Disney/Roald Dahl's Gremlins available again after 63 years

[slave2moonlight]

By the way, here's something interesting. Anyone ever hear about the origin of the Gremlins from the Spielberg/Dante film?

Well, it may not be considered a canon origin story, but it's from the junior novelization, which I used to have and still might (no idea where though). It was a prologue, and I always found it very interesting. I can only give a rough recollection though. The amazing thing is how similar it is to Stitch's origin story! I mean, I tend to think the creator of Stitch must have read this prologue too! Anyways, it seems that Mogwais (sp?) were invented by a scientist on another planet, I think maybe to be sold as pets, but, of course, this backfired when their "flaw" was discovered, as they caused death and destruction throughout the galaxy. All were eventually destroyed except one, that ended up on some primitive planet no one cared about, ha. I am going to have to look for that book so I can read that prologue again. Also, apparently, Joe Dante read the old Dhal book, which inspired the film (somewhat).

[goofystitch]

slave2moonlight wrote:

They could come up with something, but I'd be very disappointed if it wasn't at least SET in World War 2. I just don't think a different setting would be appropriate.

An animated film could work well during WW2. I used some poor phrasing in my post. I don't think they should relocate the time period. I still want it set in the 40's during the war. I just think it would seem kind of weird with the Gremlins helping humans to win the war, considdering the way the U.S. actually won. I would hate for the climax to be Gremlins helping to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. That would not only be disturbing, but would get ALOT of groups rallying against the Disney company. I just think that the back story of how humans destroyed the Gremlins home and they fought back would make for a much better film nowadays than Gremlins simply sabatoging planes and finally making peace with the Brittish people and joining forces to help fight the war like the plot of the book. It's kind of a touchy topic for a lot of people. I also would advise Disney to not show any Nazi planes in the film, either.

[MikeyMouse]

Finally got my copy via UD/Amazon. It's a great addition to my Disney library, and the story and illustrations are quite nice. I can't help but get the feeling that it's not quite on par with the rest of the work that Disney released in that era. It just seemed to be missing that special something. Maltin's introduction indicates that no one really knows exactly why Dahl never came back to the studio, or the full reason why the project was scrapped, but my gut tells me Walt may have felt the same way and decided to forego it's completion.

While the story was well-written, it certainly shows how far Dahl came from this first literary effort to gigantic hits such as "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". "Gremlins" is sophmoric in comparison...but the imagination is there, and that's probably what intrigued Walt. Imagine what he would have done if "Charlie" and "James" came about during their colaboration?

As a piece of historical Disneyanna, this book is a must for the collector, especially at the price. While it didn't blow me away, it was certainly entertaining and well worth the $10.

[slave2moonlight]

I'm getting Gremlins as a Christmas gift! Woohoo! My mother was looking to spend a Barnes and Noble coupon the other day, and isn't much of a reader, so she asked if I wanted anything there as a Christmas gift, ha. Anyways, I hope that if they do make a movie or something, they cowboy up and don't shy away from using Nazi planes and that sort of thing. Of course, I don't expect them too. But, cartoons are always trying to do WW2 themed stuff, and I hate it when they make fake "Nazi" lookalike symbols, or just try not to show Nazi symbols, or whatever. I mean, it's history, deal with it. I was amazed when I went to Disney World and saw the Indiana Jones action figures didn't shy away from using the Nazi symbols on the Ark crate. I wonder if they still have those figures, because I really should have bought them all (just got a couple of Indiana Jones himself). Anyway, I think a Gremlins movie should have to involve the war at least as a background, since that is such a huge part of Gremlin lore. Well, I mean, it's the source of it.