"Spielberg's Heart and Soul"

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2003)

In an age when many movie goers sit in a theater judging how real the computer generated special effects are or how detailed the computer animation is, I wonder if a movie with the heart and soul of E.T. could even find an audience. It's disheartening when people write that movies like Shrek, Toy Story, Monsters Inc., are way better than this classic Stephen Spielberg film. I enjoyed Toy Story and Shrek both, but they don't come close to the emotional impact of E.T.
E.T. is not just a story about an alien who gets lost on earth. It's a story about family, friendship, love and loneliness, and it is these elements that we always remember. Spielberg, drawing on his own childhood experiences, captivates us with an unforgettable and timeless story. E. T. could be every lonely child's invisible friend. We never think of E.T. as an alien special effect, but as Elliot's own invisible friend come to life. We see the pain of a family going through divorce without being hammered over the head with it in every scene, a masterful achievement in itself. Of all of Spielberg's great films, I can't think any can match what he achieved in E.T, scene for scene. Melissa Mathison's script is perfect, the casting was as if Spielberg rubbed a magic lamp, asked for the perfect cast, and got it. John Williams score is so beautifully done, it is worth listening to just by itself.
There is not a wasted moment in this film, every scene is exceptional and memorable. I saw this movie on it's original release in 1982. At the end of the movie, the audience stood and applauded, something I have not seen again in twenty years.