E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Watched with my wife, the 7th grader, and the kindergartner. I only kind of half watched... It's been a long week. I really wanted to check out my youngest's reactions.

Watching this with my 5 y.o. involved answering a lot of questions, but she LOVED it: wide eyed amazement, tears at the appropriate places, and shouts of "YEAH!!!" during the bike scenes.

Some of the animatronics are definitely dated, but it's weird seeing these older movies with kids so used to everything being CGI... Even my 7th grader said that some scenes seemed really realistic, which surprised me.

Dream work indeed.

An alien is stranded on Earth and a bunch of suburban kids attempt to help him get home.

It's amazing to think that such a simple and standard story would go on to become a global phenomenon. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, directed by Steven Spielberg, blasted its way into pop culture and simultaneously became one of the most cherished films of all time. It's not hard to see why, for E.T. appeals to every member of the family, from the joyous set ups as E.T. stumbles around middle America suburbia, to the doses of magic so gleefully constructed by Spielberg's inner child. Those wishing to scratch away at the surface (and there are many who have previously) will find Spielberg affecting his picture with divorce subtexts (his parents divorce was known to upset him deeply), whilst the government "villains" show an astute aside to paranoia of the times and suspicions of political operatives.

Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore and Peter Coyote star. The score, now famous and likely to bring about goose bumps with at the opening bars, is from John Williams, with cinematography coming from Allen Daviau. Shown in the main from a child's perspective, the film is still a wonder that charms and informs on repeat viewings. So much so that as it approaches its 40th birthday, its longevity and all encompassing appeal shows no sign of abating. Something that Spielberg and his crew can rightly feel very proud about. 9/10

**A RARE MAGICAL GEM**

E.T. The Extraterrestrial is a rare, unique once-in-a-lifetime experience you'll never forget. It will be one of those movies that will stick with you forever. Spielberg's direction, the cinematography, the visual effects, the acting, and last but not least John William's sweeping score when all combined conjure magic and strong feelings deep inside. You won't want to miss this masterpiece. So, watch this movie immediately if you haven't seen it or put this movie in your watchlist and see it ASAP!!!

Some aliens stop by to collect some plant samples. They are spooked by people, flashing lights and dogs investigating the noise and flee - but they accidentally leave one of their number behind. This youngster takes refuge in the shed of a local family where he is discovered by the young "Elliott" (Henry Thomas) and soon the two have a special bond. Gradually the rest of his family are introduced, and they try to figure out how to get him home. Can they succeed before the ever vigilant authorities cotton on? This is just one of these films that is genuinely timeless. It's a love story, a sci-fi adventure, a tale of family, longing and loyalty - all set to superb John Williams score. The chase on the bikes is the stuff of cinema legend, as is "phone home" and the sight of the little creature all dragged-up. The acting from the human youngsters is great, with Drew Barrymore's ("Gertie") and Robert MacNaughton as their elder brother ("Michael") all contributing well to a charming story that even now, 40 years later, is still one of the best cinema has to offer. It works OK on telly, but for best effect seek it out on a big screen - it's still well worth that.