* batteries not included

US, 1987, 106 minutes, Colour.
Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy, Elizabeth Pena, Frank McRae?, Denis Boutsikaris.
Directed by Matthew Robbins.

• batteries not included is a Steven Spielberg production - something of a blend between Cocoon and Gremlins. The film was co-written and directed by Matthew Robbins (Corvette Summer, Dragonslayer). It focuses on developers in New York, a group of people holding out in an old apartment block - the pressures of the developers, especially using Hispanic thugs, their stances against the authorities. The film then becomes a fantasy with mechanical creatures coming from another planet, helping to restore everything that is broken, and helping the people retain their apartment block.

The stars are the veteran husband and wife team of Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy (who also appeared in Cocoon). There is a cross-section of American figures in the apartment. However, the scenes are soon stolen by the very small flying saucer-like creatures who come to help the people in their apartment block.

It is a bit difficult to decide who the film is designed for: perhaps grandparents with their grandchildren. Somewhat slow-moving but pleasant fantasy with a point about unscrupulous developers and people's rights to their home.

1. Entertaining fantasy? Social message?

2. The atmosphere of New York City, the slums and their demolition, new buildings? The feel for New York? The musical score by James Horner - and the use of big band, '40s-style music?

3. The visual effects and special effects, the creatures, their mechanical style, their 'human' qualities?

4. The credits and the collage of Frank and Faye, their marriage, Bobbie, in the neighbourhood, growing up, growing old?

5. The situation with Lacey and his henchmen, wanting the building demolished? Carlos and his friends and their violent pressure on the people in the building? Their terrorising each of the characters? Offering them money? Their refusal to go?

6. The building and its inhabitants, its ugliness, yet home? Frank and his worry about Faye and her not being in the present, wandering? The money offered? Sid and Muriel and their help, their decision to go to the old people's home? Faye and her absentmindedness, thinking of Bobbie? Frank and his work, anguish, the diner and the customers? His exasperated smashing of things?

7. Mason and his girlfriend, his art? The girl leaving? His throwing his art out the window?

8. Marissa and her pregnancy, waiting for Hector to come back, the friendship with Mason, getting his paintings, sharing the experience with him, falling in love?

9. Harry and his background as a prize-fighter? Quiet, not speaking, his mechanical genius? Fixing the little creature?

10. Faye and her charm with everybody, her memories, seeing Carlos as Bobbie? Frank and his humouring her? Her love for him? The arrival of the creatures, swooping around the house, fixing everything? The humans' reaction? Delight? Helping one another, the birth of the new creatures? Harry and his taking the green creature and fixing it? Their being dispersed, Harry with the whistle and his going to Times Square and reuniting the creatures?

11. Mason and his concern, help, with Marisa? His drinking, her saying goodbye to Hector?

12. Frank and Faye and the truth about Bobbie, Carlos coming into the diner? His reaction against being Bobbie? Yet his attraction towards the couple?

13. Carlos as villain, his plans, dressing up, going to Lacey, the arsonist, his clash with him, the heroic rescuing of Faye?

14. The burning building, the rescue, Harry sitting in the ruins? The hospital sequences? Carlos and the attempted reconciliation?

15. The creatures and their return, the rebuilding of the apartment block, better than ever, Lacey and his anger, sacking his henchmen? The new buildings with the old retained? A preserved building?

16. The themes of old people; home? Living in the present, living in the past, truth? Love?