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Summary: The best DVD ever created--worth the (Money)
Review: Keep this in mind, kids...you won't be disappointed by the 2002 E.T. "touch-up" version. In fact, it's better than the original (I'm saying that out of love, given the fact that the original is included with this DVD set). Only one gripe about it...no Harrison Ford scene (Spielberg's explanation for why he didn't put it in isn't very convincing...I think he wanted it in too but realized that he made a bonehead maneuver not putting it in). But, hey, besides that you get everything you need to know about E.T. (oh, another gripe, the John Toll Documentary...awesome...but could we have seen it in its entirety? On another disc maybe?) Close to perfection. It's worth the green you got to put up for it (hey, you get a nifty little blue box to store it in too). Oh yeah, don't buy the regular edition...it's not worth the cheap price. You don't get as much stuff as the Blue Box edition.
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Summary: TRUTH in ADVERTISING....READ THE LABEL
Review: I really don't have a problem with this set BUT....I wish the people deciding what goes into the discs would discuss this with the people designing the packaging! the original version of E.T. is included (although not mentioned) on the exterior of the box....AND the JOHN WILLIAMS featurette on his years with Spielberg which IS listed on the box is NOT included....this must have been in exchange for the extra/ original version of the movie. I made the decision to buy the two disc set instead of the collectable package because I have the music CD (one of the extras) and the John Williams featurette was supposedly on BOTH sets.....NOT!I would have bought the larger set as I am a big fan of Williams and would have swallowed the extra charge....now, I may have to get both as I am stuck with this set. For those of you NOT interested in John Williams in particular...this is a much better deal than the whole collectors box set. You get both movies....featurettes and interviews then and now.....not the best package, but a good one for film fans. The film of Williams conducting the live 2002 premier is interesting ....but only the AUDIO portion is the complete performance..the video is the preparation and some HIGHLIGHTS during the movie... so don't expect to watch Williams conduct the orchestra for two hours..
Rating: 
Summary: This package is definitely worth the money!!!
Review: I recently purchased this immense Ultimate Gift Package and I cannot express in words the quality. If you want to buy a good DVD, buy this package. You will be amazed!!! With tons of goodies not available with the standard release, it makes for the Ultimate E.T. experience. With incredible quality sound, picture, and beautiful packaging, this 4 disc pack should be regarded as one of the greatest DVD's of all time. Though the Ultimate Gift Package is more expensive, I highly recommend that you still purchase this package. It is most definitely worth the money. I hope that you do purchase this package and if you do, please enjoy it as I have. Thank you for your time.
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Summary: The best family film of all time. A masterpiece!
Review: So many "family films" are hokey, clichéd tripe, recycling the same ideas used countless times before. The end product, while something new and interesting for children, lacks any true enjoyment for film-savvy adults. But then there's E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, a family film that both children and adults can embrace. The story is a simple one of friendship, but one spanning light years. When Elliott meets a stranded alien, he takes it in under his roof secretly, building an incredible bond with the creature. Of course the synopsis sounds cheesy, but it's done with such grace, dignity and beauty by director Steven Spielberg that it transcends any hokey elements, becoming a completely believable and powerful film of love, friendship and family. Who said kids movies are just for kids. I loved this film as a child, but hadn't seen it for many years until the DVD release. I figured it wouldn't be as magical as it was, like most movies I loved in my youth. But I was surprised at how I loved this movie even more as an adult, understanding more of the meaning behind the film. This is a movie that only improves with age, and one I know I will always love. To use a comment Spielberg made about another film, it uses the greatest special effect possible: emotion. The recent update to the film, with added special effects and scenes does have some good new moments, but the CGI effects are distracting, and the Politically Correct moves by Spielberg to remove guns and the word "Terrorist" are unfortunate. Stick with the original for repeat viewings. All the magic is there, and will be for eternity.
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Summary: E.T. Widescreen is a must
Review: I want to start off by saying that this is one of my favorite movies. I'm so glad they remastered it onto DVD. It's a must for my collection that includes Mr. Deeds, Scooby Doo, and American Pie. You can see my DVD collection on my lists titled "My DVD Collection" and "My DVD Collection Part 2". See ya later! Gotta go buy this - HA! GOTCHA! I've never seen this DVD but I know it's gonna be great! Please, buy it. Name is jarule1992. See ya!
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Summary: E.T.....best movie ever?
Review: This new widescreen version on DVD is fantastic. Video and audio quality are top notch. If anyone ever needed an excuse to buy a widescreen TV and surround system...this is it. On my Pioneer 64 inch HDTV and DTS sound setup...it is better than the theater. I enjoyed this movie like it was the first time again. Besides the obvious great story here..I always felt the key to this movie was the John Williams soundtrack. Certainly his finest work, and maybe the best film score of all time. The last 10 minutes of the movie may rank as the best of film and music together.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing!
