In 1984, Gremlins defied expectations by grossing 148 million dollars at the box office, despite going up against heavy competition like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Ghostbusters . It was a highly controversial movie in its initial release – many critics were appalled by the onscreen violence. This was also a concern for some of the movie’s supporters; Roger Ebert, in his three-star review, wrote this about the infamous microwave scene, “I had a queasy feeling that before long we’d be reading newspaper stories about kids who went home and tried the same thing with the family cat.” It was this graphic moment and the heart ripping scene in Temple of Doom that led to the creation of the PG-13 rating; many parents went into expecting to see a family movie and where absolutely shocked when it turned violent in the second half. The marketing for Gremlins focused largely on how cute Gizmo was, thus misleading people into believing they would be watching an E.T. The Ext
This is a blog that is devoted entirely to film analysis. I tend to analyze movies in a historical context. What were the cultural trends at the time? Why was the rationale behind the movie? I also tend to write about lesser-known movies, as there really isn't much more that can be said about most mainstream movies. I hope you enjoy!!!