Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Gremlins Blu-ray Movie Review

Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Reissued.

The latest effort at a "premium" line of home video product comes from Warner Home Video. They call it the "Diamond Luxe" line of Blu-rays, and the name seems intended to echo some of the storied series of the past, such as Universal's Signature Laserdisc editions and New Line Cinema's Platinum DVDs. Unfortunately for Blu-ray collectors, however, the first entries in WHV's Diamond Luxe series suggest that the name may refer more to packaging than product. The Diamond Luxe casing is formed from hard plastic with the feel of metal that folds out to reveal four inner panels. The discs (usually two; sometimes three) rest in neatly designed round "slots" that hold them firmly in place without any need for a center hub. The cases are richly illustrated with images from the film.

So far, however, the discs themselves are merely reissues of films that WHV has previously released on Blu-ray, without new transfers or any remastering. To its credit, WHV has supplied new extras for most of the Diamond Luxe packages, often significant ones. But reissuing the same disc with new extras is an old marketing strategy (a practice that enthusiasts call "double-dipping", which is not a compliment). With Diamond Luxe titles commanding a premium price over their plain vanilla counterparts, one is essentially paying extra for a fancy package and new supplements.

The first wave of Diamond Luxe titles was released as Best Buy exclusives on Sept. 30, 2014. Now that they are about to become generally available, Blu-ray.com is examining the new content supplied with these releases. First up is the hit fantasy comedy from 1984, Gremlins, directed by Joe Dante with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Warner first issued Gremlins on Blu-ray in 2009; you can read its review here. Disc 1 of the Diamond Luxe edition is identical to the 2009 release, right down to the file dates, and I do not intend to re-review it. Skip to "Special Features and Extras" for a look at the new supplements on Disc 2. The scores for feature, audio and video have been copied from the 2009 review.

Gremlins Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Please refer to the 2009 review.

Gremlins Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Please refer to the 2009 review.

Gremlins Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Please refer to the 2009 review for a list of the extras contained on Disc 1. The new extras on Disc 2 are as follows:

• Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous: Making Gremlins (1080p; 1.78:1; 29:15): This new retrospective features new interviews with director Joe Dante, star Zach Galligan, writer Chris Columbus, executive producers Steven Spielberg and Frank Marshall and producer Michael Finnell. Columbus describes the inspirations behind his first draft, which Spielberg bought and then advised on rewrites. Spielberg chose Dante to direct, based on Piranha and The Howling. Galligan describes his audition and the process of filming (in 100-plus degree heat in the summer in the San Fernando Valley, for a film where his character was dressed for winter). Dante describes, among other things, his battle with the studio over the famous Phoebe Cates monologue about why she hates Christmas, which the studio wanted to cut. He also discusses working with composer Jerry Goldsmith, whom he calls one of the few authentic geniuses he's ever known.



• From Gizmo to Gremlins: Creating the Creatures (1080p; 1.78:1; 17:48): The same group, plus creature creator Chris Walas and Howie Mandel, the voice of Gizmo, describe the laborious development of Gizmo and the Gremlins and the painstaking work required to bring them to life in the pre-digital age. The highlight is listening to Mandel talk in Gizmo's voice, especially when he announces his availability for Gremlins 3.



• Hangin' with Hoyt on the Set of Gremlins (1080p; 1.33:1; 4:18): A collection of behind-the-scenes film clips from Hoyt Axton's downtime during the filming of Gremlins.



• Digital Comics (1080p; 1.78:1)


• Gremlins: The Gift of the Mogwai (7:01): This animated comic version of Gremlins includes character voices and narration. It takes the story from Rand Peltzer's purchase of Gizmo up through the Mogwai's first night in the Peltzer household.


• The Last Gremlin (6:40): This comic picks up the story as Billy, Kate and Gizmo chase "Stripe" into the department store. In this rendition, the battle between Billy and Stripe is considerably toned down. Instead, it becomes a race to the greenhouse fountain, where Stripe attempts to multiply again. As in the movie, Gizmo saves the day. (Note, however, that in the "Cute. Clever" featurette, Galligan says that the scene was originally shot differently and does a convincing impression of Dante explaining why it was changed to its current form.)

Gremlins Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I am not offering a recommendation either way on the Diamond Luxe edition of Gremlins. My goal is to provide the reader with information that will, I hope, be useful in making an informed decision. I am and always have been a great fan of the film, and I share the opinion of former reviewer Dustin Somner that the 2009 Blu-ray, now reissued as part of the Diamond Luxe package, has a number of issues but is overall an accurate representation of how Gremlins should look. I wish WHV had newly transferred and/or remastered the film, but they did not. The scores for the Diamond Luxe edition have been copied from the score previously assigned to the 2009 release—with an increase for extras and for the total score—since, in essence, the Diamond Luxe is a repackaging of the same disc. The question for new purchasers and old is whether the Diamond Luxe case and the additional disc of extras is worth the cost, and that is a decision that each buyer must make individually.