It’s not often that a film grows with each generation, but sometimes a film is made just right that no matter how old you get, the story sticks with you. The story was inspired by Steven Spielberg’s real-life because around a young age, when his parents were going through a divorce, Spielberg filled the emptiness with an imaginary alien friend. E.T The Extra-Terrestrial follows Elliot caring for an alien while trying to get him back home. I think the story resonates with audiences of all ages because both Elliot and the alien are longing for that care and compassion you usually receive from the love and security of your family. However, both characters have lost that security but eventually find it within each other and their friendship.
Henry Thomas plays ten-year-old suburban boy Elliot Thompson, the son of a single mother, Mary Thompson. Elliot, who feels alone, meets an alien, who he eventually names E.T. Elliot and E.T form this connection which allows Elliot to feel what E.T is feeling, and this allows him to realize E.T wants to reach out to his ship to get home. Elliot is a young boy who we know is actively seeking a friendship or some form of attention he has lost through his parent’s separation. At the beginning of the film, we see a sign that says enter on Elliot’s door, which shows how he is hopefully seeking a companion.
If you look at the film as a whole, to me, it’s all about growth and family. Without E.T, there’s a chance Elliot’s family wouldn’t have had this reconnection through this challenging time. He gained a newfound confidence through his relationship with E.T, and after finding this confidence, his older brother Michael finds out about Elliot’s secret friend. Eventually, both Elliot’s older brother and younger sister know about E.T while his mother remains in the dark. Not only when it comes to this hidden secret in his bedroom, but also the growth of her children. For much of the movie, it’s almost like Mary isn’t all there. She has so much going on in her head that she misses things right in front of her eyes.
However, through all of this disengagement, like not knowing her son Elliot went to school drunk, she shows up when it really matters. Although she is wrong about E.T and the threat she believes he poses to her family, when she first meets him, she doesn’t hesitate to protect her kids. Their previous attitudes don’t matter because they’re still her kids, and she would do everything in her power to protect them. I think this is a beautiful shown aspect of parenthood because it shows you that life might not always be perfect. Your kids will be disrespectful and lash out at times, but at the end of the day, you’re still their parents, and you’ll love them and protect them no matter what. Especially for Mary because she is all these three kids have left in the parent department, they can’t lose her.
With every great story, however, there are going to be some flaws. Not every script or movie will be perfectly written; there are always aspects you’ll watch or look at and be like, “how does that even make sense?” And even though this is one of my favorite movies, I walked away with a couple of questions after an initial watch-through. When Elliot is running away from the cops on his bike, they too quickly getaway. It’s like the cop cars aren’t trying their hardest to pursue Elliot and E.T, which is something that cops are prepared for in case there is a high-speed chase. I understand that E.T has powers, which is later seen when he levitates the bike, but that is just one scene that I have always questioned.
Another thing that raised an eyebrow is when Mary didn’t even bat an eye over Gertie’s Halloween costume. Any parent would realize very quickly if it wasn’t their child under the sheet pretending to be a ghost, but especially so when the eye holes are probably several inches further apart than they would be for her. Elliot and Tyler are hiding E.T. within the sheet and pretending it’s their little sister, and Mary doesn’t even consider it not being her for one second. In a way, I guess this adds to her character’s cluelessness. There are so many other things on her plate; this ‘minor’ detail doesn’t seem that big of a deal. However, no matter what is going on as a parent, I think you would notice the height difference.
If there is one thing that I believe E.T The Extra-Terrestrial blew out of the water, it would be the cinematography and special effects. For a movie released in the early eighties, I think E.T is visually stunning for its time. Starting with E.T itself, the amount of work a team put into this character to truly bring him to life on screen is mind-blowing. They spent about six months and created three models of E.T to be used in the film. One was mechanical, the other was electronic for the facial expressions, and then the third was a costume that was worn by an actor to bring the illusion full circle. The amount of detail in each of these models and how realistic E.T looks with the rest of the cast shows hard work that truly paid off. However, one of the most talked-about things in this film isn’t how real E.T looked and felt, or how great the acting was, or what a fantastic story, but the scene where E.T levitates Elliot’s bike, and we get that beautiful orange sunny background with their silhouette. Out of all of the scenes in the movie, that is one of the scenes that has stuck with me through the years. There was something unique and beautiful about E.T using his strength to get all of them away from the cops, and the way they chose to film that scene was amazing.
