Gremlins- The Live Holiday Parody presented December 4th – 14th by the Cherokee Street Theater Company at 2607 Potomac St, St. Louis, MO 63118
Here’s the schedule:
Dec – 4th, 5th @ 7PM
Dec- 6th, 7th @ 8:15PM & 10:15PM
Dec -12th @ 7PM
Dec -13th, & 14th @ 8:15PM & 10:15PM
Just in time for The Holidays! Gremlins- The Live Holiday Parody is a 1 hour comedic parody of the 1984 movie GREMLINS. It’s the inaugural show performed, written, and directed by group of local St. Louis talent known as THE CHEROKEE STREET THEATER COMPANY Some performers in this group are alumnae of The Magic Smoking Monkeys, whose past shows we’ve covered here at We Are Movie Geeks. The Monkeys annually turned a cult film into an onstage farce and this will be in the same spirit. Gremlins- The Live Holiday Parody pokes fun and jabs at the original film by calling out its flaws, tackiness, and blatant 80’s absurdity. It is a true celebration of camp and the fantastical with a charming and semi-dark twist all with a holiday theme! Tickets are available at THE CHEROKEE STREET THEATER COMPANY website HERE or at the door for $18. Stop by the Whiskey Ring (2651 Cherokee St.) or Fortune Teller Bar (2635 Cherokee St.) for discounted ticket prices!A Facebook invite for the play can be found HERE
Cherokee Street Theater Company has officially launched with its debut effort: Gremlins- Live Holiday Parody. Gremlins, presented by Earthbound Beer, 1220 Spirits, The Whiskey Ring, The Fortune Teller Bar, and several other Cherokee District businesses will have its opening night 12/04 at The Cherokee Street Theater. The opening night is one of 11 showings of the play.
About Cherokee Street Theater Company: The Cherokee Street Theater Company is a St. Louis based theater and event space committed to involving the Cherokee Street District and surrounding South City Communities. Cherokee Street Theater Company is the only small theater in the community. The organization serves up fresh theater and a lively event space for the surrounding area. The theater was founded by Ron Strawbridge and Suki Peters… individuals with a life-time passion for theater and an investment and love for St. Louis, and St. Louis based arts. :
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that 1984’s Gremlins will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 1. Directed by Joe Dante (Innerspace, The ‘Burbs) and written by Chris Columbus (The Goonies, Young Sherlock Holmes), the film stars Zach Galligan as Billy Peltzer, Phoebe Cates as Kate Beringer, and Hoyt Axton and Randall Peltzer, along with the voices of Frank Welker as Stripe and Howie Mandel as Gizmo.
Gremlinswas produced by Michael Finnell and executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, and Steven Spielberg.
Ultra HD* showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.
Gremlinswill be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack for $41.99 SRP and includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the feature film in 4K with HDR and a Blu-ray disc with the feature film and special features. Fans can also own Gremlinsin 4K Ultra HD via purchase from select digital retailers beginning on October 1st. SYNOPSIS
Gremlins is a wildly original roller-coaster ride of hilarious mischief. One minute your hair will stand on end, the next you’ll hold your sides with laughter at the havoc these supposedly gentle furballs create when the rules surrounding their care and feeding are inadvertently broken one fateful Christmas. Written by Chris Columbus and directed by Joe Dante, Gremlins unleashes special effects that dazzle and enchant and merriment that lingers in the memory.
Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray Elements
Gremlins Ultra HD Blu-ray contains the following previously released special features:
Filmmakers’ Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Producer Michael Finnell and Special Effects Artist Chris Walas
Cast Commentary with Director Joe Dante, Zack Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller, and Howie Mandel
Gremlins: Behind the Scenes Featurette
Additional Scenes with Commentary
Photo Gallery
Theatrical Trailers
Additional Scenes
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent: Making Gremlins
Hulk Hogan: “Okay you guys, listen up! People pay good money to see this movie! When they go out to a theater they want cold sodas, hot popcorn, and no monsters in the projection booth! Do I have to come up there myself? Do you think the Gremsters can stand up to the Hulkster? Well, if I were you, I’d run the rest of Gremlins 2! Right now! Sorry folks, it won’t happen again!”
