E.t. the extra-ordinary - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial Reviews

This is not the best film that Steven Spielberg has directed, but it is the best one to showcase his unique brand of feel-good magic. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is about the title character accidentally being left behind on Earth when his family departs from their quick visit to the planet. E.T. finds and befriends a boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas), and his sister Gertie (a young Drew Barrymore doing a splendid job). Elliott and Gertie can't let anyone else find out about E.T., because if they do, the extra-terrestrial-hunting government will come knocking... E.T. is just a happy movie. I wonder what those people who don't enjoy it think about. Are they soulless monsters? Hardened, bitter cynics? I'm not going to criticize others' opinions, but those that don't enjoy E.T. are seriously missing out. Steven Spielberg has concocted a magical blend of heartwarming writing (from Melissa Matheson, who never gets any credit), his very own beautiful direction, and simply wonderful themes of childhood relationships and the strength of friendship. Another element that adds to the enjoyment of this landmark film is its great special effects. When watching E.T., one does not think of the pudgy (yet cute) little guy as a soulless, lifeless animatronic creation but rather a real being capable of emotion. The movie humanizes him so much (in a good way) that at the end, when something tragic happens, the viewer's stomachs do a 180 and go from laughing to crying. Much of the credit for this goes to Industrial Light & Magic, who have created a believable, lovable character in E.T. Director Spielberg is like a big kid with marionette strings, with us as his puppet, playing our emotions, and laughing at how much we're going to like his creation.