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E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Ultimate Gift Boxed Set)

E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Ultimate Gift Boxed Set)

List Price: $69.98
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: I don't get it???
Review: Is this some kind of joke??? if it is I'm not laughing. I don't believe in any kind of extra terrestrials. The few that I do believe in don't look like E.T at all.
What's so "Extra" about this terrestrial anyway. I got only my required ammount of terrestrials when I purchased this ridiculous DVD. There must have some kind of trick photography when they made this because I can't really believe in this at all.
If the E.T actually declare war, I want to be on the winning side. I pledge my allegiance to our alien leaders, they must be far superior to us because they can light up their fingers.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Classic comes back
Review: E.T. is still one of the best movies I ever saw. I do not agree with the many who write that the new edition seems to them like an other movie. The corrections are very guarded. The only great change is the bathroom scene that was not in the original version. I personally find the changes with the flying Spaceship not so good, it is too much effect stuff, I like more the old version but thats personal taste. The set comes with a great illustrated book, Soundtrack and Filmframecard (I dont very understand the reason for that one, as it is only a copy). All in all, great box!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ET is a pretty good movie
Review: ET is a pretty good movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Steven Spielberg At His Best! Bravo!
Review: ET - THE EXTRA TERRESTIAL is a timeless and fun movie. This is one of those films you can watch over and over and still feel the emotion. It was acclaimed to bring out the child in us all - but really it is a celebration of who we are.

Directed by Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler's List), the film real star is not from this planet. Designed by Carlo Rambaldi (Dune, Close Encounters of the Third Kind), this little alien made history by doing the one thing that everyone else on this planet has problems with, making a friend. By making this friend - we as an audience learn about loyalty and love.

Standout performance by Henry Thomas (Gangs Of New York, Moby Dick) as Elliot and of course who could forget the screen debut of six-year-old Drew Barrymore (Charlie's Angels I & II, Ever After, Titan AE). Dee Wallace Stone (The Frighteners, Invisible Mom) and Peter Coyote (Sphere, Patch Adams) have some special moments too.

The real star is of course ET himself. Although complete made of metal and rubber and operated and controlled by over seventeen people, the little alien could emote volumes of feelings and really didn't say that much throughout the whole film.

The DVD extras are the best ever. There is two versions of the film - the original 1982 release and the enhanced 2002 20th Anniversary edition. There is even a separate version of the movie with the musical score performed live with a 200 piece orchestra by John Williams (Star Wars, Raiders Of The Lost Ark) at the actually 2002 world premiere of the Special Edition.

There is a 20th Anniversary retrospective and a reunion of all the cast where they talk about the film and its production. There is even a educational section on the planets in our solar system. The DVD is a must for every fan of science fiction and every person who enjoys a movie about love and friendship. I can not say enough about this film. Everyone should have a copy of this one. (11-22-02)

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Try again in 5 years
Review: In a lot of ways, the two DVD sets that mark the 20th anniversary of the warm-and-fuzzy classic "E.T." feel like family albums. Most of the on-the-set footage plays like home movies. The cast clearly considers "E.T." one of their own. "He was one of the kids," "E.T." mom Dee Wallace says. Charming and nostalgic to be sure, but the material probably resonates best with those connected to the production.

Universal Home Video has released "E.T." in two handsome sets, marking the film's debut on DVD. (Some of the material appeared on laserdisc.) Both have the heft of an event release, with fine art direction on the packages, discs and menus. Audio and video have been spit-polished; the list of extras seems mighty enough. Clearly, the money was spent.

Still, it all feels a bit thin. Put simply, the sets are not in the same league with well-organized, highly informative titles like "The Phantom Menace," Spielberg's own "A.I." or "Singin' in the Rain."

At times, the extras for "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" play like "E.T." the celebrity news show. Spielberg and his actors stay in pure promotion mode as they reminisce. The populist approach should suit fans looking to catch up with the "E.T." stars, but it probably won't sit well with those seeking insight into one of the last century's most successful movies.

Both sets feature the original theatrical version of "E.T." and the updated director's cut that was released to cinemas in March. Universal says Spielberg gave in to consumer demand at the last minute, agreeing to include the original film on the smaller set. This may explain some of the DVD sets' problems with clunky navigation and skimpy direct access of extras. Both sets include a second unspooling of the new film as it was accompanied live by John Williams' orchestra.

The "Limited Collector's Edition" has a half-hour version of the new making-of docu "The Evolution and Creation of E.T." that runs almost an hour on the larger set. Also missing is the larger set's thoughtful documentary on John Williams, who won an Oscar for his "E.T." score. These cuts removed some of the more informative material, making the full box set the necessary (and more costly) acquisition for those with a serious interest in the film. Both sets are to be discontinued at the end of the year, returning "E.T." to the suspended animation of "video moratorium."

"The Ultimate Gift Boxed Set" adds a remastered CD soundtrack, the colorful hardcover book "E.T. From Concept to Classic" (which threads Melissa Mathison's script around some decent feature material) and a "collectible senitype" (reproduction of a film frame). A certificate of authenticity makes it all official. The review copy's box suffered significant tearing at the corners not long after it was removed from the shrinkwrap. The smaller package is quite sturdy.

