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Partners
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
ET is the stranded alien who makes friends with a troubled little boy in Steven Spielberg's heartwarming fable
Before Spielberg laid waste to America in War Of The Worlds he demonstrated a much gentler and more optimistic attitude to alien visitation. An alien botanist is left behind on an expedition to Earth, and befriends alienated middle child Elliott (Henry Thomas), who christens him ET. Elliott and ET form a close bond, and the benevolent little brown creature manages to bring together a family torn apart by divorce. Some dismissed the film as sentimental, while others frowned upon the Christ-like aspects of an alien character with the power to heal, but this is to miss the fundamental point of the film - that being a kid is tough, and that the only thing harder is being a grown-up. Spielberg often shoots the action from a child's (or alien's) point of view, and captures the anxieties of childhood perfectly. He's also gifted with the ability to bring out honest and moving performances from child actors, particularly Thomas, who radiates innocence and confusion in turns. Melissa Mathison's script cleverly interweaves the experiences of Elliott and ET, demonstrating that feeling abandoned and alone are universal traits. While ostensibly a kid's movie, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial deals with adult themes as Elliott comes to realise that loving someone isn't always enough, and that sometimes you have to let go. With E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Spielberg triumphantly succeeds in bringing the magical to the everyday. |
