I think, prior to the most recent rewatches, that I'd have previously said that I liked "Gremlins" a lot but thought that "Gremlins 2" was a bit too zany for its own good. Now though, I feel like the original is a bit lifeless, and tonally confused, whereas this is much more knowing and accepting of its premise and all the better for it.
The gentrification of Chinatown and the death of Mr. Wing leads Gizmo to be taken to the science labs within Clamp towers, the automated skyscraper of Daniel Clamp (John Glover) a business magnate. Ironically, also in the tower are Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) who have moved to New York and have jobs in the complex. When the rules are not followed, and a gang of Gremlins are released to wreak havoc, it's again up to the pair to save the tower and the city.
I'm not going to think badly of you if your preference is the first "Gremlins" over this one, but, as I said, you can't argue that this is a more much consistent film. The meta jokes begin before the film does, with the Warner Brothers animation gags, and continue throughout, with the film breaking down and Hulk Hogan threatening the Gremlins to get the film running again. The song and dance routine. Christopher Lee hamming it up. The parody of Kate's Christmas story from the first film. The parody of "Marathon Man". The gags keep coming. I can't do a better job of trying to explain the madness, than the "Key and Peele" sketch does, so I won't try.
The model and puppetry work is better on this film, though some of the composition shots (particularly around the bat-Gremlin and his outside scenes) are looking pretty dodgy now.
Having not expected much I enjoyed "Gremlins 2" a lot and now consider it one of those rare sequels better than the original.
The gentrification of Chinatown and the death of Mr. Wing leads Gizmo to be taken to the science labs within Clamp towers, the automated skyscraper of Daniel Clamp (John Glover) a business magnate. Ironically, also in the tower are Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) who have moved to New York and have jobs in the complex. When the rules are not followed, and a gang of Gremlins are released to wreak havoc, it's again up to the pair to save the tower and the city.
I'm not going to think badly of you if your preference is the first "Gremlins" over this one, but, as I said, you can't argue that this is a more much consistent film. The meta jokes begin before the film does, with the Warner Brothers animation gags, and continue throughout, with the film breaking down and Hulk Hogan threatening the Gremlins to get the film running again. The song and dance routine. Christopher Lee hamming it up. The parody of Kate's Christmas story from the first film. The parody of "Marathon Man". The gags keep coming. I can't do a better job of trying to explain the madness, than the "Key and Peele" sketch does, so I won't try.
The model and puppetry work is better on this film, though some of the composition shots (particularly around the bat-Gremlin and his outside scenes) are looking pretty dodgy now.
Having not expected much I enjoyed "Gremlins 2" a lot and now consider it one of those rare sequels better than the original.