"Close Encounters" with a heart

Rating: 10/10 (26 April 2007)

"E.T." is some kind of a new version of the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". But the targeted audience isn't the same, the aliens that are shown are different and director Steven Spielberg put much more accent on emotion and feelings in "E.T." for obvious reasons.
Since it was released 25 years ago, "E.T." is still considered as a classic children's film, but it's not necessary to include the "children's" note, because "classic film" is well enough to describe this incredible movie.
The story and the characters quickly became popular, even for those who haven't seen the movie yet. It's because "E.T." quickly entered into popular culture and it must be believed that it's not about to get out of it soon.
"E.T." is also known as the quintessential children's (or family) film, because it contains every item that the genre could possibly offer and it's shown in an immaculate way.
First, we see the heroic children, resourceful and very intelligent. There is the main character and best friend of E.T. the extra-terrestrial, Elliott (an astounding performance from young Henry Thomas). At the beginning of his adventure, we see Elliott as a not-so-brave boy, often lost in his own world. Eventually, he will take his courage with both hands when he discovers that there is an alien in his backyard.
There's also Elliott's younger sister Gertie (cute little Drew Barrymore) and his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton), and let's not forget the other kids.
The adults are typically shown as fearsome opponents or as goofy characters. So we can see scientists who want to get the hand on the poor extra-terrestrial and we suspect since the movie's very first scenes (where they chase E.T.'s spaceship) that they're the bad guys of the story. It creates some kind of contrast with "Close Encounters", where the viewer expresses resentment, but also sympathy towards the scientists.
Elliott's single mother Mary (Dee Wallace) is an idiot character however, in the sense where she seems to be totally devoid of reason, at which point she becomes unbearable. I really expected her to be far better than she is actually.
In order to succeed with his movie, Spielberg efficiently topples over the sentimental and the special effects. And he never, under any circumstance, miss.
In the case of the special effects, it's not a surprise, because it's Spielberg. But remember that the year is 1982 at this moment. The question that must be asked is not "Will he use them?", but "How will he use them?". Spielberg's answer is remarkable. We can see him playing with flowers in their pot, but no-one could forget the incredible bicycle flight. This scene hasn't aged a bit and it still surprises.
But the most spectacular element of the movie is not the artificial created by Industrial, Light & Magic, but by the feelings expressed by the characters, especially the kids. Spielberg wisely decided to shoot every scene in chronological order, so the emotional response from the children would be more natural. In this way, we can really see the links that are created between Elliott and E.T., reaching a very high level during E.T.'s "death" and "resurrection" in the two-thirds of the movie.
But nothing could beat the unforgettable scenes at the very end when E.T. must go back to his far away planet. The young Gertie is touching and Michael, even if he's a teenager, shows in a clear and irrevocable way that he also owns feelings for the alien. And how could we forget the legendary good-bye hug between Elliott and E.T.? I'm not an emotional kind of guy, but I've almost cried while watching these pictures. This scene could easily make the stone hearts melt in a matter of seconds.
"E.T." is the crossover between the young Spielberg and the more mature Spielberg. The director has fun with the special effects like he did with the other movies that he previously released at the time, that is "Jaws", "Close Encounters" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark", but he also shows that he still has his child's heart within himself and he transmits it very well. The emotions experienced by the characters are signs that the director begins to grow up and these are hints that lead to masterpieces like "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan".
Of all the numerous Spielberg-made classics, "E.T." largely owns its place on the podium. According to me, it's the third greatest Spielberg movie, "Close Encounters" being in second place and "Schindler's List" coming on the top. But I perfectly understand why Spielberg himself declares that "E.T." is his personal favorite. Among all of his other movies, none of them has captured the beauty of childhood in such an eloquent way.
"E.T." is universal entertainment. The kids will appreciate the characters and the visual effects which will definitely impress them. Grown-ups will love the movie for the same reasons, but something else could be added up. It's that kind of nostalgia that comes from the film. Some kind of envy for the past. Because "E.T." is a fable that demonstrates the importance of childhood and it shows that the greatest souvenirs from a lifetime always come from that period.