Rating: 
Summary: E.T. is not a movie, it's an exciting emotional experience!
Review: "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" is the touching story of a young, fatherless boy in 1982 Nevada named Elliot who finds an alien who was left behind on Earth by his people. This alien possesses great abilities such as levitation and healing powers. Soon Elliot become emotionally linked and they can feel each other's feelings. Elliot soon shows his siblings the alien but keeps it a secret from everyone else. They teach him how to talk and name him "E.T.". The only problem is that government agents know he exists, and they are looking for him for scientific study. The only way to keep E.T. safe is to find a way to get him back home. But will they be able to say goodbye to each other?This film is undoubtedly Steven Spielberg's most personal for he lived under the same circumstances as Elliot in his youth. Maybe that's why this movie is so great. It created a worldwide phenomenon in 1982 and was even the highest-grossing movie of the year until it was overtaken by Jurassic Park, another Spielberg film, in 1994. The movie was relatively low-budget at $10 million, only one third of other big movies at the time. The casting was perfect, especially Henry Thomas as Elliot, Drew Barrymore as Elliot's sister Gertie (in her first on-screen role), Dee Wallace Stone as Elliot's mother Mary and Robert McNaughton as Elliot's brother. The emotional value and drama was heavily supported by a flawlessly stunning musical score by John Williams, conducter of music to "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones". E.T. was a superbly built and operated animatronic robot created by Carlo Rimbaldi and his highly-trained special effects team. E.T. the alien was obviously made with a lot of heart for it is unbelievably real. This movie amazed audiences all around the world in 1982 and is now back in 2002 in a 20th Anniversary release. This new release includes digital mastering for optimum picture and sound quality, new footage, and digitally enhanced special effects. I saw the 20th Anniversary in theaters yesterday and I had mixed opinions. The digital mastering of picture and sound was great, but the new footage was interesting at best and unnecessary. New scenes include Elliot measuring and weighing E.T., Elliot showing E.T. the bathroom and bathtub, plus Elliot's mother going into town to find his siblings and gettin her car egged. The digitally enhanced special effects was a major disappointment. The original, robotic E.T. was there one second, and then a definetly-noticable and worse-looking digital E.T. the next, switching back and forth. The digital E.T. has too small a body, too small a head, too big of eyes, and unrealistic facial expressions. E.T.'s spaceship was also digitally enhanced needlessly. The original special effects are classic because they are a sign of the times. It's sad, because in an effort to make the movie better they actually made it worse. The guns were also pointlessly edited and replaced with walkie-talkies, and the small amount of language is also edited. The humor, drama and emotional impact are still present yet these new changes are sort of annoying. Seeing this movie in theaters for the first time was still amazing if you look past the extra stuff. All together, I prefer the original 1982 "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" for the REAL E.T. experience. The 20th Anniversary can be summed up as the 2002 weaker and censored version of E.T. I was lucky enough to purchase the now Collector's Item first-edition 1982 E.T. release. I suggest you go to this movie in theaters and take your children so they can see this movie the way it was meant to be seen with great picture and sound thanks to DTS Stereo and THX Digital Mastering Services. It will make you laugh, cry, and jump out of your seat in excitement. So "be good" and see this movie today! You will never forget it.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable, enchanting epic fantasy.
