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From: goun@dec-elmer.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Gremlins
Message-ID: <1331@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 10-Jun-84 05:19:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1331
Posted: Sun Jun 10 05:19:24 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 13-Jun-84 01:41:22 EDT
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 41

I went to see Steven Spielberg's "Gremlins" last night.  Here are some of my
impressions; I'll try not to generate any spoilers.

In the first thirty minutes or so, I had to wonder if this whole thing was
just some toy company's way of cleaning up next Christmas with "Gizmo"
dolls, T-shirts, games, etc.  It was simply too cute to live!  By the time
things started getting gross, I'd had so much cute I was numb to the thrills
and chills.  

If this movie has a spiritual father, it's a classic short called "Bambi vs.
Godzilla," in which the lovable deer is crushed beneath the foot of the
giant reptile.  "Gremlins" parodies an amazing number of motion-picture
cliches, including (naturally) some Spielberg movies.  It's right on target,
and often very funny.

I loved the mother's scene in the kitchen with the gremlins, and the
gremlins in the bar were wonderful.  Billy's love interest I could have done
without.  She was a carbon copy of the wimpy teenager in "WarGames."

The creature animation reminded me of "The Dark Crystal."  That is to say,
very natural-looking motion, and creatures that I believed could just have 
escaped from somebody's nightmare.  The only fault I could find was with the
frequent close-ups of Gizmo, which looked rather plastic (especially the
eyes).

I'd put "Gremlins" somewhere between "Star Trek III" and "Indiana Jones" in
terms of being worth your $4.50 this week, or even more if you don't love
"Star Trek."  I'd take a ten-year-old to see it, but I'm not too sure about a
younger child.  My shock quotient may be abnormally high these days after
seeing "Indiana Jones."

					"Nothing shocks me, I'm a scientist."

					Roger

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