I agree Michael, wholeheartedly, about MATINEE. Whole different movie than GREMLINS, but I'd also call it his best film. Heartfelt, funny, endearing, whimsical and wonderful (and of course tanked in the middle of January when Universal released it, but the subject was a tough sell anyway). A real tribute to William Castle and the genre filmmakers of the late '50s and early '60s, as well as going to the movies back in those days and growing up during the era. Goldsmith's score is one of his best of the '90s.
And MJ you should import that Blu-Ray when you get your multi region machine! One of the best imports I own
Funny how Dante has NEVER had a box office hit, except for the first Gremlins, and that was released at the height of producer Steven Spielberg's Amblin clout in the mid-80's. Even the Gremlins sequel basically tanked, although waiting a ludicrous six years to release it didn't help (even though I think it's a better and funnier film). Dude's basically stuck directing various TV episodes these days (I think I read he directed a two-parter of Hawaii Five-O, of all things
). Shame, as he directed some very good films back in the day.
I think you could call THE HOWLING a success, but most of his career -- it's true -- was off the success of GREMLINS. And he did deserve a lot of credit for that one. Other Spielberg productions tanked around that time like YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES so having Steve's name above the title wasn't any guarantee of success. THE BURBS might have made its money back, it didn't bomb...but otherwise he made a lot of films that lost money, especially INNERSPACE and EXPLORERS.
They definitely waited too long to make GREMLINS 2. It's a funnier movie and a terrific one, but also slightly more self-indulgent -- a studio would never give Dante carte blanche like that to make whatever they wanted today, especially considering the years it took to make it. Both that and GHOSTBUSTERS 2 should've been out in 3-4 years tops.
Anyway I do like many of his films, especially the early ones. He had a lot of creativity and humor going in a genre that was usually played very seriously back in the day.
Absolutely incoherent horror(?) movie, not helped by the hideous, pan & scan version on Netflix streaming that looks like a 1984-era VHS tape. I'm sure the movie's visuals would look better in a proper, HD widescreen print (maddeningly, I just learned that Netflix used to have it in widescreen, but took it off to replace it with the crappy, ancient P&S version 
), but even spiffed up, I doubt it would be any more watchable. Fun to see Gabriel Byrne, Scott Glenn and Ian McKellen in early screen roles, but otherwise what a piece of garbage, although I'll concede it likely made more sense in Michael Mann's original three+ hour cut that got chopped to ribbons by the studio.
), but it simply had no laughs whatsoever. You know a movie's not working when the funniest joke is Jerry Goldsmith quoting his Gremlins theme on the soundtrack (and how sad that was Goldsmith's last movie 
).
) and fine voicework. 