GREMLINS and GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH are screening This Saturday, December 15th, at the St. Andrews Cinema in St. Charles, MO (2025 Golfway St, St Charles, MO 63301). The doors open at 2:00pm and the first film starts at 2:30. Admission for both films is $5. GREMLINS will be introduced by Mark Dodson. Mark was the voice of Salicious Crumb in RETURN OF THE JEDI and Mogwai in GREMLINS. His other voice credits include DAY OF THE DEAD and STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS. A Facebook invite for the event can be found HERE
GREMLINS (1984) is a fabulous flick, because it somehow manages to be both a sentimental good-natured modern-day fairytale, and an uproariously riotous comic horror film that stomps all over the nice wholesome image of Christmas and small-town America. The script by Chris Columbus is simply fantastic – all the characters are nicely drawn, the Three Rules Of Gremlins are brilliant, and there are whole scenes which are simply priceless – the evocative Chinatown opening, the Peckinpah-esque kitchen massacre sequence, Kate’s phenomenal “Why I Hate Christmas” speech, Mrs Deagle’s grisly demise and the Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs spectacle, to name but a few. This is one of those rare examples of a film where everything just gels together perfectly – Joe Dante’s gleefully insane direction, Jerry Goldsmith’s alternately soothing and teeth-grating score, wonderful camera-work by John Hora and eye-popping special effects puppetry by Chris Walas – Gizmo and Stripe are not just props in this movie, they are real characters who give performances with more depth than a lot of A-list actors I could name. The rest of the cast shine; Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates (one of the cutest young actress of the eighties) are extremely appealing, Hoyt Axton is terrific as the hapless inventor dad, Miller hilarious as the xenophobic neighbour Mr Futterman, and Luke is unforgettable as the wise old grandfather. Look out also for an unbilled bit by Dante alumni Kenneth Tobey and executive producer Steven Spielberg in a rare cameo appearance.
With the sequel, Dante took everything that was great about Gremlins and cranked it all the way up to a zillion. The original movie was a dark xmas comedy horror with B-movie undertones. The sequel was so over-the-top it launched itself into the stratosphere and doesn’t come back down until the very, very end of the credits. It’s just wall-to-wall mayhem with so many in-jokes it’ll make your head explode. GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH even attempts to begin as a Looney Tunes cartoon.
These are brilliantly-made, wonderfully wicked horror comedies, equal parts intriguing, funny, gross, touching and scary, so don’t miss them when they play this Saturday at the St. Andrews.
The Toyman Toy Show in St. Louis has been going strong for over 26 years now and just keeps getting bigger and better! The fun takes place seven times a year at The Machinists Hall 12365 St Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton, MO 63044. There are over 130 vendors at the Toyman Toy Show spread out over 225 tables. all selling vintage toys, comics, dolls, diecast cars, movie memorabilia, and more as well as cosplayers and artists. It’s an unbelievable amount of fun for only $5 and this next show, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a Gremlin and a Power Ranger!
The next Toyman Show is December 10th from 9:00a to 3:00p and Voice Actor Mark Dodson and Power Rangers star Mike Ginn will be in attendance!
Mark Dodson was the voice of Salicious Crumb in RETURN OF THE JEDI and Mogwai in GREMLINS. His other voice credits include DAY OF THE DEAD and STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS.
Born in Auckland, Mike Ginn graduated from New Zealand’s United School of Performing and Screen Arts and worked in New Zealand before moving to Los Angeles. He has landed roles across Asia in commercials such as Mazda, McDonald’s and MSIG Insurance, been involved in multiple theater productions, TV shows, such as Power Rangers RPM as the gold ranger, and independent films including the multiple award winning film My Wedding and Other Secrets, and Blood Punch.
