Review: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial opened on June 11, 1982. The film was directed by Steven Spielberg.

Synopsis:

A young boy, Elliot, feels alone as his family deals with a recent divorce. One night, Elliot meets a friendly alien that he quickly bonds with. The boy must now find a way to get his friend back to his home planet safely.

Positives:

• The script, by Melissa Mathison, for E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is filled with tremendous heart and charm. It is one of the great family stories of all time.

• The performances by the children in E.T. are remarkable. They lead the cast and they feel extraordinarily real in every scene. Their performances are incredibly natural for actors their age.

• Spielberg pulls off the impossible task of making us all fall in love with an alien character. You truly believe E.T. exists and he feels as real as any other performer in the film.

• The score by John Williams is arguably the best work of his career—especially the music during the third act of the film.

• E.T. has one of the best endings in film history. It’s filled with excitement and powerful sentimental moments.

  In Closing:

  E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is one of the most earnest and heartfelt films ever made. Steven Spielberg was able to get wonderful performances from his very young cast and the perfectly crafted special effect, E.T. It is the film that has defined Spielberg’s career and it is one of his greatest pieces of work. E.T. is a classic that will entertain for generations.

  Rating: A+