Films Directed by Joe Dante (Film Guide) - Small Soldiers, Gremlins, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Twilight Zone: The Movie, the 'Burbs, the Howling, Amaz (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Commentary (films not included). Pages: 27. Chapters: Small Soldiers, Gremlins, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Twilight Zone: The Movie, The 'Burbs, The Howling, Amazon Women on the Moon, Matinee, Piranha, Innerspace, Explorers, Hollywood Boulevard, The Movie Orgy. Excerpt: Gremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature-called a Mogwai-as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, released in 1990. In contrast to the lighter sequel, the original Gremlins opts for more black comedy, which is balanced against a Christmas-time setting. Both films were the center of large merchandising campaigns. Steven Spielberg was the film's executive producer and the screenplay was written by Chris Columbus. The film stars Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates, with Howie Mandel providing the voice of Gizmo. Gremlins was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics. However, the film was also heavily criticized for some of its more violent sequences. In response to this, and to similar complaints about other films (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom), Steven Spielberg suggested that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) reform its rating system, which it did within two months of the film's release. While searching for a Christmas present for his teenage son, inventor Randall Peltzer (Hoyt Axton) discovers a small, furry creature called a Mogwai in an old antique store in Chinatown. The owner of the store refuses to sell the Mogwai to Randall on the grounds that owning one is too great a responsibility. However, as Randall is leaving the store, the owner's grandson (John Louie) sells Randall the creature stating...