E.T. Is A Magical Experience That Appeals Equally To Viewers Of All Ages.

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2012)

With innocence at its heart & sheer magic on its surface, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is one of the most adored & beloved films of all time which with its emotionally stirring narration, stunning portrait of childhood & exquisite depiction of the beauty of friendship ends up being a truly magical & spellbinding experience that still appeals to viewers of all ages.
It tells the story of an alien left behind on the planet by its peers when they take off in a hurry due to human interference. All alone on Earth by himself, E.T. eventually finds shelter in Elliot's home in whom he also finds an emotional companion & friend. What follows next is E.T.'s more acquaintance with Elliot's siblings, his adventures in the house & his deep desire to return home while he is being hunted by intelligence officials.
Steven Spielberg's direction here weaves the plot with remarkable balance as he effortlessly succeeds in providing great emotional depth to all characters, including E.T., while also portraying childhood & its simplicity in a very charming manner. Cinematography captures the world from a child's point of view. Editing is elegantly carried out. And the visual effects are state-of-the-art stuff just like they are in every film by Spielberg.
The performances by the cast is as innocent as childhood itself & shows great bonding all around. From child actors like Henry Thomas & Drew Barrymore to Dee Wallace & others, everyone does an impressive job in their given roles & their emotional performances are highly convincing. Even E.T. managed to express itself pretty well and is destined to make viewers smile, laugh & cry with him.
Also, a special mention about the exceptional score by John Williams. The soundtrack presents the most perfect collaboration between Spielberg & Williams so far that in my opinion is Williams' finest composition. The contribution its score single-handedly made to this film is huge & an achievement in itself as it took the emotions of this film to a whole new level and is at its very best during the final moments.
Featuring brilliant direction, mesmerizing narration, classic editing, innocent performances, lovely cinematography & great visuals, E.T. is magic in movie-making that presents Spielberg at his absolute best and succeeds not only as one of the most exciting sci-fi adventures of its or any other time but also as one of the greatest films ever made.
On an overall scale, Covering themes of abandonment, childhood, innocence, friendship, loss & separation, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is a very adventurous, hilarious & heartwarming film that will leave you with a sense of immense joy, nostalgia & smile as well as tears in the end. A masterpiece by all standards.