Rating: 
Summary: One of the most overrated films ever.
Review: There were some good things about this movie. Henry Thomas was one of them. Drew Barrymore turned in the only good work of her professional career. There was an occasional touch of humor (E.T. hiding among the stuffed animals in the closet, for example). But overall, it was maudlin and lacked consistency, and was diluted by the cheap laughs that Hollywood garners by having little kids use vulgar language. Also, It doesn't take a genius to see the pseudo-religious allegory in the story. That probably says a lot about our society; people reject traditional religion, but still have a yearning to believe in something bigger and better than themselves. They satisfy that yearning by believing in warm and fuzzy aliens. Hence the hordes of people who give this very unexceptional movie 5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: An inspiring and ultimately tear-jerking masterpiece
Review: As if seeing the little boy Elliot hug his new best friend E.T. at the end wasn't enough to make your tear ducts burn with the desire to let a few drip down your face, E.T.'s magically illuminated finger ignites with life and casts a warm glow onto the tearful face of the friend he's about to leave behind and says the words that warmed hearts around the world: "I'll be right here." The music soars, E.T. picks up his plant, and the tears proceed to trickle down my face and land with a nice little plop on my pants before they are absorbed by the denim fabric. But they aren't tears of sadness, like they are when E.T. is defibrilated; they are tears of joy and happiness. This little creature whom I, as a viewer, have become so attached to, is finally getting what he wants: To go home, but at the cost of the first best friend he ever had. No one is good at goodbyes, and everyone knows this, which is what makes the ending to "E.T.--The Extra-Terrestrial" so wonderful. The movie makes your heart glad. It is wonderful, charming, scary, funny, realistic, visually stunning, and exciting as hell. How many times can you truly say that a single movie embodies all of those qualities, plus a lot more that I haven't even mentioned? A handful at most. "E.T." is one of the few masterpieces I can claim to have seen. It is right up there on my list of all-time favorites with "American Beauty" and "Magnolia," and it is the only movie to ever make me cry in front of company. You make poke fun at me if you will, but I'm no less of a man for admitting it, so keep your testosterone-seething jabs at my psyche to yourself. Thanks.
Rating:
Summary: An Emotionally Satisfying Fantasy
Review: In 1982, I had the privaledge of watching "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" as a wide-eyed, innocent, and very imaginative eight-year-old boy. Little did I know then that that evening's excursion to the cinema would change my life. Henry Thomas gives us the 'everychild' with yearning, lonliness, innocence, kindness, charm, and wit. His performance ranks as one of the best child performances I have yet seen. The ending is one of the most emotionally satisfying experiences in film - sentimental or not, it delivers 100%. John Williams' score is simply dazzling and unforgettable. I've seen the film more times than I can count-it's a comfortable place to go to from time to time. The film offers an escape from the adult cynic resting in my grey matter. Getting swept up in the warm embrace of "E.T." makes me feel kind of like a kid again - it's a familiar journey that I never grow tired of. I must mention the laughable tragedy that was the 1982 Acadamy Awards. The safe, 'prestige' picture "...quot; won the Best Picture trophy over "E.T." I have read from many sources (critics, fans, and otherwise) who have voiced dissatisfaction with this. I, for one, am glad it happened. Yes, "...quot; will be forgotten (does anybody really talk about it?) and it was basically a flat historical bioepic. .... It's recently been reported that Spielberg plans on reissuing "E.T." with remastered sound and <gulp> effects sometime in 2002. Will he give it the "..." treatment (Special Edition of '97), or will he just "clean" it up without changing any shots? We'll have to wait and see. Don't expect a DVD anytime soon because of this reason. I'll just watch my beloved widescreen VHS until then.
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Sci-Fi!
Review: A group of aliens visit earth and one of them is lost and left behind stranded on this planet. The alien is found by a 10 year old boy, Elliot. Soon the two begin to communicate, and start a different kind of friendship in which E.T learns about life on earth and Elliot learns about some new values for the true meaning of friendship. E.T. wants to go home, but if Elliot helps him, he'll lose a friend...
