Customer Reviews
An Old Favorite Experienced Through Young Eyes 
2008-05-17
I remember when Steven Speilberg's "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" was first released, being touched and awed by such a beautiful and unique film. Everyone I knew was talking about this film; it struck an emotional cord in young and old alike. It, along with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", was one of the first films with aliens where the aliens were NOT portrayed as invading monsters, and we, the people of Earth, didn't immediately shoot first and ask questions later. Even in the classic "The Day the Earth Stood Still", a soldier shoots at Klatu in one of the earliest scenes.
This story of a boy named Elliot who develops a deep and lasting friendship with a young space alien accidentally left behind on Earth teaches lessons of friendship, devotion, and love. Elliot and his new friend ET show us the power of wonder, innocence, acceptance, curiosity, and communication. The scene where Elliot begins to attempt to teach ET to talk via a stream of consciousness naming of everything in sight is wonderful, so typically childlike and real. It always brings a huge smile to my face.
I watched ET again last night with my newly 3-year old daughter. I was amazed. It immediately captured her attention; she watched it with huge, wide, interested eyes. As she sat in my lap, she whispered various questions - "What's happening, Mommy?" or "Why are the kids screaming?" I explained that a young ET had been accidentally left on Earth by his mommy and daddy, that Elliot was searching for ET to bring him back to his house, that the little girl and ET were scared of each other at first, etc. She took it all in, absorbed it, and clearly thought about it. When Elliot brought food for ET, and when Drew Barrymore started smiling at ET, my daughter exclaimed, "Oh look, Mama, now they are friends!" with a happy, satisfied smile on her face. Near the end she said, "He misses his mommy. ET phoned home." Her sweet, insightful, innocent comments once again brought tears to my eyes.
This film continues to be pure magic. "E.T." has earned itself a place in movie history, and deserves the highest praise and more. Introducing it to a young child improves even the best experience, bringing to mind memories of that first time and surpassing them. It truly is a film for the ages, for all generations, and will be for years to come.
ET The Extra Terrestrial 
2008-05-04
This movie is a classic but this version has some newly added footage that was included without warning. I still love ET but this one is not the original and I wish I would have known that.
The warmest story of Sci Fi 
2008-03-30
E.T. is the warmest story of Sci Fi since The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). This amazing story of a 10-years-old boy (Thomas) who meets a creature of other planet. The film shows love, warmth, friendship and courage in a Sci Fi movie which calls the attention and likes both of children and adults. The sound and the visual effects are excellent. And the audience really learn to love ET through the sensibility of this extra-terrestrial.
Apart from Henry Thomas, all the cast of the young children are superb, specially Drew Barrymore and Robert MacNaughton. The end is terrific. Great creation and direction of Steven Spielberg.
Great sci-fi classic of alltime, as well as Drew Barrymore's adorable debut 2008-03-30
I was nine years old when I first this movie and it was great seeing again after 25 years.
The classic mega sci-fi hit about the lonely 10 year old boy who finds and befriends a gentle alien, is as wonderful as the classic ever was.
Elliot (Henry Thomas) stumbles across the alien who soon names himself ET, and soon his oldere brother Michael (Robert Macnaughton) and his absolutely adorable 7 year old mischeivous sister Gertie (played by a vey young Drew Barrymore in her heartstealing debut performance).
Some very memorable secenes include the part where Gertie teaches ET to talk, where the kid's mother (Dee Wallace) opens Elliot's cupboard and passes ET off as one of his toys, the tearjerking scenes of ET dying in the scientists medical facility, and of course the psychical connection of ET and Elliot, leading Elliot to experience the symptoms of being drunk in science class when ET is drinking the beer at home. Elliot sets all the frogs who are about to be dissected, free, and As the alien watches John Wayne kiss Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man, Elliott's psychic link causes him to kiss a pretty girl in the class he likes (Erika Eleniak) in the same manner.
humour includes the boys at school taunting Elliot that the alien he claims he has discovered is from 'uranus'.
ET's later illness is paralelled by Elliot's illness and who can forget where Elliot, Michael and their friends on are lifted their bycicles into the sky, while getting ET past the auhtorities.
And then of course the scene where ET before being collected by his fellow aliens in the spaceship, says goodbye to Michael. Gertie and Elliot, and ET points to elliot's heart6 reminding him he will always be there.
Some really nifty reminders of the earely 80s teenage culture of the time including if you are really observant, Michael's space invaders sweatshirt.
This classic is as wonderful to see as ever for kids sseing it for the first time a smuch as for adults taking a trip down memory lane.
It stands on it's own and was never spoiled by an attempt at a sequel (very wise of you Mr Spielberg!).
loved this movie 2008-02-13
I purchased this dvd for my collection because I wanted it for my grandchildren when they get old enough to see it. It was one of the best movies for kids to see.
