One of the best films ever made & a personal fave

Rating: 10/10 (12 March 2003)

E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) **** Henry Thomas, Dee Wallace, Robert McNaughton, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Tom Howell (C. Thomas Howell), KC Martel, Sean Frye, Erika Eleniak. Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi masterpiece about a lonely boy (Thomas in a remarkably natural debut) who befriends a stranded, freightened alien and the bond that strengthens between the two. Fantastic special effects, John Williams' heart warming score, and Carlo Rambaldi's creation of E.T. earned Oscars as well as for sound, stand out as well as Melissa Mathison's (that's Mrs. Harrison Ford to you!) wonderful script conveys beautifully how the human spirit can truly be. Speaking of spiritual, it is somewhat surprising just how spiritual the film is (i.e.: E.T.'s healing powers and 'resurrection'). Memorable scenes: E.T.'s getting drunk and Thomas sharing his feelings (particularly the wonderful set up to his kiss with the towering Eleniak {who would be best known as the gravity-defying Elly May Clampett in the big screen version of "The Beverly Hillbillies"}); Wallace not noticing E.T. on Halloween; E.T. fixing Thomas' "ouch"; and one for the film vaults: the flight of the bicycles. In a word: perfect. ** incidentally I first saw this when I was 14 and the day I saw it my mom informed me and my sister she was divorcing my dad, so I totally relate to Thomas. ** Noteworthy trivia: yes that is Debra Winger's voice as one of the many elements that went into the voice of E.T.