Rating:
Summary: A turning point in Spielberg's work
Review: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was intended by its creators primarily as a kids film and the enormous popularity with all audiences was somewhat of an unexpected surprise. The first sign of the immense popularity to come was when it was premiered out of competition at the Cannes film festival. Apparantly the audience of jaded adult Cannes filmgoers were cheering, clapping and stomping their feet 15 minutes before the film was even over and then proceeded to give Spielberg and his collaborators a 15 minute (or so) standing ovation. E.T. remains perhaps the most important film in Spielberg's career in the sense that it marked a clear contrast between his work before and after it, paving the way for films like Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan. His previous work including Jaws, The Sugarland Express, Close Encounters of The Third Kind, 1941 and Raiders of The Lost Ark were all large, action-packed comic-book entertainments somewhat reliant upon the constant threat of real of perceived violence and shy of broaching any deeper emotions. E.T. was the first film of his not to be storyboarded, which results in a looser, less structured, more "life-like" narrative structure that works to the films favor. Spielberg also trusted his young actors enough to allow them to improvise and deviate from the original script. Certain scenes such as when Elliot is explaining earth objects to E.T. were (I believe) ad-libbed in character by Henry Thomas. The bombast and thrusting narratives of the previous films is replaced here by a light, easy-going touch exemplified by John Williams lush and evocative score. At times the story seems rather unmotivated and some of the special effects (as they look now on video) are not perfect in the way that the effects in something like 2001 A Space Odyssey are perfect but in the things that really count, dramatic effectiveness and emotional resonance the film is a success. When E.T. finally arrives on DVD (one suspects after the planned 2002 theatrical re-release) it should contain all of the supplementary material present on the laserdisc edition. This includes hundreds of drawings, still photos, a making of documentary and extensive interview footage with Spielberg, writer Kathleen Kennedy, composer John Williams and assorted others. One of the highlights of the supplementary material is the videotaped screen test of Henry Thomas, at the end of which Spielberg can be heard saying "OK kid you've got the job." It's easy to see why he was hired on the spot after seeing the amazing concentration and intensity of Thomas in the test which had everyone in the audition room in tears. Thomas undoubtedly gives one of the best child performances ever in the film (essentially playing Spielberg's childhood alter ego), and is quite possibly the single most important element to the films success. Spielberg has said that the two films he would most like to be remembered for are E.T. and Schindler's List. In a number of ways I would argue that E.T. remains the most affecting two hours of film he has ever done. It crystalizes certain themes that recur in his other work in their most potent form and underneath the "kids film" moniker deals with themes of death, friendship and love which after all, are not limited to the world of children.
Rating:
Summary: Sky High With E.T.
Review: One thing I didn't like about this movie was how it was so 80's -ish. I know it was made in the 80's but still. The good nthing about it is still funny even when I was little it was funny. I would recommend this mobvie for everybody, especially the "young at heart". It was good humored fun.
Rating:
Summary: Everyones little friend...E.T.
Review: One of my favorite movies ever for several reasons. The great f/x and fabulous storyline. A perfect family movie that is hard to not like. The e.t. is not scary or threatening but a good innocent little creature that is hunted down like a dog. A great cast,effects,and story with humor and sadness at times makes this a classic that is a 5-star without dispute.
Rating:
Summary: How can you forget a classic movie!
Review: Thsi is one of Spielberg's greatist movies of all time! It was so realisticly acted and written that it brings such tears to your eyes! Thomas (Elliot) gave one of the most innocent and heart-warming performances of his acting career as a young boy who befriends a little alien! E.T. is shown by Spielberg as a wonderful character who learns about life on Earth! Just by looking at him, you can find all the qualities that could ever find in such a wonderful friend! I cannot wait for Universal to rerelease it into theaters for 2002 because I never got the chance to see it on the big-screen, and so this will be a dream come true for me!
Rating:
Summary: A Spielberg Classic
Review: Steven Spielberg has made some of my fovorite movies,(Raiders of the Lost Ark,Jaws,Saving Private Ryan to name a few)and E.T. is no exception.It is much better than most of the movies they're putting out now.It's story is simple: a little alien is lost and wants to get back home,and is befriended by a little boy named Elliot.Henry Thomas plays Elliot,and does a great job.The rest of the cast is good,also,including Drew Barrymore as Elliot's little sister Gertie and Dee Wallace as his Mom.The musical score by John Williams is excellent,and it's got good special effects,too.I'm not sure how the movie would have done had it been released today,because there's not a lot of violence or bad language,but I know I sure like it.Not that I believe in aliens,but if there are any I would rather have them friendly like E.T.,(or the ones in Close Encounters)than wanting to destroy mankind,such as in movies like Independence Day.(not to say that wasn't a good movie)
Rating: 
Summary: a bit sentimental
Review: There is nothing innately wrong with sentimental however the "cuteness" factor on this was a bit overwhelming at times. I could however emphasis with the main characters, human and non-human so I stayed interested in the story. Have never quite figured out the flying bike thing. The family seemed very well though perhaps a bit to gender typed.
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