Spielbergs Charming Movie About A Lost Alien Still Holds Up "Well Enough".

Rating: 7/10 (27 September 2014)

Has "E.T." stood the test of time? I do consider it a classic, and it does a service to the Family, Sci-Fi genre. It started with Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (Which I prefer), and ever since it has been replicated to death and only rarely does it appeal to all ages anymore (J.J. Abrams did a very good job in 2011 with "Super 8", which was also produced by Spielberg).
It tells the story of Elliott (Henry Thomas), a lonely boy who befriends an extraterrestrial (Dubbed "E.T."), who is stranded on Earth. Elliott and his siblings try to help it return home, while attempting to keep it hidden from their mother and the government. A government that replaces its guns with walkie-talkies in the 2002 re-release (Thanks whoever's decision was that).
To be honest with you all, I feel the film is "getting there". I mean no one ever really talks about it extensively anymore, we just acknowledge it and sadly I admit to channel flicking to something else. So what I still enjoy about this film is that E.T. STILL looks totally convincing, proving that the effects of this movie is timeless and has that trademark fantasy that Spielberg incorporates into many of his movies. It would also be incredibly wrong not to say that some of its movies scenes are unforgettable, as well as that unbelievable music score by John Williams.
But what I am starting to dislike about the movie are a few things. For as good as Henry Thomas is as a child actor, his voice is a scratch on a chalkboard and sometimes it just comes off a little too dramatic and unreal a performance. And finally, just the overall length of this movie feels like they stretch it out for all its worth. I know you could say that they are trying to get you to connect more with all the characters, but after viewing the movie over 6 times it never really worked for me like Spielberg's other work and kind of leaves me bored and unsatisfied.
Final Verdict: Ultimately I think the film still holds up well in the effects, and the overall acting. But even though you know how classic this film is, it feels like a chore in order to watch it from beginning to end. Regardless it's in my Blu-ray collection, Walkie-talkies an' all. 7.5/10.