The new cut of "E.T." looks fine, much as it did during its theatrical run last spring. Image quality has its highs and a few lows, but this appears to be the best possible rendering of "E.T." The older film looks so-so, with night scenes on the muddy side.

The DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound strong for the most part, providing sufficient vistas for John Williams' sweeping score. The DTS provides more depth and bottom than the Dolby, but the difference won't be dramatic on most systems. In an oddity, the original "E.T." on the two-disc edition has DTS encoding, but not on the more extensive set (this is not reflected on the packaging). Universal says this was a disc-space issue. No matter -- the old sound can't touch the new sound regardless of how it's processed. Limited surround effects on the updated film won't test the outer limits of many systems: It all sounds kind of Pro Logic, probably a creative decision.

Buyers of the larger set get a breakdown of scenes that were changed or added, but you have to go deep into the making-of to find the comparisons. (Users should be able to access features like these quickly via menus).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Where is Widescreen?
Review: I just got the DVD after waiting years and was totally bummed when I opened it and it was in "Pan & Scan"....

If it were not such a great movie we never would have bought it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The rating goes to the movies only
Review: Someone in the marketing department at Universal should get fired. First they said that the only way to get the original edit of E.T. was to shell out [some hefty cash]. (I wonder how many people decided not to bother because of the prohibitive cost?)
The decision to have both editions available in one set at a lower price was announced only a week before the DVD was released.

The packaging of the lower priced DVD is also pathetic. It looks fine facing out in the store, with the clear plastic window on the moon-colored disc, but there is no title on the spine. Also the cardboard trees over the cardboard window is already starting to peel away on my package. Remove the security labels with care, as this can also damage the cardboard package.

This is E.T. The highest grossing film of all time between 1982 & 1997. A beloved film by critics & audiences alike. Universal should have given it more respect.

I admit I have yet to watch the special edition. I hesitate to tarnish the memory of the original, which still moves and engages me.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: not a bad kids movie
Review: this is a decent film with good effects for its time, a bit dated now but most still say its a classic, get it for the kids

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An Undeniable Masterpiece, Now On An Excellent 2-Disc DVD!!
Review: I had not seen this film for atleast 3 years, and felt like seeing it again. When I heard that the title would be discontinued on Dec. 31, I rushed out and got it. WELL WORTH MY MONEY!!!

Having never gotten around to seeing it in theaters, I waited to see the new restored edition with great anticipation. Well, Steven Spielberg made the right choices with this one!! What he adds to the film only further perfects what was an already perfect movie. The enhanced special effects make E.T. look twice as good/realistic, and adds much more flexibility and muscles to his face. We also see, in the beginning of the film, how exactly E.T. moves so darn fast! The newly-inserted "bathroom" scene was probably the best addition to the movie; it adds more time for E.T. and Elliot to get to know eachother (and also gives a hint that E.T.'s species is slightly aquatic). It's a very funny scene! And the restored soundtrack by John Williams is magnificent, and is great with surround sound!

The special features, while not necessarily great, are good enough, and are worth at least one viewing. The "making-of" documentary is the best of the selections, and is very interesting. "The Reunion" was a major disappointment, as I was expecting the hour-long special I saw on TV, which was very insightful and funny. The new one featured here is a mere ten minutes.

Oh well. Even if the special features are nothing to get excited about, the true gem is that of the restored film, which no matter how many countless viewings can still manage to bring a laugh to your lips, a tear to your eye, and a joy to your heart.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A timeless film that captured audiences everywhere.
Review: So many family film directors should take notes on what Steven
Speilberg already knew , with so much ... on DVD these days it's
nice to know that a timeless classic a true classic finally comes
to DVD in such a spartan way that it excites you to even glance at the pakage , but when E.T. is veiwed it's just as splendious as seeing it in the theatre for the first time , in fact if you want that it even has a real time theatrical presentation with a
real treat John Willams does the music live and that is only one
of the three ways you can veiw this timeless classic.

1982 Steven Speilberg captured us all with the boy and his alien friend and there adventures together in bonding with one another until it seems in the middle of the film that there
together as one that provides the most emotional part I, don't
know how many times iv'e cried when the flower starts to fade
and E.T. suddenly looses his battle with life and Elliots crys
for E.T. this is the genious of Steven Speilberg who makes a
film that even the most hardend heart would break over and then
brings us back to happiness when E.T. comes back to us.

Strong performances by Henry Tomas(Elliott),a very young Drew
Barrymore(Gertie),and the mother Dee Wallace-Stone(Mary) as well
as Elliot's elder brother Robert Macnaughton(Michael)and a sypathetic scientist Peter Coyote(Keys).But especally strong performance by Henry Tomas who has some bonding scenes that were
cut out of the theatrical version , there wonderful scenes of E.T. in the bathtub playing with the water, other enhanced special effects were put in but still includes the chase to get
E.T. to his mothership,the classroom scene where he and Elliott
get drunk and have some enduring experiences , Halloween Day ,
and the emotional scene where the family must say there final
goodbyes to E.T..After 20 years this film has kept it's magic
and have given people back far more then any family film has
or ever will and it will stay in our hearts and minds for many
many more years to come as it should be with E.T. he never left
because now we can always caputre his essence forever.

With three ways to view the film , theatrical traliers and
doucumentaries on the making of the film and themusic of the
film and the theatrical version , this will be a timeless gift
the whole family will enjoy.


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