Customer Reviews

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

5 star:		(113)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

First, I want to make it clear that I'm reviewing the DVD here, not the original film. I liked the original; it's a good movie. Not as fantastic as it is hyped to be, but good enough to have on DVD for an occasional viewing. I give the film 4 stars.

I have BIG problems with what's behind this DVD, and the "special edition" of ET that's on it.

The 2002 edition of ET is just absurd. As others pointed out, CGI ET looks silly, and isn't consistent with the "old" scenes that include ET. His stiffness was part of his physical character. Making him more "jar-jar" just doesn't make sense. It's an example of "lets do it because we can". There are lots of thing we "can" do that we "should not" do, and this is one of them.

But much worse than this is the digital removal of the guns. Not only was this poorly done (from a technical point of view), but it's an example of Political Correctness(tm) gone mad. Guess what: government agents and cops carry guns, and they point them at people/things that they are trying to stop/apprehend. Get over it.

I hate to see a work of art like ET defaced just to appease a loud, misguided minority of people who believe in political correctness. Bowing to this minority was a cowardly act.

Finally, the packaging Universal has chosen is obnoxious. The only way to get the original film is to buy a very expensive "gift boxed set", filled with things I do NOT want. I'm willing to pay for a boxed set, but only if it contains the following items: Original movie with original 5.1 sound track, commentary track(s), deleted scenes, making of and/or retrospective featurettes. That's it. This would probably fit on one disc, making a boxed set unnecessary. ...

j'ai commandé ce film pour mes petits-enfants et ils ont adoré. Le produit est bon. La commande a été expédié rapidement. Merci

I was about 2 or 3 when I first met E.T.. I was kind of a lonely kid, and fell in love right off. I had t-shirts, dolls, and the novels/storyboooks. I watched the movie over & over, it was released several times in the theater, and then released to VHS (with a snazzy green bar)... It begins and I found out the same scenes still scare me (the scene in the field when Elliot first sees E.T.) and I still cry for last 45 minutes of the movie. I liked the deleted scenes, in the bathtub scene we figure out he's aquatic which explains why he goes to the stream on Halloween. I love the music, I love the 80's references (tons of them from Star Wars to Strawberry Shortcake), I loved, love, and will continue to love this movie for as long as I have breath in me. I don't mind paying $ per DVD. I agree it is steep, but it's the only way to get the original version plus tons of other E.T. stuff. By the way, if you know me, this would make an excellent Christmas present! :D

All I've been wanting for years was a version of E.T. that was on DVD and was not the modified one with all the crap CGI, and this is it. Sure it comes with both versions, but I prefer the untampered one. Also, E.T. is an amazing movie.

OK, I have no real problem with a director changing a movie and doing silly things like changing walkie talkies into cellphones and inserting newe incredibly obvious CGI versions of E.T. into the movie. Whatever. I didn't go see the movie because I wanted to see the original.

Now the only way to see the original is to buy this rather idiotic {price] "Gift Set" which comes with a bunch of stuff I don't need. There's no option to just buy the original version. The ONLY WAY to see the original version of this movie, THE WAY THE MOVIE WAS MADE is to drop [price] into the lap of Universal.

But wait it gets worse... At [price] you expect some extra features, right? Wrong! Sort of. The only real features (trailer, deleted scenes) aren't even available on the DVD. No, you need both the DVD *AND* a new expensive computer with a DVD-ROM drive *AND* a fast internet connection to see the scenes quickly *AND* it better not be a Mac. And you know that online content will only be around for a few months before the website changes and that will no longer be available.

And finally, let's hope you're not a sound buff. The original version, eventhough it was filmed with 6 discrete sound tracks isn't even going to have surround sound --- eventhough it had it in the theatres!!!

Thanks but no thanks. I won't spend a dime until this is all fixed.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
I had been searching for a long time for this movie to show to my 6 year old grandson, and was excited to find it on Amazon.ca. And it didn't disappoint - my grandson laughed through most of the DVD and wants to watch it again. It is a nice change to find a wholesome movie that a child can watch and which can be equally enjoyed by adults. When my children were young they loved this film, and it hasn't lost it's magic over the years!

