E.T. (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial' (directed by Steven Spielberg) opens with a spaceship being spotted in a northern California forest at night. While the extra-terrestrials aliens are exploring the topography on their own scientific mission, a group of gov't operatives with flashlights appear on the scene. The alien vehicle blasts off, leaving one small E.T. behind. He is found by Elliot (Henry Thomas), a meek & alienated 10 yr. old boy who often seems lost in his own world. After making contact with the "little squishy guy", Elliott gives the stranger sanctuary in his bedroom. The boy does not tell his single mom (Dee Wallace), but does introduce E. T. to his teen brother, Michael, & his cute little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore).
As Elliott tries to keep E.T. under wraps, he also helps to feed him, & discovers that the alien can actually communicate with him telepathically. But, under the influence of Earth's unfamiliar climate, E.T. starts to show symptoms of a illness. Soon enough, they begin to learn from each other, & Elliott becomes a braver young man. Elliott eventually helps the weakening visitor find a way to signal his spacecraft ("phone home") so that he can return to his planet. However, the government scientists searching for E.T. led by the kindly agent Keys (Peter Coyote), close-in on E.T.'s locale in the suburban household. So the dying alien (who had bonded so closely with Elliott) is now in strong jeopardy of ever reaching home.
With 'E.T'. (and Close Encounters of the Third Kind before it), Steven Spielberg postulates what might happen if an alien is ever marooned on Earth. On an emotional level, 'E.T.' is both a tear-jerker & a feel-good experience, simultaneously. And it has that intangible feeling of a modern day classic. It's a movie for kids. But there's enough intelligence in the story (written by Melissa Mathison) to enchant/transfix adults, as well. I mean, parents could take their kids. Teens could take their dates. And older viewers could enjoy the old-fashioned values that go with the crowd-pleasing execution.
Technically speaking, 'E.T.' is a wonder to behold; gorgeous cinematography, locales, sound work, etc. The film paints a remarkable portrait of childhood, family, friendship, fantasy, faith, technology, the future, & a sense of the unknown. And it also gives us a great sci-fi adventure; capturing that time in youth when the world is a host of possibilities. Steven Spielberg in a NY Times interview has stated: "There's no proof UFOs exist but it's always nice to imagine what you think could be there, & the best movies I've ever seen are movies that are slightly above one's normal eye-level -- something you have to reach up to & suspend your disbelief".
But there are times, especially during the last act, when Spielberg pulls out all the stops in an effort to induce tears from us audience members. E.T. is absolutely adorable. And so when you throw in elements of him getting deathly sick, with Elliott crying over him, Gertie crying, the government scientists wanting to ruin E.T.'s chances of getting home, PLUS John Williams' magnificent, heart-tugging musical score ... then you see the manipulation as clear as day. It's that sustained feeling of manipulation combined with the overwhelming 'sad factor' (sometimes crying is not cathartic) which knocks this down from an A to an A- for me. That said, this IS what you'd call a "great" film. Look to be put through an emotional ringer.
As Elliott tries to keep E.T. under wraps, he also helps to feed him, & discovers that the alien can actually communicate with him telepathically. But, under the influence of Earth's unfamiliar climate, E.T. starts to show symptoms of a illness. Soon enough, they begin to learn from each other, & Elliott becomes a braver young man. Elliott eventually helps the weakening visitor find a way to signal his spacecraft ("phone home") so that he can return to his planet. However, the government scientists searching for E.T. led by the kindly agent Keys (Peter Coyote), close-in on E.T.'s locale in the suburban household. So the dying alien (who had bonded so closely with Elliott) is now in strong jeopardy of ever reaching home.
With 'E.T'. (and Close Encounters of the Third Kind before it), Steven Spielberg postulates what might happen if an alien is ever marooned on Earth. On an emotional level, 'E.T.' is both a tear-jerker & a feel-good experience, simultaneously. And it has that intangible feeling of a modern day classic. It's a movie for kids. But there's enough intelligence in the story (written by Melissa Mathison) to enchant/transfix adults, as well. I mean, parents could take their kids. Teens could take their dates. And older viewers could enjoy the old-fashioned values that go with the crowd-pleasing execution.
Technically speaking, 'E.T.' is a wonder to behold; gorgeous cinematography, locales, sound work, etc. The film paints a remarkable portrait of childhood, family, friendship, fantasy, faith, technology, the future, & a sense of the unknown. And it also gives us a great sci-fi adventure; capturing that time in youth when the world is a host of possibilities. Steven Spielberg in a NY Times interview has stated: "There's no proof UFOs exist but it's always nice to imagine what you think could be there, & the best movies I've ever seen are movies that are slightly above one's normal eye-level -- something you have to reach up to & suspend your disbelief".
But there are times, especially during the last act, when Spielberg pulls out all the stops in an effort to induce tears from us audience members. E.T. is absolutely adorable. And so when you throw in elements of him getting deathly sick, with Elliott crying over him, Gertie crying, the government scientists wanting to ruin E.T.'s chances of getting home, PLUS John Williams' magnificent, heart-tugging musical score ... then you see the manipulation as clear as day. It's that sustained feeling of manipulation combined with the overwhelming 'sad factor' (sometimes crying is not cathartic) which knocks this down from an A to an A- for me. That said, this IS what you'd call a "great" film. Look to be put through an emotional ringer.