Henry Thomas plays ten-year-old suburban boy Elliot Thompson, the son of a single mother, Mary Thompson. Elliot, who feels alone, meets an alien, who he eventually names E.T. Elliot and E.T form this connection which allows Elliot to feel what E.T is feeling, and this allows him to realize E.T wants to reach out to his ship to get home. Elliot is a young boy who we know is actively seeking a friendship or some form of attention he has lost through his parent’s separation. At the beginning of the film, we see a sign that says enter on Elliot’s door, which shows how he is hopefully seeking a companion.
If you look at the film as a whole, to me, it’s all about growth and family. Without E.T, there’s a chance Elliot’s family wouldn’t have had this reconnection through this challenging time. He gained a newfound confidence through his relationship with E.T, and after finding this confidence, his older brother Michael finds out about Elliot’s secret friend. Eventually, both Elliot’s older brother and younger sister know about E.T while his mother remains in the dark. Not only when it comes to this hidden secret in his bedroom, but also the growth of her children. For much of the movie, it’s almost like Mary isn’t all there. She has so much going on in her head that she misses things right in front of her eyes.
However, through all of this disengagement, like not knowing her son Elliot went to school drunk, she shows up when it really matters. Although she is wrong about E.T and the threat she believes he poses to her family, when she first meets him, she doesn’t hesitate to protect her kids. Their previous attitudes don’t matter because they’re still her kids, and she would do everything in her power to protect them. I think this is a beautiful shown aspect of parenthood because it shows you that life might not always be perfect. Your kids will be disrespectful and lash out at times, but at the end of the day, you’re still their parents, and you’ll love them and protect them no matter what. Especially for Mary because she is all these three kids have left in the parent department, they can’t lose her.
With every great story, however, there are going to be some flaws. Not every script or movie will be perfectly written; there are always aspects you’ll watch or look at and be like, “how does that even make sense?” And even though this is one of my favorite movies, I walked away with a couple of questions after an initial watch-through. When Elliot is running away from the cops on his bike, they too quickly getaway. It’s like the cop cars aren’t trying their hardest to pursue Elliot and E.T, which is something that cops are prepared for in case there is a high-speed chase. I understand that E.T has powers, which is later seen when he levitates the bike, but that is just one scene that I have always questioned.
Another thing that raised an eyebrow is when Mary didn’t even bat an eye over Gertie’s Halloween costume. Any parent would realize very quickly if it wasn’t their child under the sheet pretending to be a ghost, but especially so when the eye holes are probably several inches further apart than they would be for her. Elliot and Tyler are hiding E.T. within the sheet and pretending it’s their little sister, and Mary doesn’t even consider it not being her for one second. In a way, I guess this adds to her character’s cluelessness. There are so many other things on her plate; this ‘minor’ detail doesn’t seem that big of a deal. However, no matter what is going on as a parent, I think you would notice the height difference.
If there is one thing that I believe E.T The Extra-Terrestrial blew out of the water, it would be the cinematography and special effects. For a movie released in the early eighties, I think E.T is visually stunning for its time. Starting with E.T itself, the amount of work a team put into this character to truly bring him to life on screen is mind-blowing. They spent about six months and created three models of E.T to be used in the film. One was mechanical, the other was electronic for the facial expressions, and then the third was a costume that was worn by an actor to bring the illusion full circle. The amount of detail in each of these models and how realistic E.T looks with the rest of the cast shows hard work that truly paid off. However, one of the most talked-about things in this film isn’t how real E.T looked and felt, or how great the acting was, or what a fantastic story, but the scene where E.T levitates Elliot’s bike, and we get that beautiful orange sunny background with their silhouette. Out of all of the scenes in the movie, that is one of the scenes that has stuck with me through the years. There was something unique and beautiful about E.T using his strength to get all of them away from the cops, and the way they chose to film that scene was amazing.
If there is anything that E.T has taught me, it’s that love and compassion can come in the unexpected. Elliot was a young boy struggling in life and was able to find comfort in the most unlikely of beings, and watching their goodbye is one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I’ve ever watched. I don’t think there is a dry eye in the house after watching that scene. E.T The Extra-Terrestrial is a timeless classic that has grown up with each generation since its release. As you grow older and re-watch the movie, you start to understand the movie in a whole new light and see the story from a new perspective. Going through your own life experiences allows you to connect with the characters on an emotional level, for whatever the reason may be. Whether you finally understand where the mom’s head was or why the kids treated Mary the way they did, this story continues to grow with you. And that’s what makes it timeless, on our screens and in our hearts.
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