Review: "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial", is probably one of director Steven Speilberg's best-ever...no wonder he is so proud of the film, even enough today to make the risky decision of digitally remastering the original version! PLOT SUMMARY: "E.T." is the unforgettable classic tale of a young ten-year-old boy, Elliott (Henry Thomas) who befriends a strange alien, E.T. (voiced by Pat Welsh) from an unkown world, who has been left behind on planet Earth when his species landed their space craft on Earth for a visit. Elliott is able to feel what E.T. feels the moment they make contact with each other. Soon, Elliott's older brother, Michael (Robert McNaughton) and younger sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore) are in on his secret, and E.T. becomes emotionally attached to all three children, as well as they become emotionally attached to him. When the FBI finds out about E.T., Elliott must get E.T. back to his space ship before the FBI gets ahold of him so E.T. can go home safely. 2002 VERSION: This new version of the film was released in March of 2002. It's digitally remastered, with special effects being better than ever, a digitally remastered score by the absolutely brilliant composer and conductor, John Williams, and two deleted scenes that were cut out of the original. Both scenes were added into the film as they had appeared in the original script. One of the scenes focuses on Elliott and E.T. in the bathroom when Elliott fakes an illness so he can stay home with E.T. from school. The other deleted scene involves Michael, Gertie, and their mother, Mary (Dee Wallace-Stone), on Halloween night when Mary goes out looking for Elliott and finds Michael and Gertie roaming around on the streets. 1982 VERSION: This is the original version of the film that was seen in theaters in the year of 1982. Nothing is digitally remastered, and there are no extra scenes or footage. A lot of "E.T." fans might say that the original version is better, but I personally enjoy both. The 2002 version is featured on disc one in this collector's edition DVD set, and this 1982 version is featured on disc number two. OVERALL THOUGHTS: This is one amazing film! "E.T.", I must say, is one of my all-time favorites. It's truly a classic. The acting by the entire cast is brilliant and superb...and I really must take a note on Henry Thomas. He is the one who captured the audiences' emotions and was just plain outstanding as Elliott. There are unforgettable movie lines in this film, as well as unforgettable original music. The script was well-written and solid. Steven Speilberg did an incredible directing job! The special effects were just stunning, too...even in the remastered version. This is not just a children's film--it's a film for the ages. The collector's edition DVD is also a wonderful treasure. This version comes with both the 1982 original feature, and the digitally remastered 2002 feature. The tons of extras include a making of "E.T.", live performance of John Williams conducting the Orchestra at the 2002 premiere, a documentary of E.T.'s creation and evolution, a "reunion" interview where the cast, as well as Speilberg and the film's other producer, Kathleen Kennedy, come back in 2002 to discuss their reactions on the film's impact, a look at the 2002 theatrical premiere, advertisments, DVD-ROM extras, and theatrical trailers. This DVD is available in both wide screen and full frame formats. I highly recommend "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial". Score:
100/100
A+
Rating:
Summary: Pure Spielberg
Review: "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is a classic and one of Steven Spielberg's most famous films. It's probably the one movie that defines the name "Spielberg" more than any other. The logo on the original movie poster comes from Steven Spielberg's trademark "Amblin Entertainment" production sign. One of the many things worth mentioning in this movie is Henry Thomas' performance as Elliot. It is the best performance from a child actor I have ever seen. He has a lot of emotional scenes in the movie, which is what makes child actors better. Whenever I hear or see child actors cry emotionally on-screen in movies, I call that great acting {same can be said with Haley Joel Osment's performance as Cole in The Sixth Sense}. I can't wait till a 20th anniversary edition of this movie comes out to theaters 2 years from now.
Rating: 
Summary: OK, but not Spielberg's masterpiece.
Review: "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" is probably the one Steven Spielberg film that has been labeled his "masterpiece". While it's a well-made film on most counts, I can't regard it as such. The story is nothing special, and has been done better in countless other kid/animal movies like "The Yearling" and "So Dear to My Heart". It's basically a boy-and-his-dog story with a sci-fi twist; a boy and his alien. Henry Thomas is very believable as Elliot, and Robert McNaughton is a real hoot as his older brother Michael. Drew Barrymore is equally hilarious as Gertie. The problem I have with this movie is that it's so incredibly popular and I've seen it so many times that it has lost its ability to move me emotionally. It came out the same summer as another Spielberg hit "Poltergeist", and "E.T." completely outgrossed it. "Poltergeist" was an original haunted-house film, while "E.T." is a rather tired formula story with several special ingredients to liven it up.
Rating: 
Summary: Steven Spielberg and the E.T. DVDs
Review: 'E.T.' is a movie worth owning and remembering. Steven Speilberg has given all fans the option of remembering it as they first saw it, whether that be in 1982 or in 2002, on which DVD they decide to purchase. A newspaper article in today's (10/16/02) CNN states that Steven Spielberg has arranged for BOTH DVD releases of E.T. to contain both movies. Mr. Speilberg is quoted as saying "My intention was never to replace the original film. When people buy 'E.T.' I want them to know they have the original movie, not just for collectors and aficionados, but for everyone who remembers it and wants to continue remembering it just that way." While I understand other's opinion that the changes made for 2002 were extreme and detracted from the film itself, I have to respect the director's desire to revisit one of his works and use modern technology to bring it closer to his original vision. And as a parent who has to teach a young child that strangers should be avoided - unless that stranger happens to be a police officer, firefighter or EMT, I can appreciate wanting to make the police seem a little less intimidating to kids. I wouldn't have made the same choice, but again I have to respect the director's choices. Whatever version I prefer, or my child ultimately prefers, both will be available regardless of the DVD I choose to purchase. I am glad the Mr. Spielberg brought Universal around to his thinking on this matter. As to the additional material available on the 'Ultimate' set - I think I'll wait until the release details are finalized before I dismiss it as being solely profit minded.
