E.T. THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL
FILM FACT FILE
Director Steven Spielberg reversed the alien encounter formula to wonder not what we would make of them but what they would make of us. The result was this 1982 blockbuster, which eclipsed even the original Star Wars and received 9 Oscar nominations (winning four) – a feat unheard of for a film with such overt sci-fi content. Despite its genre trappings, ET balanced its fantasy content with an academy-pleasing dose of sentiment, played out in the home life of Elliott (Henry Thomas), a lonely 10- year-old whose parents are separating. Little time is spent revealing where the film's ET has come from, or how he came to be left behind. Instead, Spielberg focuses on the film's unlikely-buddy story; the middle child of three, Elliott takes in the ET as the friend and confidant he doesn't have. Largely filmed from an adult-waist-height perspective, the film prioritises this world of children and indulges them in their harmless naivety. So when the mean-minded authorities find out about the presence of ET, the effects are doubly shocking. The faceless hordes of uniformed, flashlight-toting militia make an intimidating and brutal sight.
INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Ambling Entertainment
DISRIBUTOR: Universal Pictures
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Allen Daviau
COMPOSER: John Williams
EDITOR: Carol Littleton
STARS: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
OTHER NOTABLE PERSONNEL: writer - Melissa Mathison, producer - Kathleen Kennedy, set decorator - Jackie Carr
NOTABLE RELATED FILMS: Jaws, The Post, War Horse, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, Lincoln, Schindler's List.
PRODUCTION NOTES:
"Ed Verreaux created a $700,000 prototype for E.T., which Spielberg deemed useless. Carlo Rambaldi, who designed the aliens for Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was hired to design the animatronics of E.T. Rambaldi's own painting Women of Delta led him to give the creature a unique, extendable neck. The creature's face was inspired by the faces of Carl Sandburg, Albert Einstein and Ernest Hemingway. Producer Kathleen Kennedy visited the Jules Stein Eye Institute to study real and glass eyeballs. She hired Institute staffers to create E.T.'s eyes, which she felt were particularly important in engaging the audience. Four E.T. heads were created for
filming, one as the main animatronic and the others for facial expressions, as well as a costume. Two dwarfs, Tamara De Treaux and Pat Bilon, as well as 12-year-old Matthew De Meritt, who was born without legs, took turns wearing the costume, depending on what scene was being filmed. Caprice Roth, a professional mime, filled prosthetics to play E.T.'s hands. The finished creature was created in three months at the cost of $1.5 million. Spielberg declared it was "something that only a mother could love.""
The film provided a new approach to the issue of the existence of aliens. Spielberg's movies have often focused on the idea on altering public opinion regarding aliens. It is with this basic background in mind that we must then approach E.T, situated as it was in the mid 80s, when alien furor was going strong from earlier hits like Close Encounters, Star Wars, and other science fiction works. With Close Encounters and E.T. Spielberg takes a turn from the alien norm, presenting audiences with “good” aliens, instead of the stereotypical evil aliens. In the film, E.T. arrives on the “high place,” the traditional arrival spot of the gods in the biblical historical books. Critics have focused on the parallels between E.T.'s life and Elliott, who is "alienated" by the loss of his father. Critic Henry Sheehan described the film as a retelling of Peter Pan from the perspective of a Lost Boy (Elliott): E.T. cannot survive physically on Earth, as Pan could not survive emotionally in Neverland; government scientists take the place of Neverland's pirates.
REVIEWS
"I love this film and it is as timeless as it gets!"
This is Spielberg at his best. That is all I can say about E.T. IT's gripping, intelligent story mixed with its incredible symbolism makes it one of the best films ever made. E.T. is a story about friendship, loyalty, and family. But most of all it is about love, and how powerful love is. The brilliantly innovative shots mixed with John William's epic score makes for a masterpiece, which E.T. certainly is. The underlying theme of science vs. religion is also what makes the film great. All of these things mesh together to form the film that "touched millions of people around the world." Everything about this film is great. Steven Spielberg pulls off some legendary shots, and the acting from the children is excellent. It makes the film truly real. Henry Thomas as Elliot is great. Drew Barrymoore is so cute throughout he whole film and she captures the audience every time she appears on screen. Peter Coyote does great with the minimal screen time they chose to give him. The relationship between E.T. and Elliot can be marked as one of the greatest friendships in Hollywood history, and if you have not seen this film I urge you to rent it or see it somehow as soon as possible. If you want to see why everyone raves about Spielberg being the greatest director of all time see this film. It truly shows him at his best. It will not only make you laugh and make you smile, but it will touch your heart deeper than any movie has touched you before. E.T. will go down as one of the greatest films as all time. Its timelessness is one of a kind. Forget what you hear about it being overrated. See it for yourself and understand why this film is apart of a small collection of films that will stay in our hearts forever and ever.
"Why have you not seen E.T. yet? Here's my review for the 1982 Steven Spielberg sci-fi classic "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"'
- Real Mr Robinson; Pulished on July 17th 2005.
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