"E.T. Extremely Touching"
by Scott Mantz


"E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"
Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore
Directed by Steven Spielberg

"I'll be right here!" E.T. and Elliott (Henry Thomas) share a magical moment in "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"

Sometimes, you can go home again.

At least, you can when you see the 20th anniversary re-release of Steven Spielberg's timeless classic "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial." Not only does the film pack more emotional power than most of today's Hollywood movies, but thanks to digital enhancements and a spruced up soundtrack, "E.T.'s" heartlight remains stronger and brighter than ever.

Spielberg has always regarded "E.T." as his most personal film, so it only seems appropriate to give it a more personal review. For starters, I have to admit that when I first saw the movie back in 1982, I cried like a baby (and considering I was only 13 years old at the time, I practically was a baby!). Obviously, I loved it and couldn't wait to see it again, but I cried just as hard--if not harder--the second time around. And the third time. And the fourth time. And you know what? I cried at the exact same spots in the movie.

Knowing that I would be a veritable basket case if I watched it again, I spent the next two decades actually avoiding "E.T." Why? Maybe watching "E.T." was a reminder of not just where I was when I first saw it, but also who I was at the time. Maybe I just didn't want to be that kid again. Maybe I just couldn't comprehend how such a simple movie could move me in such an emotional way.

Well, as the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Seeing "E.T." for the first time in 20 years was--like it was back then--an experience I will never forget. It's still timeless, it's still intimate, and it's still an idealistic, beautifully told fairy tale that runs a gamut of emotions. And wouldn't you know it. Once again, I cried like a baby--in the exact same spots that I cried before--and I realized that being a kid again was the best feeling in the world. After all these years, that Reece's Pieces-loving alien really got to me, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

By waiting so long to see the movie again, I actually felt like I was seeing it for the first time--especially since I have a much stronger appreciation for movies now than I did when I was 13. Almost immediately, I realized that Spielberg didn't waste any time setting the mood, as evidenced by the opening scene where the egg-shaped alien mothership sits nestled in the California forest while E.T. wanders a bit too far from his fellow explorers.

Of course, the real magic begins when E.T. gets left behind and meets 10 year old Elliott (played with exquisite beauty by Henry Thomas), one of three siblings from a broken home. Elliott and E.T. form a unique bond that takes on angelic proportions, with E.T. bringing a dying flower back to life and healing Elliott's wound with the touch of his glowing finger. Elliott brings his older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton) and his younger sister Gertie (an adorable 6 year old Drew Barrymore) into the fold, but it's quite obvious that his relationship with E.T. is special.

At a time when we're all looking for a little meaning in life, who couldn't get choked up by the unconditional love that bonded Elliott and E.T.? They were just right for each other, with Elliott gaining a friend when he needed it the most and E.T. meeting the only person who could help him phone home. And of course, who can forget those magical moments that are now embedded in popular culture, such as the bike ride across the moon, E.T.'s acquaintance with human customs, Drew Barrymore's first screeching encounter with the alien, and John Williams' tender, sensitive score?

Just like pal George Lucas did with the re-releases of the original "Star Wars" trilogy in 1997, Spielberg saw fit to give "E.T." a facelift for his 20th birthday. Some of the awkward, shaky special effects that marred the original release have been replaced by smoother, computer-generated updates and a couple of new scenes. To be quite honest, I couldn't tell what was old and what was new (which is a good thing), but some of the more politically correct changes are questionable, specifically where once gun-toting FBI agents are now holding not-so-menacing walkie-talkies.

It's no surprise that this modestly-budgeted $10.5 million film went on to gross more than $700 million worldwide. The magic that worked back in 1982 is stronger than ever in 2002, and the film remains pure cinematic enchantment in every sense of the word. Though his impressive career now spans 5 decades and includes some of the greatest movies of all time, "E.T." easily represents Steven Spielberg at his sentimental, heartfelt best.

Like I said, you can go home again. If home is where the heart is, then you can't get any closer than E.T.'s bright, shiny heartlight.

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