Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)

hyped garbage

Absolutely Brilliant!

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

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.

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.

Joe Dante directs another movie filled with in jokes and references to old horror and science fiction movies, which is a pretty good reason to watch the film if you're a cult movie fan in the first place. Just spotting all of the visual references passes the time pleasingly enough. There isn't a plot but instead the film is full of gags, which is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact it was a pleasure to watch something different for a change.Christopher Lee stars in the film, playing a sinister (what else?) doctor, which is another reason to watch it, and he gets to utter some hilarious lines, such as when he receives a parcel; "Oh splendid this must be my malaria!". This is one of Lee's better roles from the period but to be truthful, that isn't saying much. Also on hand are the twins Don and Dan Stanton, who you may remember from TERMINATOR 2, playing two scientist clones. The in-jokes are numerous; Lee appears carrying a pod from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS; THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS is playing at the cinema. Hulk Hogan, the epitome of all that was wrong with the early '90s, even puts in a guest appearance! Robert Picardo, best known to audiences as the holographic doctor in STAR TREK: VOYAGER, plays an unlikeable businessman who forms an unlikely bond with a female gremlin. There are a lot of memorable scenes as well, such as when a gremlin is fed into a shredder, causing one hell of a mess! The spider-gremlin is also very creative and well designed, as is the bat-gremlin. Dick Miller, a Dante and Corman regular, puts in a welcome heroic performance as a man on the street who battles the creatures, and Gizmo even becomes Rambo, tying a bandanna around his head after seeing RAMBO : FIRST BLOD PART II on television! There isn't much plot but it's a fun film to watch. Remember, though, kids, that this is primarily a comedy so if you're looking for horror or plot it would be wise to go elsewhere

First, my little back of obligatory backstory. I was 9 years old when the original GREMLINS was released. Probably smack dab in the middle of the perfect target audience for a fun little horror film full of gleeful gore and maniacal monsters. Due to many factors, a sequel to the mega-hit was not produced for some time afterwards. By the time this was released, I was then 15 and looking for something a little more from my entertainment. The sequel was, then, quickly relegated to a little corner of my memory.Years have elapsed. I have submersed myself in horror films and still, to this day, have an undying love of the original. I can see, now, all of the fun little horror tidbits that Dante hid in his movie for the more adult viewers, while spicing just enough family fun to keep the whole family interested.This movie, though, is lacking any of the charm and craft that made the original so good. What Dante and all involved seem to have forgotten is that the gremlins and mogwai became stars, but what made the original so successful was good writing, a good script and a good plot.This sequel seems hellbent on packing as many different gremlin creations and bad jokes as possible in its' runtime. There is almost no story developed here, at all, and the story that is doesn't make sense half of the time. The plot moves along just enough to propel the viewer from one gag to another, most of which are not funny by child or adult standards, that become a tireless, repetitive bore by the end. Naturally, most of these gags also serve to introduce us to a bevy of new characters, with their own personalities. Yes, it smells a little too much of marketing and the need to create new mogwai/gremlins as if they figured they missed out on something with only having Gizmo and Stripe as recognizable creations in the original. Most of these new creations are even more annoying than the gags.Even the human characters have become cardboard cutouts this time around. Billy and his girlfriend are barely there, just fodder for another gag, or when the plot is needed to move along to the next step. The corporate heads are interesting ideas that become convoluted and, mostly, generic. Even the great Christopher Lee is wasted here in a role that anyone could have filled, as a minor scientist who serves only to introduce the experiments that will, in turn, produce the gallery of gremlin hybrids.Many point out the fun easter eggs in this movie and how much this shows Dante's love of 50s sci fi. Yes, it is fun for a drive-in horror junkie like myself to find those hidden gems and appreciate all the little nods to films of past years that Dante worked in, but that doesn't even come close to saving this movie from being a mess.About halfway through this, my wife and I looked at each other and quickly realized exactly why we had both pushed this to the depths of our subconscious. If you removed the GREMLINS franchise name from this movie, you'd have nothing but a second-rate imitation, which is all this really is in the end.