous and dangerous little monsters lose on the entire building and its unsuspecting staff.

This movie has more gremlins and them doing mischievous things than the first movie, messing with people and playing mean tricks left and right. The special effects on the monsters were good for the most part (some of the animated sequences does fall flat a little) and the music score was OK. However, the comedic and scary moments turn up flat as much of the acting was pretty goofy, including those of the monsters, and many of the characters acted like clowns, especially the dumb twins and the Media Mogul Daniel Clamp (John Glover).

The plot went all over the place and wasn't kept quite together as that in the first movie and there were really no scary or jumpy moments. I wished the story showed more bewilderment and fear from the people who witnessed the gremlins' havoc; but, they just showed casual concern and intrigue.

Overall, it's not a very good sequel. It doesn't have the character development, unique flavor and suspense as the original movie, instead, it's just a wild crazy-fest of gremlins and overzealous humans trying to deal with all the chaos. Stick with the original film.

Grade D
  • OllieSuave-007
  • 26. Okt. 2015
  • Permalink

the gremlins are back

gremlins 2 is not a horror movie like the original kind of was, but it's funnier, and more entertaining than the original in my opinion. gremlins 2 is full of movie in-jokes, and all kinds of other goofy stuff. i just believe this movie provides more entertainment than the original did. i wish they'd make a 3rd gremlins movie. all in all gremlins 2 is great fun! i give gremlins 2: the new batch *** out of ****
  • jaws!
  • 4. Dez. 1999
  • Permalink

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