Also, Clinton T. Hobart will be at The Toyman Show as well. Hobart is an officially licensed Disney Fine Artist, the only Still-Life painter to become a Licensed Disney Fine Artist.
And the December Toyman show will be a great drop-off point for the US Marines Toys for Tots campaign!
General admission is 9a to 3p – Adults $5 and 16 and under FREE. Over 140+ Vendors on 225+ tables of Toys, Comics, Games, Movie posters, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Die-Cast, Models, Pop Culture and NEWLY REOPENED Balcony as an ARTIST ATTIC. The show can’t be complete without the SEVERAL Illustrators, Authors, Artists, Pop Culture Crafts, WPW Wrestling, A.P.G. Grading, Zombie Squad, Gateway City Ghostbusters, U.S.S. UMIAK, Curvy Kitty Cosplay along with SC DC 3D Printing in attendance.
“You say you hate Washington’s Birthday or Thanksgiving and nobody cares, but you say you hate Christmas and people treat you like you’re a leper.”
GREMLINS plays midnights this weekend (May 5th and 6th) at The Tivoli Theater as part of the Reel late at The Tivoli Midnight series.
It’s Christmas in American picture-postcard town Kingston Falls. Billy Peltzer is given an unusual present; a cute little furry creature called a Mogwai. He is delighted with the gift until he accidentally gets it wet and it quickly multiplies. Worse still is to come when the new creatures are fed after midnight and transform into horribly mischievous Gremlins …
GREMLINS (1984) is a fabulous flick, because it somehow manages to be both a sentimental good-natured modern-day fairytale, and an uproariously riotous comic horror film that stomps all over the nice wholesome image of Christmas and small-town America. The script by Chris Columbus is simply fantastic – all the characters are nicely drawn, the Three Rules Of Gremlins are brilliant, and there are whole scenes which are simply priceless – the evocative Chinatown opening, the Peckinpah-esque kitchen massacre sequence, Kate’s phenomenal “Why I Hate Christmas” speech, Mrs Deagle’s grisly demise and the Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs spectacle, to name but a few. This is one of those rare examples of a film where everything just gels together perfectly – Joe Dante’s gleefully insane direction, Jerry Goldsmith’s alternately soothing and teeth-grating score, wonderful camera-work by John Hora and eye-popping special effects puppetry by Chris Walas – Gizmo and Stripe are not just props in this movie, they are real characters who give performances with more depth than a lot of A-list actors I could name. The rest of the cast shine; Zach Galligan and Phoebe Cates (one of the cutest young actress of the eighties) are extremely appealing, Hoyt Axton is terrific as the hapless inventor dad, Miller hilarious as the xenophobic neighbour Mr Futterman, and Luke is unforgettable as the wise old grandfather. Look out also for an unbilled bit by Dante alumni Kenneth Tobey and executive producer Steven Spielberg in a rare cameo appearance. This is a brilliantly made, wonderfully wicked horror comedy, in equal parts intriguing, funny, gross, touching and scary, so don’t miss it when it plays midnights this weekend at The Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series.
Another brilliant lineup of midnight movies for the ‘Reel Late at The Tivoli’ to kick off the 2017 season. It’s a typically good variety of titles that will draw the late night movie buff crowd with a couple of retro surprises. The Midnight Movie experience has always catered to a college-age crowd and that’s the way it should be. ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with live shadow cast with the Samurai Electricians kicks off the new schedule on March 31st and April 1st. The oldest film this time is2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY from 1968 and the most recent is THE DARK KNIGHT from 2008. There’s a Miyazaki thrown in there for attendance insurance (the last one sold out!) and a handful of standards including SHAUN OF THE DEAD and GREMLINS. I believe Jackie Chan inDRUNKEN MASTER and IDIOCRACY are new to the Tivoli midnight roster, and I suspect they will draw good crowds.
