E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial movie review - Aussieboyreviews
IS THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY TALE OF E.T. – THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL WORTHY OF BEING A CLASSIC?
Steven Spielberg’s original, charming, creative and entertaining film is great for families with older kids due to the language. However, it’s a splendid and delightful choice for all ages.
Storyline
When an alien is left behind on Earth, he is saved by young Elliot who forms an emotional bond with his new friend. Soon, Elliot and his siblings summon the courage to help the creature return to his home planet.
Movie Images
Movie details
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, K.C. Martel, Sean Frye
Writer: Melissa Mathison
Release Date (Australia): 26 November 1982
Runtime: 115 minutes/1h 55m
Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Family
Country: USA
Language: English
CONTENT GUIDE (WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
The film contains scenes that may scare young children, including sequences that feature sense of threat towards an alien-like creature.
A child is depicted accidentally cutting his finger and the small cut is depicted with blood detail.
The film includes use of words including “s**t”, “hell” and “son of a bitch”.
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mpaa rating
PG (for language and mild thematic elements)
Aussie boy's thoughts
Steven Spielberg is definitely the director with the heart to magically and delightfully execute the original screenplay by Melissa Mathison. Despite the comfortable mouths who let out some swear words, E.T. is the wonderful classic kids will have seen in the 80s, watched it as they’ve grown up, and hopefully the cycle is resumed with the new generation of kids and families. It’s just a fantasy. It’s imaginative and nothing more.
The fantasy is based on the story of a young boy’s friendship with an extraterrestrial. Spielberg knows how to depict the friendly alien-like creature developing friendships with the three siblings, mainly Elliott who is executed with a very solid and touching performance from the memorable Henry Thomas. Drew Barrymore is also excellent in her bright child role and Robert MacNaughton plays a realistic older brother. There’s also numerous illogical plot holes, but being the type of movie it is, they don’t matter and you just accept and go along them.
On the other hand of the tale is the family-friendly adventure and the unforgettable visuals, with the kids on the bicycles flying past the moon being the most memorable. Throughout the film, mainly located towards the beginning, there’s also several touches of a wonderful humour, but towards the end mainly sees the perspective through the drama aspect. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial will appeal to children, and once they’ve seen it, it remains a special memory.
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