E.T. Blu-Ray
#1
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
E.T. Blu-Ray
I may be the only American of my age who's never seen this before. I recently picked it up at some blow out sale (Big Lots)?
I'm at 44 minutes into it, & imo it's dreadful. Really bad. Does it get better? It's got such a good reputation I thought this would be a no brainer.
I'm at 44 minutes into it, & imo it's dreadful. Really bad. Does it get better? It's got such a good reputation I thought this would be a no brainer.
#3
Moderator
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I can't imagine coming to E.T. as an adult instead of as a child, much less almost 40 years after it came out. You might find someone who saw it as an adult but even then you'll miss the cultural zeitgeist piece of it. Good luck to you, hope you keep going.
It's still a favorite for me and my kids.
It's still a favorite for me and my kids.
#4
DVD Talk Legend
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
You've just discovered cinema's dirty little secret: Movies that are incredibly popular are not always actually any good.
#5
DVD Talk Godfather & 2020 TOTY Winner
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
While that may be true as a generality, E.T. is in fact, very good. Well made, well acted. It just is a more innocent film from a less cynical time. Doesn't change the fact it's a great movie, if not everyone's taste.
#6
DVD Talk Legend
#7
DVD Talk Hero
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
You aren't wrong. It's dreadful. It's beloved by people who first saw it when they only had the discernment of a child, and who as adults feel nostalgic about it. I first saw it with a group of friends in our 20s, and we all felt insulted by the climax.
That "less cynical time" was the post-Watergate post-Vietnam era. The villain of the movie is the government, just as it is in Spielberg's other movies Close Encounters and Jaws.
That "less cynical time" was the post-Watergate post-Vietnam era. The villain of the movie is the government, just as it is in Spielberg's other movies Close Encounters and Jaws.
Last edited by Nick Danger; 05-09-19 at 05:19 PM.
#8
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Thread Starter
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I will admit the last half was much better than the first half; in fact I would have been fine if it had started there & left out the first 50-55 minutes.
I no longer think it totally sucks, but I can't imagine watching it again.
I no longer think it totally sucks, but I can't imagine watching it again.
#9
DVD Talk Hero
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I may be the only American of my age who's never seen this before. I recently picked it up at some blow out sale (Big Lots)?
I'm at 44 minutes into it, & imo it's dreadful. Really bad. Does it get better? It's got such a good reputation I thought this would be a no brainer.
I'm at 44 minutes into it, & imo it's dreadful. Really bad. Does it get better? It's got such a good reputation I thought this would be a no brainer.
#10
DVD Talk Legend
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I was born in 1986 and didn’t really see it until later in life (I think the first time I saw it in full was in 2002 when it came to DVD actually), but I still enjoy it for what it is. I don’t think it’s anything incredibly amazing or anything, but it’s an enjoyable watch. It has that eighties charm to it that a lot of films from that era have that I don’t think is present in today’s films.
Last edited by Mike86; 05-12-19 at 08:15 PM.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
E.T. is Spielberg's "Wizard of Oz." It's incredibly well directed, paced, and edited. It's one of his top three films, behind only Jaws and Schindler's List. I think it's more tightly scripted than Raiders of the Lost Ark. And I love Raiders.
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
Saw it once when I was a kid at the theater.
Watched it a second time on HBO a couple of months ago.
It is, very much, a childrens’ movie. It doesn’t really hold up well to my adult sensibilities, and it’s more fairy tale than science fiction. The thing I think that caught my eye the most was the heavy-handed Christian allegory. ET is pretty much Jesus: burning heart, his touch heals, he died and was resurrected, and ascended to heaven at the end. Anyone else pick up on that?
Watched it a second time on HBO a couple of months ago.
It is, very much, a childrens’ movie. It doesn’t really hold up well to my adult sensibilities, and it’s more fairy tale than science fiction. The thing I think that caught my eye the most was the heavy-handed Christian allegory. ET is pretty much Jesus: burning heart, his touch heals, he died and was resurrected, and ascended to heaven at the end. Anyone else pick up on that?
#13
Banned by request
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
Ha, yeah. I've heard that before, which is funny since Spielberg is Jewish. So I don't think that was anything he was trying to incorporate.
But you're right, it's a children's movie. And anyone who's watched any of the docs on previous releases will hear from Spielberg himself that it was meant to be a children's movie, right down to not showing adult faces as much as possible. I always thought that was a great touch. And as Shannon states, it's one of his best in terms of direction, pacing, and editing.
Oh, and what really elevates this is John William's score. I can't imagine this movie having the same impact if it didn't have that score.
But NOT better than Raiders! My favorite movie of all time!
But you're right, it's a children's movie. And anyone who's watched any of the docs on previous releases will hear from Spielberg himself that it was meant to be a children's movie, right down to not showing adult faces as much as possible. I always thought that was a great touch. And as Shannon states, it's one of his best in terms of direction, pacing, and editing.
Oh, and what really elevates this is John William's score. I can't imagine this movie having the same impact if it didn't have that score.
But NOT better than Raiders! My favorite movie of all time!
#14
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
Certain movies must be seen as a child to appreciate as an adult, imo. Not sure if E.T. falls under this for most, but for you at least, and that’s cool. I didn’t see The Goonies until recently and think it’s terrible, and I hate very few things in life.
#16
DVD Talk Hero
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
The Goonies definitely falls in that category. I caught it as a kid and it made a huge impression on me. It's told through the lens of very young protagonists, which is very easy for children to identify with, whereas it's much tougher for adults to feel the same thrill with the protagonists.
#17
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I remember most critics absolutely hated The Goonies when it was first out.
#19
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
I recently watched "E.T." on 4K, not having seen it for quite a while. I was surprised at how dark the cinematography was for much of the film; 4K films are darker by nature, and by comparison the Blu-ray seemed to have the brightness boosted.
#20
DVD Talk Hero
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
(That isn't original to me. I saw it on the internet someplace.)
I saw The Goonies for the first time a few years ago. I liked it fine. It was a children's movie, but it didn't inspire hate in me like E.T.
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: E.T. Blu-Ray
It is strange to have a ET movie review thread in the HD Talk forum.