E.T. is a movie
that deals with a boy’s need for affection, based on the life of Spielberg
himself. He had long wanted to do a mini-autobiography about his life with
divorced parents and a father who wasn’t there. After the failure of Night
Skies (which included a subplot about an alien befriending a boy), he jumped at
the chance to develop it into the main plot of E.T.. The movie can be predictable, as the theme and the plot are very straightforward to grasp, plus the movie does try hard to pull at your emotions, which I felt it did not need to, I was like, "you already have my attention, get on with it."
The plot is about the bond between a lonely boy who forms a connection with an alien abandoned here on Earth, and they became friends. The boy and his siblings must find a way to help E.T. get home while hiding him from the government and their mother. The movie's tension is the illness of the alien, so time is not on the side of the children.
Spielberg, who
had an imaginary alien friend after his parents divorced and used him for
comfort, took inspiration from his life. For example, when he used to fake
being sick by placing a thermostat close to a light bulb to show a high
temperature, this was incorporated into the movie and portrayed by the
protagonist, Elliot.
E.T.’s memorable moment where he uses telekinesis to make himself and Elliot fly while in the bicycle front basket, with Elliot pedaling, is one of the cinematic highlights of its time. This scene is so iconic that it’s now used as the logo for Spielberg’s production company, Amblin.
The acting performances in the movie by the children is good, as they play unruly kids cared for by a mother who seems to always be on her last nerve.
E.T. is a
critically acclaimed movie, and
is frequently found on many critics’ top movie lists. It was also a major box
office success, and at the time of its release, E.T. surpassed Star Wars (George Lucas) as the
highest box office earner, a feat later surpassed in 1993 by another Spielberg
film, Jurassic Park.
While the
graphics in E.T. may seem dated by today’s standards, the story remains
timeless. This movie is a must-watch and an essential addition to any DVD
collection. Spielberg’s E.T. is more of a dream—a movie where a little boy has
a companion who just loves him, and a friendship that involves sacrifices. It’s
something every person wishes for. Some people see a spiritual undertone in
this movie, given the extent of the sacrifice both E.T. and Elliot are willing
to make for each other.
The catchphrase “E.T. phone home” will never go out of season.
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