Rating: 
Summary: Take E.T. Home
Review: Steven Spielberg's E.T. was a phenomenon when it was originally released in 1982. The film wracked up huge ticket sales and became the highest grossing movie of all time. The story appeals to young and old alike and it is a movie that parents can watch with their children and both will be equally entertained. The story focuses on the relationship forged between young Elliot and E.T., an alien stranded on earth. Along with his older brother and younger sister, they hide E.T. from the mother and try to find a way for E.T. to get back home. Both Elliot and E.T. grow to love one another and even though Elliot doesn't want E.T. to leave, he knows that E.T. must get back to his own planet. Henry Thomas gives one of the best performances by a child actor in movie history. He portrays Elliot with real feelings, not just some teary-eyed kid who whines throughout. His performance is layered and has real depth. Seven-year old Drew Barrymore is cute as Gertie and the scene where she first sees E.T. is priceless. Mr. Spielberg has called the film the most personal of his career and Elliot is clearly his alter ego. Mr. Spielberg re-released the movie in 2002 to mark its 20th anniversary and he remastered and reworked the picture. The main part of the updates involve making E.T. more life like. In the new version, he has more motion and movement. Some things like a line about Elliot looking like a terrorist and guns in Federal Agents hands have been changed (his mother says he looks like a hippie and the agents carry walkie-talkies now). The film looks visually better, but the changes that are made seem like corrections, not enhancements. Stick with the original 1982 release that is on disk two for the definitive version of the film.
Rating: 
Summary: Great package with a minor flaw
Review: This is not so much a review of the movie as of the collector's package. It's a great package - the original version of the movie (the actual original version, unlike Disney's recolored and reanimated "original" Beauty & The Beast), the 2002 version, a disc of extras and a disc with the soundtrack, a hardcover book, a Senitype (an actual frame of 35mm film reproduced by "masters" as well as a developed enlargement on the same card, individually numbered) and a certificate of authenticity. The only problem with this set is the Senitype says in the information on the back of it that it only comes with the 2 disc limited collector's edition. I bought the 2 disc limited collector's edition in addition to this package and the 2 disc version does not come with a Senitype. They obviously switched ideas midstream, but it should have been corrected.Other than that it is a great package for fans of the movie, old or new.
Rating:
Summary: DVD's have Copy Protection!
Review: It really is a stroke of genius to include the original version of the film as well as the new version - and a joy to have 5.1 sound available for the first time (English and French for the new film, and E, F and Spanish for the old one). The sound quality is really stunning. But as if that was not enough, the package includes the soundtrack of the film, and also a version of the film with a live orchestra playing the soundtrack, complete with the sound of the cinema audience clapping and cheering in the background. Simply Brilliant, as well as unexpected. Thank you! The pictures are much clearer and sharper than the Laserdisk version, but (and this is a big but!) for some reason, the DVD's have Macrovision copy protection, so the picture occasionally freezes and jumps when it trips in. The accompanying book contains the script as well as pictures and anecdotes from the making of the film, and the Bonus Material was very interesting indeed, giving fascinating insights into the making of the film. My children loved the Solar System game (which is very funny - You select a planet and "ET" tells you about it - definitely not for anyone over about 8!). Apart from the copy protection - you will know by now how your system responds to that, its a treat. I'm glad I got it, and my children love it.
Rating:
Summary: 20th anniversary of E.T.
Review: I just saw the 20th anniversary of E.T. and it is still magical. I think the
20th anniversary changed nothing that made E.T. a classic. They changed
E.T.'s face for the better. More movement in his face and instead of the
FBI having guns they have walkie talkies. The Night Sky looks wonderful and
the spaceship looks better. I think this 20th anniversary is exactly the
same movie as 20 years ago but spielberg just used technoligy today to make
it more visually stunning. Thanks Mr Spielberg.
Rating:
Summary: My kids LOVED it.
Review: I hadn't seen this movie since I saw it at the theater, then again when it came on TV years ago (am I showing my age yet?)
My kids had heard about it and even saw some of my old ET toys (I collect toys, comics & music) and asked me a thousand questions about it. Once they finally got to see the entire movie, (the original and the edited version) they loved it. The edited version was much better for abo 95% of the movie, but for a few scenes, you could tell that they REALLY edited ET's movements a tad too much. Either way, I would highly recommend this movie, as it's a classic. (My youngest son LOVED when YODA appeared while the kids and ET were walking in costume/halloween!)
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful film and DVD
Review: When I heard Speilberg had edited out guns and the word 'terrorist' from the original, I was skeptical of this politically correct version. However, aside from these two scenes I have to admit that the touched-up version is excellently done. The DVD is a delight for E.T. fans, hours of bonus materials including a live soundtrack version from the 2002 premeire. The added scenes are a nice bonus, the bathroom scene was good. And for those of you who just couldn't stomach the PC changes from Hollywood's liberal elites, take heart: the DVD includes a copy of the original 1982 version. A great addition to your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Wow-Brings back some good memories.
Review: This DVD is just like the original movie and maintains the high level of audio and video quality throughout the whole film. The menu options are really cool and the bonus DVD has many extras. This is a family film and my kids-5,8,11-really enjoyed it. There are many great moments in the film that will make you laugh and still others that will make you cry. This is a true collecter's movie. -Raymon Quiles
Hampton, GA
Rating:
Summary: Spielberg's Master Tribute to the Child
Review: Steven Spielberg decided to shoot a movie based on ideas he had been thinking about since he was a child... P>Instead, he inspired Melissa Mathieson to write one of the most moving screenplays in movie history. An alien and a child find common ground by learning to communicate to each other. The child helps the alien return to his home planet. It sounds so simple, yet the story is layered with very subtle nuances that involve how we all view the world through the eyes of a child. A cast that was highly underrated, especially Henry Thomas. A team of photographers, editors, producers, and technicians who's work was vastly unappreciated. And lastly, what would this film be without John Williams phenomenal building score, which no composer in cinema history has ever been able to duplicate with such social impact? The Oscar was easily given that year. This DVD Boxed set has everything - two versions of the movie, behind the scenes and then some, the original and revised scores on a separate CD, and a beautiful hard bound book on the making of the film, with an actual piece of 35mm film, and a reprint made from the frame. All of this is enclosed in a gorgeous blue and silver case that is stunning to look at. If you really loved ET, this is the DVD boxed set to buy.
Rating:
Summary: E.T symbolizes recovery from lost, the magic of friendship
Review: I liked the touched up portion of the movie. The use of Computer Graphics improved many of the special effects not possible in 1982. Computer generated muscle and skin movement gave E.T a more earthy image. E.T invokes strong emotions. Director Steven Spielberg comments E.T characters were representive of experiences in his childhood, such as, the divorce of his father and mother. E.T symbolizes Director Steven Spielberg's pain surround his parent's separation, recover through healing power, and the magic of friendship.
Rating:
Summary: Great set!
Review: E.T. is my favorite movie, I've watched it over and over again. On this DVD-set the movie certainly looks & sounds better than ever before. The extras are amazing, too, especially the short feature about John Williams, and the book about the making of E.T. is just fantastic! In my opinion they should have published a version without the 2002 Anniversary Edition though: I have watched it once & I certainly won't watch ever it again. It's quite ridiculous, the CGI looks totally fake & the p.c.-changes took away a lot of the realism ...
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