E.T. (1982)

 

This is it: this is the movie that made people realise that extra-terrestrials aren't always out for destruction, let alone pretending we're the walking buffet of the universe.

I mean: we are, but after a slew of movies that only depicted alien creatures as being malevolent, this was a nice change of pace. And who better to direct something fuzzy and heartwarming than Steven Spielberg? But one note of warning: when you can't stand Spielberg at his schmalziest (and this is getting close to that), then you will find this horrendous.

Then again, this is also a classic and rightfully so.

No mystery here, as the movie opens with the alien creatures scurrying about in a forest collecting plantlife. Yes, the first visitors to Earth are botanists. Go figure. One of the team wanders off, attracted to the lights of the city below and when government agents close in on the ship, it has to leave this one behind. 

Our little friend is of course distraught and heads over to a nearby house and eventually meets a young boy named Elliott, who doesn't have any real friends but instantly makes a connection with this alien whom he names E.T. because he's an extra-terrestrial. 

Along the way, you will discover that the connection between ET and Elliott is more than just getting along, as they start to share feelings, physical influence and psychic links. But ET still wants to head back home and he builds a contraption to send out a distress signal. This is also the point where the government people finally catch on and now it's a question of whether or not our little friend will make it out of here. 

This movie is one of those family events that is warm, cutesy and just makes you feel good inside. The threat (if any) is really subdued and it's more about making friends across planets than anything else. ET's design is iconic and endearing in a bit of a weird way. Which might also explain why most people are willing to forgive the acting, that is sometimes iffy. I'm not talking about the kids here, because they're kids and heck: acting is not easy. But that doesn't explain why the few adults that do show up have the expression of a wooden doll at times. Dee Wallace is nearly always excellent, but here, she flip-flops between over- and underacting and what on Earth Peter Coyote was trying to convey is a mystery. You might not have noticed as a child watching this, but as an adult, it is rather glaring.

See, maybe that is one of those things that becomes more apparent on repeated viewing: this is first and foremost a movie for kids. Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but if you take a few steps back, you realise that 'E.T.' has some glaring story issues. 

But let's not pull it apart and keep enjoying it as the feelgood entertainment it absolutely remains to this day. Spielberg set out to make everyone happy and this will provide such a rush in spades.