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HugeReviews.com Reviews:
E.T. The
Extra Terrestrial: Eternally Wonderful
by Michael Flanagan
HUGE
ET is probably the first movie I ever saw in a
theatre. It’s the first
movie I ever cried in, and it’s the first movie that I ever owned on
home video. It taught me my first curse. (Sure, “penis breath” isn’t exactly top-of-the-line
swearing, but for a five-year-old, it wasn’t bad.)
In short, I love this film.
It expresses the genius of Spielberg, shows the purity of
innocence, and leaves you feeling the warmth that is missing from so
many of our movies, and our lives.
E.T. is it.
Every moment in the movie is its own journey.
Elliot finds that he loves E.T., and E.T. loves him, and in the
best definition of love ever to be found on film, “I’ll be right
here.” He may be
thousands of light years away, but he’ll always be a part of Elliot,
and Elliot will always be a part of him, even greater than the shared
bond they has together on Earth. The
sentimentality may be heavy-handed, but when dealing with true love, and
the innocence of this love, it works beautifully.
All that can really be said is see it.
And see it again. Own it, so your children can see it. Of all Spielberg’s films, this one should be the one that
lasts, that people remember. E.T.
is what movies are all about.
DVD Update
What a DVD!
And, for the record, the movie still makes me cry.
First of all, and most importantly, Spielberg has
included the original 1982 version, complete with "terrorist,"
FBI agents with guns, and no bathtub scene. It looks great, but in
that "not updated" kind of way. Much better than the
2002 version, which is beautiful, just not this.
Then there's interviews with the cast now, which is
always fun, a documentary on the making of, and an isolated music
score. But not just any isolated score. When the 2002
version premiered, John Williams conducted the score live with an
orchestra for the movie. This is recorded for the 2002 version
DVD. With a score this good, you shouldn't miss it.
My personal favorite, though, is the marketing
materials. I looked through these and saw about 14 toys, books,
games, and utensils that I owned as a child. It brought back
memories of Christmas mornings, birthdays, and lucky grocery store
trips. A wonderful trip down memory lane for a wonderful
movie. One of my all time faves, and Spielberg's greatest
accomplishment.
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