Spielberg's Best

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2014)

Originally titled "A Boy's Story", it eventually changed its title and made its way to the top of the box office, a critics' darling, and audiences fell in love with the story of a lonely boy who finds his soul mate, has the adventure of a lifetime, and eventually has to say goodbye to the friendly alien from another galaxy.
Done with much love and care by Spielberg, with a great score by John Williams that captures the heart, soul, and just about every emotion of the main characters, we get to experience, much like Elliot does, the emotional journey of the stranded alien, as he learns that there is much magic and wonder on this planet.
"E.T." is full of wondrous scenes, some of them depending on flawless editing and Williams' score. The original meeting between Elliot and E.T. is a work of genius, as the young man is faced with deciding whether he's about to embark on an unknown and dangerous enterprise, but there is something magical ready to be discovered, and we join him for the ride.
What makes the film interesting is the point of view used to tell the story. For the first half of the story, we rarely see the faces of the adults. It's only the children who convey the transition of E.T., as he discovers the customs of humans, communication, and a love for food. The children realize they've encountered a very special human being, with a spirit of gold and much kindness. This doesn't mean the film drags in anyway. It's full of humor, physical comedy, and great improvisational lines, mostly by Barrymore, in a sensational and memorable debut. She commands the screen with her eyes, her voice, and very dry delivery that reveal, she's both innocent and quite sophisticated for her years.
Wallace does lovely work as the mother who must deal with the recent separation from her husband, three growing kids, and the arrival of a new family member. For the longest time, the presentation of her routine reminds us how difficult it is to be a good parent, even with all the best of loving intentions. She sees only so much, and it reminds us in the audience, that it is so easy to lose control, and that we should be more aware of our children's needs. It's not to fault her or anyone. It's just an observation in this fantastic script, one that manages to introduce an alien without sacrificing the humanity in everyone involved. Simple lines like, "he's got D.N.A." reminds us that we are not that different.
There are powerful moments, and it is impossible to leave the theater with a dry eye, as we get to feel the pain of the separation that Elliot experiences when E.T. gets sick. There is a heartbreaking moment expertly shown by Spielberg, as the kids realize they might have lost E.T. forever, and interestingly, much like "The Exorcist" shows the worst scenes by giving us a look into some invasive medical procedures, it's devastating to see Gertie's composure shatter when E.T. is being revived by the doctors.
There are mirror scenes in the movie, involving a certain group of bicycles, and you had better be prepared to let your spirits soar, as Elliot literally takes flight. It's no surprise that image became a classic reminder of what powerful magical medium movies can be.