Seeing Elliott’s bicycle lifts up into the sky, gliding past the moon, creates such a magical scene that it’s considered to be one of movie history’s most glorious moments. Finally seeing the whole thing 25 years later from it release made me embarrassed as a film freak; such a disgrace in my behalf that I have never seen this film fully in my whole film-viewing life, and only blips of Drew Barrymore kissing E.T., or Elliott with his gang soaring the sky with bicycles reminded me of my childish indifference.


Probably one of the best crafted entries in family-friendly movies, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTIAL forges a tender story about loyalty, trust, and the power of friendship that could bridge distance without earthly bounds. Of course we all know the tale; a boy named Elliott, who copes with the loss of his father, discovers an extraterrestrial unintentionally left by its own species on Earth. E.T. and the boy created a bond never before formed as Elliott understand the alien’s emotions as they become linked with each other. However, staying longer in Earth imperils E.T. health and he needs to go back home with his own kind, with the boy helping contact the outer space knowing that one day, the parting of ways will definitely come.


I love E.T. because it’s an exquisite piece of film. It transports us back into our childhood mentality, letting us experience the wonder and spectacle of children fantasy that’s both intelligent and moving. Steven Spielberg, with his misunderstood career, at his summit at this point, presumably knew what masterpiece he was making when the idea of this film first fell into his head. Considered now as one of America’s greatest films, and also one of the finest ever made in history, this work surely is best-loved by viewers who wanted to rediscover the magnificence of flight, family and friendship.


This maybe a science-fiction movie but it’s the sheer impact of humanity in this film that makes us applaud. Everybody might be wondering how weird a relationship between a boy and a creature from outer space could exist, and why did Elliott considered E.T. as his best friend; Elliott, in his period of innocence, never had a best friend before, extends his care to this creature who’s also lost and forlorn without anyone to cling to. Spielberg inundates emotions here in his genre pastiche, mixing fantasy, adventure, drama, sci-fi and comedy, leaving audiences bedazzled. And when the credits roll, this is a kind of film that wouldn’t leave a dry eye in the house. The final scene of E.T. is poignant, moving and definitely a tear-jerker. When the comically fantastic and superb performance as well by the young Drew Barrymore as Gerrie shed tears and kissed E.T. on the cheek, it blurs our sight as we feel this child saying goodbye to something that made an impact to their lives.


As Frank Sweitek of One Guy’s Opinion said, “Unquestionably a classic... anyone whose heart isn’t touched by E.T. probably doesn’t have one”, this proves an E.T. had indeed moved lives and will continue to stir in the next generations without doubt. This, in my opinion, would have to be the most heartfelt movie ever made about an alien. You’ll laugh, cry and experience the bravura kind of movie-going brilliance.



RATING: A+