Ranking Every Joe Dante Movie Part 2 - re:View

Quick Overview

The video reviews and ranks Joe Dante's filmography, with "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" taking the top two spots, followed by "Inner Space" and "The 'Burbs," with "Small Soldiers" and "Explorers" rounding out the lower half of the discussed films, highlighting Dante's signature blend of dark humor, meta-commentary, and creature features.

Key Points: Joe Dante's "Gremlins" and "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" are ranked as his best films, with the first lauded for its perfect horror-comedy balance and the second for its bold self-parody and meta-commentary. "Inner Space" is praised as a unique and perfect 80s sci-fi comedy with great special effects, a clever script, and strong chemistry between Martin Short and Dennis Quaid, despite its perceived decline in popularity. "The 'Burbs" is described as a consistently funny "comfort movie" that humorously explores themes of nosy neighbors and suburban paranoia, featuring strong comedic performances from Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, and Rick Ducommun. "Small Soldiers" is considered "Gremlins Light," a charming but less dangerous film that successfully emulated a 90s toy line with impressive animatronics, though it lacked the genuine peril of its predecessor. "Explorers" is noted as a pleasant surprise, a charming and nostalgic film with a great Jerry Goldsmith score, featuring John Goodman in a memorable role inspired by William Castle, and effectively contrasting real-world horror with cinematic scares. The video highlights recurring actors like Dick Miller and Robert Picardo across multiple Dante films, and notes special casting choices such as the Spinal Tap members voicing Gorgonites in "Small Soldiers." A key theme across the reviewed films is Joe Dante's love for meta-commentary, pop culture references, and a self-aware, often cynical, humor that critiques studio demands and audience expectations.

Context: This video is a film review and ranking of director Joe Dante's filmography, specifically focusing on his studio films. The discussion covers "Small Soldiers," "Explorers," "The 'Burbs," "Inner Space," and the "Gremlins" movies. The reviewers, who are clearly fans and knowledgeable about Dante's work, analyze each film's strengths, weaknesses, and place within his career, often drawing comparisons to his earlier and more iconic films.