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Now some old movies that were wonderful at the time, really should stay that way, wonderful for that era, and E.T. was better off staying in 1982. This twenty-year anniversary edition was supposed to contain new scenes, and digitally enhanced special effects. Well, frankly I didn’t notice any new scenes, nor did I especially notice enhancements other than it was not as dark at night as it was 20 years ago. What they did do was cut a few scenes and if I can remember missing scenes from 20 years ago then those scenes should not have been cut. Director Steven Spielberg (Artificial Intelligence) does fabulous work, but pulling a George Lucas and bringing back the past is not always nostalgic. In fact what we remember as a movie that was great for the entire family is not really true. The younger children are screaming because of the abandonment issues, the older children are disturbed because they think E.T. died, and the teenagers are bored because there is no sex, nudity or violence. Now the parents might think it is charming, but in reality they would rather be somewhere else. My theater experience contained all of the above scenarios. E.T. begins with aliens landing and collecting plant samples. A bunch of trucks pull up and men with flashlights are searching the area. E.T is spotted and races back to the ship only to have it leave without him. Scared and alone he ends up in a shed in Elliott’s (Henry Thomas) back yard. Nobody believes Elliot, so he camps out in the back yard waiting for his little goblin. They come face to face and both scream and retreat. The next day in a scene that boosted Reces Pieces candy sales, Elliot leaves a trail of candy for E.T., whom responds. They become friends and begin to share the same feelings and experiences. E.T. figures out how to phone home for a ride and on Halloween they sneak out to make that long distance call. In the meantime the authorities are on to the fact that an alien is being harbored in Elliott’s house. So they capture E.T and begin research on the dying alien. So the kids, Michael (Robert MacNaughton), Gertie (Drew Barrymore of Never Been Kissed and Charlie’s Angels) have to rescue him and make sure he makes it home. Also appearing in this movie is Peter Coyote of A Walk to Remember, Dee Wallace and C. Thomas Howell (who actually goes on to star in other 80s movies only I can’t remember a single one), and don’t forget this film jump started the young career of Drew before her drug addictions and many short term marriages. This film will always be a Hollywood classic, but each time it is taken off the shelf and dusted off to generate a few more bucks it loses it charm. So I give E.T. a four on the About-Movies.com scale and hope Gremlins never makes a comeback to the silver screen. Bu bye
Last updated: Thursday, March 20, 2008 02:48:30 AM Click Here to get back into frames.
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