Film Review: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

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Written by: Jason Wheeler, Film Frenzy Senior Writer & Editor.

Background

In 1982, Steven Spielberg released E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial which starred Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, K. C. Martel, Sean Frye, C. Thomas Howell, Erika Eleniak, and Pat Welsh. The film grossed $792.9 million at the box office.

Synopsis

When a group of aliens exploring Earth and collecting plant samples are forced to leave in a hurry, one of them is left behind. Eventually, he meets Elliott, Michael and Gertrude who help him phone home but as they wait for a response, E.T. starts to get sick.

Review

Widely considered to be one of the best films ever made, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial deserves all the praise it has received over the years. Its plot is simple: a stranded alien befriends a young boy who helps his new friend go home; it’s a boy and his alien. However, the plot’s simplicity allows the film to flourish, letting its characters to fully develop themselves and the bond between Elliott and E.T. to be completely realized. Nothing in the nearly two hour runtime feels as if it is shoehorned, nor does anything feel improperly explained. There are moments where it’s slow, yet these parts use the full potential of said slowness, delivering audiences everything they need to know.

Similarly, the film does very well in presenting its central characters. For one, there’s Elliott. He’s a young boy initially portrayed as having a wild imagination, shown when nobody believes there’s a goblin in the shed. Nevertheless, when he discovers E.T. and understands the alien just wants to go home, he becomes determined to find a way for his new friend to do so. Despite him being a child with not a whole lot at his disposal, he takes and uses what he can to make his desired result happen, even going so far as to feign sadness at E.T.’s apparent death so he can fool the government agents.

Additionally, E.T. is a fascinating character. He starts off unable to talk and only has a limited vocabulary after his psychic connection with Elliott. He also carries himself with a kind of childlike wonder any alien attempting to figure out an American home on earth would, raiding the refrigerator and figuring out the television as examples. Further, there is evidence to suggest E.T. is a plant based species. Not only are the flowers coming to life and dying a major theme, he also wanders off and is found by a river which suggests he went there to help his recovery.

All of this is accented perfectly by the film’s cinematography. It’s all done well, from near the beginning when Elliott is throwing his baseball into the shed to the scene where Elliott and E.T. are flying at night with the moon as a backdrop. Every shot feels as if it was articulately crafted to bring about the best film possible.

Awards/Recognitions

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Academy Awards

Best Sound
Best Effects, Visual Effects
Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing
Best Music, Original Score
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA – Saturn Awards

Best DVD Classic Film Release (For the Ultimate Gift Set)
Best Science Fiction Film
Best Writing
Best Special Effects
Best Poster Art
Best DVD/Blu-Ray Collection (As part of the “Steven Spielberg Director’s Collection.”)
Best Actor (Henry Thomas)
Best Supporting Actress
Best Director

American Cinema Editors, USA – Eddie Awards

Best Edited Feature Film

Awards of the Japanese Academy

Best Foreign Language Film
Popularity Award – Most Popular Performer (For “E.T.”)

BAFTA Awards

Best Score
Best Cinematography
Best Direction
Best Film
Best Film Editing
Best Make Up Artist
Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (Drew Barrymore)
Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles (Henry Thomas)
Best Production Design/Art Direction
Best Screenplay
Best Sound
Best Special Visual Effects

Blue Ribbon Awards

Best Foreign Language Film

Boston Society of Film Critics Awards

Best Film
Best Director
Best Cinematography

Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain

Best Foreign Film

César Awards, France

Best Foreign Film

David di Donatello Awards

Best Foreign Director

Direcotrs Guild of America, USA Awards

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures

Fotogramas de Plata

Best Foreign Film

Golden Globe Awards

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Best Director – Motion Picture
New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male (Henry Thomas)
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

Golden Screen, Germany

Golden Screen with 1 Star

Golden Trailer Awards

Best Animation/Family

Grammy Awards

Best Recording for Children (For the “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial album”)
Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
Best Instrumental Composition (For “Flying – Theme from ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”)
Best Instrumental Arrangement (For ‘Flying – Theme from ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”)
Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Guinness World Record Award