Gremlins vs. Small Soldiers

Attribute	Gremlins	Small Soldiers
Release Year	1984	1998
Director	Joe Dante	Joe Dante
Genre	Horror/Comedy	Action/Adventure
Plot	Small creatures wreak havoc in a small town	Toy soldiers come to life and engage in battle
Setting	Small town	Suburban neighborhood

Plot

Gremlins is a 1984 film directed by Joe Dante that follows a young man who receives a mysterious creature called a Mogwai as a pet. The Mogwai comes with three important rules: do not expose it to bright light, do not get it wet, and do not feed it after midnight. Of course, these rules are broken, leading to chaos as the Mogwai spawns mischievous creatures known as Gremlins. The film is a mix of horror and comedy, with the Gremlins wreaking havoc on a small town.

Small Soldiers, on the other hand, is a 1998 film directed by Joe Dante that tells the story of a toy company that creates advanced action figures equipped with military technology. These toys, known as the Commando Elite and the Gorgonites, come to life and engage in a battle in a suburban neighborhood. The film explores themes of consumerism and the consequences of creating sentient beings for entertainment purposes.

Characters

In Gremlins, the main characters include Billy Peltzer, the young man who receives the Mogwai, and Gizmo, the adorable and innocent creature that eventually spawns the Gremlins. The Gremlins themselves are mischievous and destructive, causing chaos wherever they go. The film also features supporting characters such as Billy's girlfriend Kate and the town's eccentric inventor Rand Peltzer.

Small Soldiers features a diverse cast of characters, including Alan Abernathy, a teenager who gets caught up in the conflict between the Commando Elite and the Gorgonites. The Commando Elite are led by Chip Hazard, a ruthless and militaristic action figure, while the Gorgonites are led by Archer, a peaceful and intelligent creature. The film also includes supporting characters such as Alan's love interest Christy and the toy company's CEO Gil Mars.

Themes

Gremlins explores themes of responsibility and the consequences of breaking rules. The film serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked curiosity and the importance of following instructions. The Gremlins themselves can be seen as a metaphor for the chaos that ensues when boundaries are crossed and rules are ignored.

Small Soldiers delves into themes of technology and warfare, questioning the ethics of creating sentient beings for entertainment and military purposes. The film raises questions about the impact of consumerism and the dangers of blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The conflict between the Commando Elite and the Gorgonites serves as a commentary on the consequences of weaponizing toys.

Tone

Gremlins strikes a balance between horror and comedy, with moments of suspense and tension interspersed with humor and wit. The film blends elements of dark fantasy with slapstick comedy, creating a unique and entertaining viewing experience. The Gremlins themselves are both terrifying and amusing, making them memorable and iconic creatures.

Small Soldiers also combines action and comedy, but with a more satirical and self-aware tone. The film pokes fun at the action figure genre and toy marketing, while also delivering exciting and visually impressive battle sequences. Small Soldiers has a more lighthearted and playful tone compared to Gremlins, with a focus on witty dialogue and clever references to pop culture.

Conclusion

Gremlins and Small Soldiers are both beloved films that offer unique takes on the concept of inanimate objects coming to life. While Gremlins focuses on the chaos caused by mischievous creatures, Small Soldiers explores the consequences of creating sentient toys with military capabilities. Both films feature memorable characters, engaging plots, and thought-provoking themes that continue to resonate with audiences. Whether you prefer the dark humor of Gremlins or the satirical wit of Small Soldiers, both films are sure to entertain and leave a lasting impression.