E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

One of only a handful of live action children’s films to capture the imaginations of generations, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial remains Steven Spielberg’s best-loved movie. It may also be his most heartfelt.

E.T. begins with a quick, smart sketch of a typical middle class California family household, much like the one in which Spielberg grew up. There are three kids, teenager Mike, ten year old Elliott (Henry Thomas) and three year old Gertie (Drew Barrymore). Mom is loving but too distracted to notice there is an alien living in the closet. Dad is noticeable for his absence, but will be replaced by two surrogates, first ET him- (or her-)self, then by the ambiguous authoritarian figure, credited only as Keys (Peter Coyote).

Designed by Carlo Grimaldi, ET is a squat, brown childlike creature with rubbery limbs and a retractable neck. With telepathic and telekinetic powers, he’s a young boy’s best friend (this is essentially a ’boy and his dog’ movie like Lassie or Old Yeller). It doesn’t really stand up to logical analysis (ET can build an interstellar communicator but seems to have nothing to say to earthlings), but holding to a child’s (or ET’s) innocent eye-view, the film works a treat on an emotional level. ET goes through an accelerated life-cycle; Elliott acting as his protector and teacher, is a surrogate parent. There is trauma, catharsis, transcendence – and Elliott’s own emotional education is complete.

The marvel of this extraordinary movie is that it captures for even the most jaded grownup that pleasurable state of innocence and awe that only children are fortunate enough to experience.

Kathleen Carrol, New York Daily News