Plot
Both a classic movie for kids and a remarkable portrait of childhood, E.T. is a sci-fi adventure that captures that strange moment in youth when the world is a place of mysterious possibilities (some wonderful, some awful), and the universe seems somehow separate from the one inhabited by grown-ups. Henry Thomas plays Elliott, a young boy living with his single mother (Dee Wallace), his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and his younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Elliott often seems lonely and out of sorts, lost in his own world. One day, while looking for something in the back yard, he senses something mysterious in the woods watching him. And he's right: an alien spacecraft on a scientific mission mistakenly left behind an aging botanist who isn't sure how to get home. Eventually Elliott puts his fears aside and makes contact with the "little squashy guy," perhaps the least threatening alien invader ever to hit a movie screen. As Elliott tries to keep the alien under wraps and help him figure out a way to get home, he discovers that the creature can communicate with him telepathically. Soon they begin to learn from each other, and Elliott becomes braver and less threatened by life. E.T. rigs up a communication device from junk he finds around the house, but no one knows if he'll be rescued before a group of government scientists gets hold of him. In 2002, Steven Spielberg re-released E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in a revised edition, with several deleted scenes restored and digitally refurbished special effects. ~ Mark Deming, RoviReview
Taking the child's eye view of alien-human relationships, Steven Spielberg's classic fable became an extraordinarily popular combination of special effects and sentiment, confirming the supremacy of the kidpix blockbuster and Spielberg's ability to conjure emotions as well as thrills. With a story about a fatherless boy who finds his soul mate in a benevolent E.T., Spielberg sensitively yet humorously delved into childhood innocence and experience, revealing the threat posed by adult ignorance and misplaced authority. With his affirmation of love and the importance of home, E.T. was something of an old-fashioned antidote to the chaos of the prior two decades. The special effects, though, were anything but old-fashioned, as Carlo Rambaldi's animatronic alien displayed a range of feelings and mystical powers (as well as inebriation), and the flying bicycles reaffirmed Spielberg's mastery of staging visual wonders. Greeted by mostly ecstatic reviews, E.T. appealed to the children-of-all-ages audience, surpassing Star Wars (1977) as the biggest moneymaker of all time at that point; E.T. dolls flew off the shelves. Nominated for nine Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director, E.T. won for its sound and visual effects, as well as for John Williams's score. ~ Lucia Bozzola, RoviCast
- Henry Thomas - Elliott
- Dee Wallace - Mary
- Peter Coyote - Keys
- Robert MacNaughton - Michael
- Drew Barrymore - Gertie
- Debra Winger - E.T. [uncredited]
Credit
Melissa Mathison - Associate Producer, Marci Liroff - Casting, Mike Fenton - Casting, Deborah L. Scott - Costume Designer, Steven Spielberg - Director, Glenn Randall - Second Unit Director, Carol Littleton - Editor, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Angela Morley - Musical Arrangement, John Connor - Camera Operator, James D. Bissell - Production Designer, Allen Daviau - Cinematographer, Frank Marshall - Production Manager, Wallace Worsley, Jr. - Production Manager, Kathleen Kennedy - Producer, Steven Spielberg - Producer, Jackie Carr - Set Designer, Jim Teegarden - Set Designer, Industrial Light & Magic - Special Effects, Carlo Rambaldi - Special Effects, Gene S. Cantamessa - Sound Mixer, Glenn H. Randall, Jr. - Stunts, Dennis Muren - Special Effects Supervisor, Melissa Mathison - Screenwriter, Kenneth Smith - Visual Effects| E.N.G. (1989 Film), E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990 Film) | |
| E.Y.E.S. of Mars (1994 Film), ECW: Anarchy Rulz '99 (2002 Film) |
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