Classic Review: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial follows a boy named Elliott (Thomas) as he befriends an extraterrestrial dubbed E.T., who is left behind on Earth. With the help of his family, Elliott must find a way to help E.T. find a way home.

After all these years, it’s sort of hard to come up with words to describe exactly what E.T. The Extra Terrestrial means to the average viewer. It can be simplified and yet at the same time so hard to describe the exact feelings. It is a film that means so many different things to so many different viewers. That feeling of timelessness it provides is both incomparable and unrivaled. In the end, nothing can replace what the film represents. And it takes a certain analysis to explain precisely why.

First off, let’s talk about the themes and how it represents them. One could accuse Spielberg of being obsessed with mining his own daddy issues instead of going to therapy, and he’s basically admitted to such in real life, but he authentically depicts the spirit of a boy in a fractured home. The film shows the certain ways in which boys like the one he once was might idolize the “good parent” and fail to see them for their flaws. This is a painful part of coming of age, and while the film doesn’t take place across multiple years, this is clearly a trial-and-tribulation sort of time in our protagonist’s adolescent life.

This is where friendship comes in, and in the most unlikely of ways too. The alien representing all those who have lost contact with their homes, finding friendship among unlikely allies in new environments, has taken on all new and different kinds of meanings in today’s societal landscape. The portrayal of friendship throughout E.T. The Extra Terrestrial seems idealized, like the perfect sort of friend groups with small flaws and enjoyable hangout moments that film sells audiences on, but again, this film sells viewers on the endurance of close relationships and the bond between Elliott and E.T. is surprisingly honest and frankly, the sentimentality is earned.

The sheer craft on display here puts so many of today’s modern efforts to shame, whether it be the sheer commitment of everyone to the film’s collective vision. From the care put into visual iconography and imagery, to the craft that involves astounding production design from Jim Bissell and immaculate cinematography from Allen Daviau, to of course, the iconic score by John Williams, Carlo Rambaldi’s alien designs, to Dennis Muren’s effects work, these are all highlights of these artists’ careers and rightly so.

It can be somewhat daunting to consider what E.T. The Extra Terrestrial represents when it has surrounded Spielberg’s legacy and pop culture at large for so many years. But to be sure, the feeling is forever familiar, and will always be there. That feeling of nostalgia, warm sentiment, and truly grasping the power of friendship.

At the end of the day, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial maintains every bit of its emotional power now 40 years following its original release. From the iconography of its visuals to its surprisingly honest portrayal of childhood, the film will always be a classic to be treasured at any age.

*still courtesy of Universal Pictures

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Gabe Guarin

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