Even though this is the infamous 2002 re-release version of Spielbergs E.T.(released originally June/82) which has had some CGI tweaking done to it and some footage taken and added,I still found it enjoyable.The said tweaking of E.T. is chiefly of him up close at various points from when we first meet him and inside Elliot's house,otherwise its all the same.Like Lucas with Star Wars,Spielberg took the "it's mine and I can do what I want with it" path,which it is and he has every right to do so.I am usually the first person to deride such cavalier attitudes when it comes to changing the original artistic intent and integrity of a movie.You just do NOT,period,and if you do you at least make available the original along side the newer version for comparison ,like Lucas finally did with Star Wars and Spielberg did after many years with Close Encounters.At one point both version were available(in Canada)but as of this writing that set is long gone to the Yukon;that's out of print for those in Newark.So what we have to work with is this version and I must grudgingly admit it is good.The CGI tweaking and insertion of newer footage is kept to a minimum and if you didn't know where to look you might not even notice it.
The story is well known.In California,in a typical suburban environment,out in the local woods one evening aliens are about.They are on a gathering expedition when one wanders off too far from its ship.When government agents come onto the scene in their pick ups the little E.T. flees to his spacecraft but he is too late and becomes stranded.The alien wanders into a backyard and into a shed just as Elliot is bringing in a pizza.He runs in the house but no one believes him.The next night he camps out and encounters his worst fear;a squat,funny shaped alien,or something, from who knows where.Elliot lures it into the house and into his room.One by one his brother,then sister are introduced to E.T.Right away it is apparent this strange creature has bonded deeply with Elliot who becomes his sworn protector and feels everything the alien does.
Through many cloak and dagger moments and just plain luck,little E.T. just missesbythismuch,getting seen by the mother.When she does finally see the creature it is terribly sick.E.T. with Elliots help has already fashioned a crude electronic device to contact his fellow aliens but being out of his natural element for so long has finally taken its toll.
The government people at the beginning of the film have been searching the area high and low and they finally pin E.T.'s location down and "invade" Elliot's home.They attempt to save the creatures life but to no avail.As Elliot spends some last moments with his dear friend now in a cryo-tube,E.T. suddenly pops to life.With the help of his brother he smuggles E.T. out but is pursued by local and government authorities.Elliot,his brother and three other friends on bicycles out outmaneuver them all and get the alien back to the original landing area just in time.E.T.bids Elliot and his family a tearful farewell.
E.T.is just a delight to watch,and really talks to the kid inside all of us.Even the head government agent admits that he was like Elliot when he was young and has been searching for answers all of his life;an atypical response but a nice one which fits the mood beautifully.E.T. himself was certainly one heck of a creation and Spielberg and company did a masterful job of bringing him to life on the big screen.Henry Thomas as Elliot and little Drew Barrymore as sister Gertie are stand outs.Spielberg had a certain vision of suburbia back in the 70s and 80s that while was refreshing to see was still a little tainted.His portrayal of tweens and teens as wisecracking Abbot and Costello`s,in front of and interacting with,parents was a little beyond believable.
Technically the DVD has been transferred into a 1:85:1 a/r and is clear and crisp.Extras include an audio track of the score,the trailer,a cast reunion,photos and a space tour.
All in all an enjoyable Spielberg film.The 2002 version includes minimal tweaks of E.T.with some CGI and some added and subtracted footage.It's not the original but it's the next best thing.I hope Universal re-releases E.T. in both versions again soon.Recommended.

These movies are excellent to watch in both the original and special edition re-release versions. I love them so much because it is worth getting them even on blu-ray.

My children, 7 and 5, enjoyed the film very much. They have watched it a few times since!

Was dissapointed to find when I received the DVD that the link on the product page advertised that the edition I was purchasing included both the theatrical release (1982) and the 20th anniversary edition. The copy I received was only the anniversary edition. It's still an incredible film but I would have enjoyed having both versions. Digital E.T is not as exciting as the original puppet. If you can avoid the cheesy early CGI E.T and get a 'hard to find' theatrical than good on you. The puppet is much better looking and is more consistent with the rest of the film than the CGI inserts.