Why I Love E.T.
I’ve always been intrigued by the fantastic. More specifically, movies that explore ideas outside of the box (such as ET and Contact) and allow me as the viewer to also think outside the box. With the mediocre scripts that have been circulating Hollywood coupled with sub-par acting it’s no wonder the production companies are hurting. The material isn’t alive. It doesn’t shout creativity or imagination. Why? The studios are banking the success of a movie based on big name celebrities, hoping they will in fact draw in the crowds rather than focus on writing with substance and production quality material.
E.T. at the time featured a cast of moderately ‘unknowns’ — aside from Peter Coyote and Dee Wallace-Stone — including younger cast members Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore and Robert MacNaughton. Henry Thomas’ performance was notably excellent because he emoted fear and sadness successfully onscreen, all in front of a mechanical puppet.
I love E.T. and it will remain my all-time favorite film out of every movie I’ve seen in my lifetime. It’s as simple as that without complicating things. The movie is a constant reminder of the special attributes of friendship. Looking past the fact that it was a movie about an alien and his first-hand encounters on Earth you start to peel away at the layers and find something special, almost indescribable and more importantly, heartwarming.
To this day I still see it as one of the pinnacle movies of the early 1980s.
October 4th, 2004
I know this is going to sound crazy, but I’ve never seen E.T. from start to finish. I mean, you know I love movies (especially from the 80’s), but somehow I’ve just missed it.
I feel like I’m one of those weird people who tell me they haven’t seen Star Wars. Maybe I can join a support group.
October 4th, 2004
Michael from the Bonsai and I might have to flog you Greg with a padded envelope for not watching E.T. all the way through.
You need help. :)
October 5th, 2004
E.T. won Academy Awards for Sound, Original Score, Visual Effects, and Sound Effects Editing. If it hadn’t been for the Academy’s hatred of Spielberg and Ghandi, it would’ve won them for Best Picture, Directing, Writing, Cinematography, and Film Editing as well. E.T. was a magnificent movie, as indeed are most of Spielberg’s.
In fact, E.T. is Steven Spielberg’s most successful picture to date. When adjusted for ticket price inflation, it is the 4th most successful movie of all time, with $870,985,600 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo.
October 5th, 2004
To make it even worse: i have never seen E.T.
Now i just love movies abouut the extra terrestrial but somehow E.T. has never been able to “rock my boat”.
Does that mean that i’m up for a flogging guys ? lol
October 5th, 2004
The only part I hate about ET now is how the took away the guns from the federal agents before the bike flight.
Don’t even get me started on Greedo…
October 5th, 2004
Nice ET article, you ALWAYS loved ET….remember the first time we took the ET ride at Universal Studios?, you were intranced with the ride and the magic.
Good for you Erik….keep believing in the Magic Son!!!
October 6th, 2004
I fell in love with Drew Barrymore when I saw ET as a child. I crushed on her so hard. Looking back, it was probably unhealthy.
October 6th, 2004
Charlie: I think it would have been unhealthy to crush on E.T. dressed in drag. :)
June 7th, 2005
http://www.iloveET.com