Release Date: 1982; March 22, 2002 (20th anniversary re-release)
Starring: Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Melissa Mathison
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG (language, mild thematic elements)
It was in the deserts of Tunisia in 1980, on the set of Raiders of the Lost Ark, that a director named Steven Spielberg conceived the idea of a story about an alien being stranded on Earth and making friends with a young boy. Two years later, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial hit theaters and became the all-time box office champ, an icon of American cinema, and a film that cemented Spielberg on the dais of legendary filmmakers. It's only fitting, then, that the film's 20th anniversary be celebrated by re-releasing it in theaters. For this new edition, a few scenes have been added and the special effects have been tweaked, but E.T. is still just as wonderful as it was twenty years ago.
The film opens with the same eerie credits, the same wondrous shot of the starry night sky, and the same magical strains of John Williams' original score. A spaceship has landed in the woods somewhere on Earth, and alien creatures are exploring the plant life. Then, as they're preparing to leave, humans with loud trucks and jingling keys suddenly appear and begin searching the area with flashlights. One creature has wandered off, is nearly spotted by the humans, and can't catch up to its ship before it leaves. Stranded, the creature finds shelter in a nearby suburb, in the backyard of a boy named Elliot (Henry Thomas).
The meeting between E.T. and Elliot is just as startling and mysterious to us as it is to each of the characters, and this is what Spielberg does so well throughout the film -- he precisely relates the point of view of the characters to the audience. In a literal sense, he shoots almost the entire film from the height of a child, and it effectively makes adult figures larger (even menacing at times), exactly like the E.T. and Elliot would actually see them.
The same goes for the story's point of view -- everything is told mainly from Elliot's perspective, and appropriately so. Because of that, we are just as in love with E.T., just as afraid that the grown-ups will catch him, and just as sad to see him leave as the young boy is.
This is certainly why the film works so well and why millions and millions of people worldwide have embraced it as one of the best family films ever made. It's also because of the great performances from the child actors, namely Henry Thomas as Elliot. He captures everything a boy would do if he found something like E.T., and with the help of Spielberg's directing (who likely almost turned into a kid himself to make this film), he is the perfect Elliot. Drew Barrymore (who was seven years old in 1982) is another delight, and even cuter than we remember her.
Mostly, though, everything about the film is just as we remember it. The new scenes are generally pleasant and interesting to see, and those who were angered by the fact that Spielberg altered such a classic can rest easy -- the added footage does nothing to change the overall feel of the movie. The new effects are merely cosmetic touch-ups, and the previously cut scenes are so short (the longest being a humorous sequence involving E.T. and Elliot in the bathroom) and unimportant that their presence is almost inconsequential. That's not to say time was wasted in updating this re-release, but rather, that what was done should not be considered blasphemous to E.T. fans.
Something that certainly hasn't changed is the brilliant music of John Williams (who, prior to this, wrote the music for Star Wars and Spielberg films like Jaws and Raiders of the Lost Ark) -- from his peaceful opening to the classic "over the moon" theme to the outstanding finale, every note of this score is among his best work. Especially when the film drags (particularly during the scene where the government occupies Elliot's house), Williams is able to step in and greatly enhance our emotions, perhaps even making Steven Spielberg look better than he normally would. The composer received a much-deserved Oscar for his work here, and arguably, it could be considered some of the best music to ever grace a film soundtrack.
New scenes, effects, and re-release hype aside, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will never fail to be one of the greatest family films of our time. Do yourself a favor and revisit what once was, and always will be, considered a film classic.
all contents © 2002 Andy Zientek