Rating: 
Summary: Dr Scifi, or How PC Started Worrying and Stopped the Bombard
Review: (The above means the censors cutting this sci-fi movie, because political correctness supporters worried about it being scary to small children and stopped the the bombarding complaints by coming up with this inferior hacked up version) Now, don't get me wrong, I love the original ET, but I can't fill up my loving for the original on this digitally tweaked version. It's confirmed. Speilberg decided to listen to the censors and come up with this. Since the new scenes have a digital E.T., they slapped a digital one over the original in the scenes from the real version so they would blend more together. Why would they wanna do that? Just get out the the original minature for the new scenes, I doubt it'd be destroyed after 20 years. That's also a problem with CGI, it just feels soft and flat (check comparsions for Apcalypse Now's helicopter raid and a HCR in a modern movie that uses CGI for raids, or the LOTR version from '78 and the new one with the Black Rider in the woods scene). Here are all the tweaks I know of:
1) Since the new scenes have a digital E.T., they slapped a digital one over the original in the scenes from the real version so they would blend more together (aforementioned)
2) The guns on the agents are replaced with walkie talkies or removed altogether (I'm pretty sure all kids would know that was an empty threat, or at least I did when I was younger)
3) Two or more instances of "lavicious" dialouge, one for the speak of a supposed terrorist (this what happens when terrorism has recently happened and they say "terrorist" or refrenses to it).
That's all I know of but I'm sure there's more.
Rating:
Summary: BE GOOD.....
Review: ....and go see this movie!!! I saw the re-release yesterday afternoon. LOVED IT!!!! One of the most wonderful movies ever to cross the big screen. I first saw ET twenty years ago (oh, I was so young then) and loved it then too. It will make you laugh and shed a tear or two. Truly heart-warming in every way. It doesn't matter if you are 5 or 105, it is a delight for everyone. Do yourself a favor...see this movie..turn on your heartlight now!
Rating:
Summary: Oh, Please!!
Review: ....I was about 3 when the original came out and it has been one of the movies I will NEVER forget!!...Now that it is back, I am thrilled...I have to say that it saddens me that movie producers feel the urge to change this movie to make it "politically correct." Maybe the guns are bad for kids to see, but they see it in every action movie their parents let them watch EVERY DAY!! I agree...that...the movie should be left alone. And please, make the original available (and affordable) AT LEAST to the people who would like to see the REAL thing.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST FROM THE 80s...
Review: ...but I refuse to watch the new "look" of the film. Please Mr Spielberg: U gave us a masterpiece, a classic. Every scene was a a classic, but u don`t mess with excellence...
The old film of 1982 is not available in Norway any more, but I hope for the sake of future generations, that Mr Spielberg and his like DOES NOT TAMPER with old productions. What if Munch revived his painting "Scream" 20 years later and had a touch-up with better paint?
What I remember is 1 of the most magical children`s film ever made with a splendid Henry Thomas in the lead. Please let us - THE PUBLIC - have the original back... It belongs to us, our memories and the future.
Rating:
Summary: Top 10 reasons nay-sayers should shut up...
Review: 10. Stop complaining about the "new" footage incoroprated into the 2002 version. The original is included on all 3 DVD versions of E.T. anyway, so what do you care? 9. Regardless of what cinema snobs say, Spielberg is a fantastic director and this is his most personal movie second only to Schindler's List. 8. Quit calling it boring. It's rated PG, so what do want? You expected E.T. to come out at the end dressed as Rambo before blowing the authorities away with his outer space arsenal? It's a family movie. Get over it. 7. If you didn't love this movie as a kid, there's something mentally wrong with you. If you did love it as a kid and are bashing it now, then you grew up a little TOO much. I pity you people. 6. Simple: it's a classic 80's movie. 5. E.T. is more lovable than a lot of kid-friendly characters these days, including SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and those silly Teletubbies. 4. It's a live-action movie in which, suprisingly, nobody dies. Got a problem with that? Watch a Jason movie. 3. E.T. was produced by Universal, a big studio (obviously), but it has more heart than 99% of the garbage out these days. 2. As successful as E.T. was, it never became a franchise to subject us to a plethora of mediocre sequels because, in my opinion, one movie is all we needed. It told it's story and let us get on with our lives. And the top reason to not listen to the nay-sayers?... 1. They'd rather wallow in depressing music and watch movies like Fight Club. Therefore, they need not speak, because fans of this movie couldn't care any less. So, why did I do this list? Simple. I was bored. Get the DVD and prepare to be entertained.** **Applies to normal people only
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