The heart of an extra-terrestrial. 2008-07-18
E.T. is a childhood favorite but I have to admit, E.T. scared me a bit. That little alien was kinda freaky to look at, but watching it now he's so cute and precious, what was I so afraid of? Henry Thomas should've been a bigger star after this movie, such a talented actor. Drew Barrymore is pure genius in this, she steals every scene. This film isn't perfect but this movie came out the year I was born so it has special meaning for me, enjoy!
A fun romp through Spielberg's world. 2008-06-18
E.T.
Who doesn't remember this movie when it came out, unless you were too young.
I didn't like it as a kid.
For some reason I like it better as an adult.
Sorry, I can't answer that one either.
Its fun, it's got a great story.
It's definitely Spielberg's better moments and he's had MANY.
Fun for the whole family, UUGH, I sound like my parents!!!
Stop me.......... Clean, wholesome fun for everyone, rent it!!!
A True Sci-Fi Gem 2008-06-16
I was 11 years old when I first saw this movie with my father. I remember it like it was yesterday. This is one of Steven Spielbergs absolute best films . Its warm, fun, sad and it has really cool special effects. The music by John Williams on this film is amazing. I highly recommed this film for all families and sci-fi fans out there. E.T. phone home !!!
E.T. The Extra -Terrestail 2008-06-14
Everyone of All Ages should own E.T. It is a joy to see and should be enjoyed many times....Nancy Whittingham
Friendship and Symbiosis 2008-06-05
-This review pertains to the .E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Collector's Edition)and the E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (Ultimate Gift Boxed Set)*-
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is in all likelihood the most personal film that Steven Spielberg has directed. It gives insight into the director's life experiences and his childhood in particular. For the most part the film is shown through the eyes of a child. It captures a certain sense of innocence and wonderment that was rare in films of the early 1980s. It's also startlingly honest in its portrayal of children growing up in contemporary America. Rarely do films give a truthful account of what the social behavior of children is really like. These children playfully torment one another, they swear and most importantly they aren't always good to each other. As a child, I recognized this and I still find it intriguing that one of the most accurate views of childhood should be found within a science fiction film. No wonder the story still touches people today.
The story concerns an alien (who happens to be a botanist) that is stranded on Earth. Government agents pursue him so he retreats into the vast forests of Northern California. One night a ten-year-old boy named Elliott sees him. Soon the two become friends and a symbiotic bond is formed. E.T., as the alien is dubbed, comes from a distant planet where his species experience reality through a collective conscious. Without his species he cannot emote, maintain physical health and therefore his life is endangered. But miraculously a link is formed between E.T. and Elliott, and this keeps him alive. E.T. feels Elliott's pain and distress, both emotional and physical, and responds to it. Now Elliott shares E.T.'s emotions, which further complicates his life. In one memorable sequence, E.T. discovers beer and becomes drunk causing Elliott to act in an intoxicated manner while at school. Soon the link between them strengthens and neither of them can sustain themselves. In order for either of them to survive E.T. must be reunited with his own species. All during this time the only other people to have seen E.T. are Elliott's siblings and a mysterious man who is only known as Keys. Elliott must learn to rely on his older brother, Michael and his younger sister, Gertie to keep his secret. On Halloween night, they manage to sneak E.T. out of the house, and Elliott and E.T. embark on an amazing journey through the forest. Deep within the forest, E.T. constructs a communication device out of mundane household items and attempts to contact the other aliens. When Elliott wakes up the following morning E.T. has vanished. Elliott returns home to find his mother panicked about his disappearance. His older brother, Michael searches for E.T. and finds him, half dead in the river and proceeds to bring him back home. Only then do the children reveal E.T.'s presence to their mother. But before she can absorb the shock government agents, dressed in space suits and armed with guns, break into their home. Meanwhile E.T. and Elliott grow weaker. And the only hope for their mutual survival is for E.T. to return to his home planet.
The film is something of an emotional roller coaster ride and its climactic bicycle chase is breathtaking. By the time the end credits have started you'll either have tears in your eyes or you'll be too exhausted to absorb the film's impact.
Much has already been said about the film's artistic and technical merits, so I won't go into great detail about the brilliance of the acting, the production design, John William's wonderful score, Melissa Mathison's script or Spielberg's direction. But I will say that they all deserve credit for this wonderful film. E.T. is truly a modern classic!
* The original 1982 widescreen theatrical version of E.T. isn't easy to find. It's only available in two expensive sets, both of which I recommend. Currently both of those DVD editions are unavailable here on Amazon.com, but they can be found in some novelty and collector shops. Hopefully when Universal releases this title in the future they'll include the original version as well as the 20th Anniversary edition.