Here’s the line-up:
MARCH 31ST AND APRIL 1ST – THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with the SAMURAI ELECTRICIANS
APRIL 7TH AND APRIL 8TH – DRUNKEN MASTER
APRIL 14TH AND 15TH – IDIOCRACY
APRIL 21ST AND 22ND – SHAUN OF THE DEAD
APRIL 28TH AND 29TH – 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
MAY 5TH AND 6TH – GREMLINS
MAY 12TH AND 13TH – MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
MAY 19TH AND 20TH – THE DARK KNIGHT
The Tivoli is located at 6350 Delmar in The Loop. Visit Landmark’s The Tivoli’s websiteHERE
Toy Fair is an annual trade show where hundreds of toy companies get together to showcase their latest innovations for buyers and press. The following is a photo recap from the Neca booth. To see the rest of our coverage, click HERE.
The Neca booth called out to me from afar with their lifesize foam figures of Deadpool, Harley Quinn, and Spider-Man. Unlike most items of that size, these were not just for display purposes. You can actually purchase each of these figures for around $1,000 each. Aside from the price, a total lack of space, and a wife I’d like to keep, I could certainly see myself a collector splurging on one of these because the quality is astounding.
Luckily, the attention to detail carries over to their much smaller scale collectibles. Their Evil Dead II Ultimate Edition 2-figure set was one of the most fun things to photograph at Toy Fair, especially due to the awesome cabin diorama that sadly does not come with the figures. The quarter scale Ninja Turtle figures look as if they were perfectly cast from molds of the original Jim Henson creations. Dr. Strange may be their most accurate Marvel figure from the Avengers lineup and the Mayor edition of Penguin from BATMAN RETURNS is simply astonishing. Other highlights included the massive Predator display, a Muhamad Ali / Superman 2-pack, and a surprise Batman / Aliens 2-pack that features a Joker Xenomorph!
I am not sure if I am supposed to have a favorite company at Toy Fair but lets just say Neca knows what they are doing. Not only are their figures high quality and reasonably priced but Randy Falk, their Director of Product Development, is absolutely killing it on Twitter (@Neca_toys). Seriously, all companies need to be as interactive and passionate about their products on social media. Check out the images below to see what he is so proud of…
The 2nd Annual MAMMOTH LAKES FILM FESTIVAL is underway here in beautiful, Mammoth Lakes, California, and this year, they continue to impress with an incredible film selection. They are also introducing the Sierra Spirit Award, which they are presenting to legendary filmmaker Joe Dante tomorrow night after they screen his hit comedy INNERSPACE. Robert Picardo will also be joining Dante in a Q&A following the film. I spoke with Mr. Dante on the phone earlier this week. Check it out below!
First off, I have to say that I covered the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival for their first year last year, and I was very excited to see that you were on the list this year.
JOE DANTE: What is it like? What should I expect?
Oh, it’s beautiful. The mountains are incredible, the people are beyond friendly, and the programming is amazing. I’m curious , how were you made aware of the festival?
JOE DANTE: Honestly, they simply sent me an email and said ‘we would like you to come to our festival one night.’ I’ll be honest and say that I was not particularly with the festival. I know Mammoth Lakes, but I haven’t been there in 20 years. People have told me that it hasn’t changed much… But they were very cordial and nice and I thought ‘Gee, I’d love to see Mammoth Lakes!’
Not too far back, I went to the Egyptian Theater to see their tribute to Dick Miller. He and Rick Baker did a Q&A, and they happened to show GREMLINS and GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH. What has your experience been working with Dick Miller, since he has been in just about all of your films?
JOE DANTE: I would have been there, but I was out of town. Dick is someone who… I won’t say I grew up watching… but I was certainly a lot younger when I saw him in the Roger Corman movies. He was always a favorite actor of mine, so when I came out to Hollywood and I worked with Roger Corman, I determined that I would make a film with Dick Miller in it. So, I wrote a part for him in my first picture. We hit it off so well that I thought ‘here’s a guy that I just like to see on screen. So, if I’m going to get more jobs, and make more movies, I’d like to see more of Dick!’ I basically put him in every picture that I made. There was one movie that he got cut out of, [laughs] but otherwise, he’s like my talisman! [Laughs]
It’s amazing to see the amount of credits he has under his belt!
