DVD Review: E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

You could be happy here, I could take care of you. I wouldn’t let anybody hurt you. We could grow up together, E.T.
—-Elliot from E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial

The family and I have been getting into E.T. lately, being that I recently purchased the DVD of the 2002 20th anniversary limited edition. Yes, it’s really a limited release for some reason so I was actually looking for it in stores and finally found a copy in a local Borders Books & Music store.

I still love the original theatrical release… simply magic. The new 2002 version, with newly added CGI effects of E.T. and other nuances (like switching the guns of the government agents to walkie-talkies) was rather lame I think. I mean, why ruin a perfectly great classic film?

Anyways, the original E.T. still brings tears to my eyes. I guess when you’ve been fortunate enough to have seen the movie in the old huge theatres of old and witnessing a wonderful theatrical event like this in a packed theater, then it’s truly an amazing experience one will never forget. Buying the DVD and watching it again
brought that experience back home.

It all started with me finding this old CD in my collection… “Star Tracks”, something that I purchased light years ago and contains musical excerpts from the most beloved of space-science-fiction-fantasy films, E.T. being one of them which included the famous “bicycle chase” and “finale”.

Film composer John Williams is the consummate genius of so many great films: Jaws, Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones films, Forrest Gump… on and on…. the musical score of E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial is such a beautiful gem of emotions. Anyways, that’s what prompted me to buy the DVD with my tip money from the Bistro gig last Saturday.

So, this movie has been the current family obsession. That, and Pride and Prejudice. Okay, I’m tempted to create a page of my ten best loved movie classics…
um, yeah… soon!