A movie kids, and *only* kids, will enjoy

Rating: 6/10 (3 July 2004)

I had higher expectations for this one than I thought. When I actually sat down to watch it, I was expecting(from all the popularity it has achieved and such) a good, quality fantasy sci-fi comedy adventure. What I got was basically every other kids movie, just with better effects. I mean, Spielberg is a good filmmaker, so why would he spend time and money making such a typical, formulaic kids movie? I mean, I realize that the film does establish a good connection between E.T. and Elliot, but does that process necessarily require to alienate every single adult character in the film too? Every single adult character is stupid, and they are mostly depicted as jerks. I liked the way Spielberg made it kiddy-like by not showing one single adult persons face before the final 45 minutes or so(apart from Elliot's mother), but did he have to make every single adult in the movie out to be so mindless and stupid? The kids aren't much better; Elliot is whiny, easily startled and plain annoying. Gertie is girly and annoying, and every teen character comes off as a jerk, just like the adults. Spielberg has, purposefully or not, created a movie that only kids will be able to identify with and like. Anyone over the age of 10 will be annoyed, if not offended, by the way anyone over that age is depicted. The films humor is exactly the same as in any other kids movie, only less disgusting that most other. The only worthwhile reason to see this movie if you're not a kid is the special effects. E.T. himself is even annoying for most of the time. Had this film had something worthwhile to tell us, apart from how, somehow, a kid can relate more to an alien creature from another planet than he can with any human, it might have been good. Hell, it would've been good if it just wasn't so awfully kiddy-like and centered on making it entertaining for kids. If you want to see a good children's movie that anyone past puberty can also enjoy, I recommend the first The Neverending Story. That is a lot better. The only thing that is worth watching in this film is special effects, and very few of the gags and jokes that are funny to anyone above the age of 7. I recommend this only to kids and huge fans of Spielberg. 6/10