JOE DANTE: Well, you know… You gotta keep working! You gotta feed your kids! [laughs]
Speaking of Roger Corman you don’t see the types of relationships where a producer takes on a director the way Corman did with you, and so many others. Would you ever consider mentoring someone in a more indie fashion, the way Corman did with you?
JOE DANTE: I have considered it, and have done it on occasion. I have a film that just came out called DARK by director Nick Basile, which I am an executive producer on because I wanted to see him get the picture made. That does happen, but the opportunities are limited because of the way the business is. When I was working with Corman, there was a non-stop flow of movies that were at the drive-in, so they’re a lot more opportunities to mentor young people. We were cheap to hire, and we really didn’t know what we were doing, so we would look to him. He was the professional. He would help us, and guide us so that we could get the movie finished.
There was a revolving door at Cormans, with many different people who got their first breaks working for him. Unfortunately, that spicket his turned off. There is certainly no one like him anymore, and there’s no business like that anymore. There is no flow of movies going to drive-ins anymore. Even, really, to theaters. Independent films now almost always bypass theaters and go straight to video on-demand. It’s a whole different paradigm. You just really don’t have a lot of opportunities for mentoring.
I kind of feel as though the middle budget films have it the hardest right now, because it seems like studios are gravitating to the independent film that will gain them an award, or the big summer blockbuster. That being said, there are so many options for distribution now. You have theaters, Hulu Netflix, iTunes… Television has even become a major competitor. Has the evolution of the market changed how you approach the market, and do you have a preference?
JOE DANTE: Feature people used to look down on television because it was a lesser medium, they thought. It was a small screen, and they had certain restrictions on how they shot because the screen was so small. That’s all gone now, obviously. Some people have home theater systems that are better than their local theater. There’s really no difference in the aesthetic anymore. What’s happened in the last decade is the rise of the mini-series, and they have allowed people to do the whole book… and not have to cut it down to just 90 minutes. They can now develop sub-plots for all these characters. That’s why a lot of directors are gravitating towards television now as a storytelling medium… and now the theatrical has become a spectacle business. People go because they want to see stories on big screens… superheroes, and movies with 12 climaxes… with special-effects, and all that that’s one kind of movie. It used to be one of many kinds of movies, but now it’s the kind of movie that only gets made for theaters. Of course you have your dramas, and your romantic movies… your thrillers… but they just don’t do that well theatrically. There’s no market anymore. it’s syndication. They used to show a lot more on local stations, but now it’s all infomercials. Your revenue streams cut off. The idea of making an independent film and having it be seen. There might be more places for independent films to be seen, but not paying. If you want to put it out on VOD, like my last movie… if I type in the title the first five sites to come up are pirate site so people can watch your movies for free. The chances of people making money by putting their films on video on demand is greatly deduced.
One of the things that I really respect is the amount of practical effects that you’ve used over the years. It’s sad to see practical effects being used less and less with the rise of CGI quality.
JOE DANTE: I was brought up on practical effects, because that’s what was state-of-the-art when I was working. And also because you’re doing it on the set and you have something for the actors to relate to instead of telling them to stare into the corner and pretend that there’s a monster there. CGI has taken over to a degree that most people don’t even understand. When they go to see a movie like GRAVITY they don’t realize that besides the actors faces there was nothing to photograph. There are a few practical scenes, but for the most part it’s all done on computer, and very cleverly done. It’s very convincing. All the beautiful, mundane things like the sky, or the mountains in a shot are manipulated somehow. It’s far beyond any photographic manipulation that we could ever do. We had a hard time trying to move the TV Ariel out of the shot in a period piece because there was nothing we could really do to erase it without scratching the movie and then you have to figure out a way to try and de-scratch it. We had very limited tools and now you can push a button and do just about anything. Literally anything you could think of to do you can do. It really is great, but I do think that there is something to be said about the old way of doing it… of the practical effects that are actually photographed and in the scene with the people. They’re not standing on a green screen. They’re standing on a set. They know where the chairs are. They know where the other actors are. I’m old-fashioned I guess, but I prefer that. There’s no way were going to be able to turn our back on the computer generated stuff. It’s the future, and I think that once the virtual reality stuff comes in the play, which I think is right around the corner, it’s almost all gonna be virtual reality.
