In the year 1982, when I was about 7 years young, my stepmom took me to see E.T. and of this experience I don't remember anything else except that the movie's beginning was so intensely frightening that I began to cry and apparently stepmom had to take me out from the theatre (and probably she was pretty pissed off because I had spoiled her movie experience ).

Then, a few years later, I finally saw E.T. on video and despite Spielberg's annoyingly-serious "family matters" in the beginning of the movie, I simply loved the fantasy, the humor, and naturally most of all, John Williams' gorgeous and emotional music. But E.T. has never been on my top ten movie list because of its "realism" which is - whether you agree with me or not - a trademark of Spielberg; just watch any of his films - there is always this SugarlandishExpressishJawsish "laziness", really "realism", is his narrative style which just has never impressed me. But now, manymany years later, when I have realized that my tastes have really changed, I thought I could finally understand Spielberg's point and his narrative style - but unfortunately NO; the movie just felt "lazy" when it could have had more sharper storytelling and MUCH more humor and wit in it... I always like movies with STRONG & touching messages, and "growing-up" stories, but E.T. really seems to be a movie with no message at all, no specific "story" at all (- well, perhaps it wasn't the movie's purpose...)

So, this night's result was that I was so disappointed with E.T. that I went to see Disney's RETURN TO NEVERLAND for second time, and again tears ran on my cheeks nearly all the time because of the wonderful, touching & soaring EMOTION and the poignant & witty MESSAGE in this marvelous PETER PAN sequel...

Thus, I have realized that Spielberg simply can't touch my grown-up heart any more - and that I have actually always felt Spielberg's films to lack something very important which appears to be the ingredient to make my heart to soar - only perhaps the COLOR PURPLE has some of this ingredient...

A pity. But thank heavens John Williams wrote his very best score for E.T. and produced his very best "album versions" album on the original soundtrack release of E.T. ...Too pity that they didn't contain these terrific melodies on the 20th Anniversary Soundtrack.

I finally saw the film tonight, for the first time theatricaly in my entire life, and it remained the truly thrilling and moving experience E.T has always been for me, more so on the big screen in fact. The experience was overwhelming.

Yet...I sat there amongst only six other people in the theatre, two of those (behind me) sniggering at every given moment. I turn to the UK Top 10 movie charts to see ET JUST manage to trickle in at number seven (whilst kids are on Easter Break no less!). I'm worried. This is one of the finest most flawless films ever made, it was one the highest grossing movie ever made, and 20 years later hardly anyone cares.

Dan

Dan, my friend,

despite of my previous post above I still have to agree with you. The situation here in Finland seems to be exactly the same - in Helsinki's (our capital) biggest theatre "center" E.T. can be seen only on the "little" screens while such movies as ICE AGE are shown on the largest screens - and yesterday night that tiny screen theatre seemed to be as empty as you described...

But, then again, as I also realized last night - E.T. seems to be such a movie which can't stand the test of time; yes, it was a huge success 20 years ago when our world was so different - nowadays it seems that the cynics (as me ) seem to need a much DEEPER story to get exhilarated about a movie - although if I had seen E.T. as a teenager in a movie theater I would probably have been spellbound.

E.T. is a pretty, simple, intimate movie, loaded with effects that were incredible 20 years ago, and I'm not saying the movie would be all "bad" - but unfortunately the nowadays people are so brainwashed with all the mummies returning, final fantasies swarming, and hobbits and wizards clashing, that such a movie as E.T. (which started another "genre" so to speak) simply doesn't have any effect on nowadays' audience who needs only bigger and more clearer emotions to get exhilarated about a movie.

There's one specific moment I love in the film. Right near the start after the montage of the creatures fondling the plant life it cuts to a wide shot up high in the trees of a lone E.T walking through the forest on his own. The music hits this eerie emotional high point that never fails to take my breath away, and the cue appears again when E.T and Elliot are near dying and Mary sees them together for the first time... So even there at the start last night I had a lump in my throat.

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nowadays it seems that the cynics (as me ) seem to need a much DEEPER story to get exhilarated about a movie

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Odd.. my feeling is that it's precisely what they DONT want and is mainly why they are avoiding E.T, because E.T is in fact somewhat unique and compelling in many aspects, the main one being how Elliot feels E.Ts thoughts, and feelings. This aspect of the story makes a very clever progression from the moment he first meets E.T right though to the end.

Ok, I didn't cry like a baby like when I saw it on theaters 20 years ago (boy, I am getting old!), but it still was able to give me gosebumps, particulary at the end.

But this new "improved" version is useless. E.T. jumping like a Kangaroo at the begining was gruesome, just like puting all that CGI face upon the original one which was so perfect to star with!!!

Now, let me tell you about all that guys pointing... walk-talkies instead of guns! But worst of all was the exclusion of the scene of the shotgun-man, right before they all fligh away. That was criminal to Williams' music! The music build, builds, builds and then... nothing!

Bleargh!!! THIS is what someone should to these "politically correct" improvers...

So, tonight's video experience only made it more clearer to me that I really want to see and feel some major "development" on the characters of my favorite films - and unfortunately E.T. doesn't offer very strong development on the movie's characters...

Glad to agree with you, Andre !!! This destroyed the most magical moment in the movie for me too !!

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Originally posted by Camillu:
And how the audience is ever supposed to buy that Michael looks like a hippie is beyond me.

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Well, he didn't look like a terrorist either. The idea was that he wasn't allowed to go as one (even though the other kids were supposedly), so he went as a hobo.

And the changes weren't about "fixing" the film (like the shadow, as you point out).