Review: Nearly twenty years since it was first released on the world, Steven Spielberg's 1982 sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece, "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial", remains one of the greatest movies ever made. This is one of those films that makes us feel and think at the same time. This is a film that can be enjoyed by anyone from anywhere. In fact, not only is it a movie, but it is a cultural phenomenon, a bigger than life event.
This film is a remarkable triumph because not only is the story moving and entertaining throughout but the images crafted to move and tell the story are so artistically powerful and universally appealing. The movie is not so much a story about friendship and love between a boy and a homesick alien but a film about the boundary breaking human spirit of mankind. It's about Communication and doing what is right. The mind altering experience and life changing power of finally knowing of and interacting with life of a different kind.
The movie goes WAY deeper for me as an individual. I don't feel that Spielberg should be blamed for anything. I think that any movie about a boy who develops a friendship with an alien lifeform stranded on Earth and bringing him into his home and sharing experience with that being would undoubtedly be a mega blockbuster the world around. Who wouldn't have thought that this movie would sure enough become gold.
Spielberg's film, though scripted by Melissa Mathison, is almost painfully autobiographical, given what the director has said about his childhood. Like Spielberg, Thomas' character goes through life minus a father, even though his mother (Dee Wallace) does her best. He feels isolated and picked upon in school, as Spielberg frequently did. There is also plenty of religious symbolism that probably doesn't need any analyzing and was probably unintentional. In any case, looking past the fact that it won four Oscars--for sound, sound effects editing, special effects, and John Williams' legendary music score--and has grossed over $1 billion, "E.T." is a masterpiece of the cinema, pure and simple, and it will always be that way.
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Summary: Just got the gift set - only a ONE DAY wait!!
Review: Way to go Amazon.com!! We waited ONE DAY to get this special gift set. Wife and I were thrilled to get this special item. Beautiful gift set includes, a still from the film on film tape, LARGE book, 4 disks and special write ups. We can't wait for the week-end.... We are really happy!.. Mark & Melissa DeYoung
Rating:
Summary: An true classic, which is never forgotten.
Review: When an Intelligent Alien from another planet, ended up, being stuck in Earth by Accident. But the alien ends up meeting a sad lonely boy (Herny Thomas), who immediately become in touch with him and start an different (unusual) kind of friendship. Since the adverse creature is slowly dying on Earth needing to go back to his Planet. Needing the boy help with his older brother (Robert MacNaughton) and younger sister (Drew Barrymore) become attach to the extra-terrestrial without thier mother (Dee Wallace Stone) knowing about it. But there's a gouverment surreptitious agency (lead by Peter Coyote) knowing that the alien is somewhere out there in thier planet. Directed by Steven Spielberg (The Sugarland Express, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind) made an instant classic with this unique One of a Kind sci-fi tale with a nice sense of humor and this also become One of the Highest Grossing Films of all time. Expectional Performances by Thomas and the E.T. (Created and Design by Carlo Rambaldi) makes this film so unexpected believable. In some ways, this film reminds you of Spielberg's early film-Close Encounters and the most recently (Which it did remind me most) Artificial Intelligence, including John Williams:Oscar Winning score. There's some touching moments in this also and some comical scenes also. This updated reissue version has 5 minutes of additional footage (deleting shots of the scene-where E.T. and the Kids are startle by the shot-gun and replacing hand-guns with walky talkies), it's doesn't change the film that much. DVD's has great anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) transfer on the Extended Version with new Visual CGI Effects and the Original Release. E.T. is also has great Digitally Remastered Soundtrack on the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (Also in DTS and Dolby Surround) including a live premiere score by Williams in the new edition. DVD 2-Disc set extras are great. This is one of these films that, it will never aged or never forget. Re-live this unforgettable classic. Oscar-Winners for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Cinematography. Written by Melissa Mathison (The Indian in the Cupboard) also recieve an Oscar nomination. Great entertaining for all ages. Grade:A.
Rating:
Summary: Retouched and unretouched versions of classic Spielberg film
Review: You either hate 'em or love 'em but there are few people that are inbetween about this fine film. Is it a classic? Yes although it's far from the most perfect Spielberg film. Clearly Spielberg has taken a page out of the Lucas playbook--when in doubt fix what really doesn't need fixing. First the positives--the new opticals look terrific and the new sequences with E.T. do give him more mobility. The 20th anniversary edition includes all the new sequences. The new sequences are cute but don't really add a lot to the original film. The "original" unretouched version of the film is included on disc two. Despite it's flaws, it's superior to the 20th anniversary re-release. Like Star Wars, what was added didn't amount to much and didn't improve the film. That's evident when you compare the two back to back. The extras are nice. A look into the evolution of E.T. from conception to execution and comments from Spielberg in an introduction. Sadly, no audio commentary was done for the film. In a way that's good--most film directors explain too much and take away some of the magic. The packaging is flimsy and, while well designed, E.T. should have been issued in a clamshell case. Clamshell cases tend to handle wear and tear better than cardboard packaging.
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