Speaking of practical effects I was reading somewhere that you have kept props from a lot of your movies. What are some of your more prized pieces?
JOE DANTE: I don’t know about prized, because they’re from my own movies. I have a Rosebud sled, original… that I take pride in, because it’s a great movie. Mostly I have all of the inventions from GREMLINS, the spaceships from EXPLORERS, miniatures from INNERSPACE…things like that that are dotted around my house in various places. It’s not exactly a museum.
That’s wonderful! I actually have a life-sized Gremlin in my house…
JOE DANTE: Really? Where did you get that?
There’s a company called Neca that makes…
JOE DANTE: Oh, Neca! They do great stuff!
Yeah, he’s pretty neat. They’re made from the original stunt puppets so I have a Flasher Gremlin just hanging around, amongst other things… He definitely gets a look whenever I have people over!
JOE DANTE: [Laughs]
Check out A NIGHT WITH JOE DANTE : Centerpiece Sierra Spirit Award Presentation and screening of INNERSPACE Saturday Night, May 28th, at the U.S. Forrest Service Theater in Mammoth Lakes, California. You can buy your tickets before they sell out HERE.
Welcome to the 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide! What is this? No, it’s not my personal gift wish list made public in hopes that readers will bury me in their affection — although, I wouldn’t be disgusted if you did — no, this is guide to finding that perfect, special gift for the Movie Geek in your life. You know who I mean. We all have at least one friend who obsesses about movies, someone who spouts a movie quote or a director factoid every other breath. What does one buy a person so firmly entrenched in the culture of movies? I hope this guide helps you with your shopping ideas, but don’t expect to find the typical, no brainer ideas — such as gift cards — on this list. Continue reading Top Ten Tuesday: 2011 Holiday Movie Geek Gift Guide
Welcome to the newest edition of We Are Movie Geek’s Character Cage Match! In tonight’s main event, we have scheduled a cut-throat carnival of carnage containing contestants of the cute and cuddly but cunningly capable carnivorous concoction. Don’t let the diminutive degree of their dimension distract your onlooking eyes, as these diabolical devils in disguise definitely have a disposition for devouring and destroying anything that dares get in their way.
Gremlins…
Critters…
Reach: Gremlins clearly have the upper hand here, sporting disproportionately long agile arms with razor-sharp claws.
Strengths: Gremlins have a bit of a height advantage over Critters. They tend to travel in “packs” and have a fiendish sense of humor. The Gremlins’ biggest advantage is the ability to multiply in water, so don’t even think about facing one of these guys mano-a-mano near any water, because you’ll end up an army of one against literally, an army of Gremlins.
Weaknesses: If you aren’t gaining any ground against the Gremlins with baseball bats and shotguns, and your sneaky enough, lure them into daylight and watch them squirm as they melt into a pile of primordial Gremlin goo.
Reach: Critters are clearly at a disadvantage on this front. While they do have claws, they are hindered by stubby little arms.
Strengths: Critters certainly are the underdogs in size. They also tend to travel in “packs” and have a razor-sharp smile. The Critters’ biggest advantage is two-fold. They are highly mobile, able to roly-poly into balls and roll along at high speeds. They also have a projectile advantage, shooting deadly spines from their backs.
Weaknesses: No special tricks here. If you can’t bring them down yourself, you might as well add yourself to the menu. The only way to dispose of these furry little freaks is to squash, slice, shoot or burn them into oblivion
It’s up to you to decide which of these devastating demon dogs will dominate the other in this deadly dual to the death. Compare the contestants, then place your vote on your choice for the outcome by posting a comment below.
