‘Spellbinding’ sci-fi film ‘children and adults will love’ | Films | Entertainment
A Steven Spielberg classic which has been hailed ‘the perfect family film for all ages’ is set to depart from Netflix’s catalogue very soon.
The 1982 sci-fi film directed and produced by Spielberg was one that shattered several records (and held onto them for quite a while), along with evoking the kind of love from critics and audiences that’s rare to see.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (also simply known as E.T.) was written by Melissa Mathison, with an initial concept dreamed up by Spielberg. He got inspiration for the film and the character of E.T. from the imaginary friend he’d created for himself after his parents’ divorce. The movie’s famous animatronics were designed by Carlo Rambaldi.
Starring Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore, E.T. went on to become a blockbuster hit like no other. Made on a production budget of $10.5 million, the film grossed a staggering $797 million worldwide according to Box Office Mojo.
It was such a behemoth in fact, that it went on to surpass the global earnings of Star Wars (1977) to clinch the title of the highest-grossing film of all time. This was a record it held onto for 11 glorious years, until Spielberg’s own Jurassic Park smashed it in 1993.
The filming of E.T was roughly done in chronological order, a decision that was made to facilitate the emotional journey of the young cast in the film. The film’s official plot states: “After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie, and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.”
E.T. received nine Oscar nominations including for Best Picture and Best Director, out of which it bagged four: Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects. With a near-perfect 99 per cent critics approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, the film is a darling of the critics.
One reviewer says of Spielberg’s movie: “It’s a magically wonderful movie. Children and adults will love Steven Spielberg‘s film about a person from outer space, stranded on earth. It’s humorous and marvelous all the way.”
While another critic, calling it ‘spellbinding’, writes: “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is a spellbinding foray that reminds us of human compassion and the eternal joy of cinema.”
A third reviewer says in a glowing review: “The film has more heart, finesse, performance, and magic in single scenes than some movies have in their entire running time, and does it with an animatronic special effect as a main character.”
While another impressed critic says: “One of the most important films of the 1980s, one that has continued to have influence in the four decades since.”
Audience reception follows in the same vein, with one fan writing: “See this when it came out as a 10 year old and just watched it again as a 54 year old. One of the greatest films ever made in my opinion! Still makes me cry! An emotional nostalgic film for all the family and every generation! 10/10 [sic].”
Another happy viewer calls the film perfect: “Few movies can be called perfect, this one is. From the screenplay, actors, soundtrack and brilliant directing of Steven Spielberg, this film is a classic for the ages.”
A third fan showers high praise on Spielberg’s offering: “ET is a movie you can watch over and over again without getting bored of it. It’s a generational masterpiece,” while a fourth writes in an emotional review: “I’ve just rewatched this with my children. One declared (through tears) that it was the best film she’d ever seen. It’s so beautiful, magical and timeless.”
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will be leaving Netflix on January 4.
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