As close as you can get to the perfect film, there simply are not enough superlatives in the dictionary.
[Details]
Famous film which features stirling performances, moving and inspirational music, top notch special effects but most of all a sure directorial story-telling touch from the greatest modern director, Steven Spielberg. Emotion, comedy and action are all served up in just the right amounts to make this film one of the greatest ever made and E.T. one of the most memorable non-human characters in the history of the cinema. A true delight, well worth the entrance fee to see what many regard as Spielberg's finest hour, even though he did not win any Oscar's for this film. The story is told with great feeling and understanding and blesses most of the characters involved with a depth of personality that the viewers can relate to. The film is also very moving in a couple of places but is not so sentimental as to marr the film, simply add to its impact. Rightly proclaimed as a masterpiece and hugely financially successful this film is a perfect example of getting the balance right.
[DVD]
Amazingly, Spielberg managed to improve this most splendid movie in the special edition version which featured new scenes, some pacing changes, additional and enhanced special visual effects and restored and new sound effects and music. The three-disc DVD set is an absolute dream as it contains the original theatrical release, the new 20th Anniversary edition with a standard soundtrack and, remarkably, a live orchestral performance soundtrack (!) and a third disc containing a quality making-of doc and a talking heads piece where everyone says how amazing E.T. is. Which it is.
[Complete cast and stunt list]
Person Credit Role Special Dee Wallace Stone, Actress Actress Mary [as Dee Wallace] Peter Coyote, Actor Actor Keys Robert MacNaughton, Actor Actor Michael Drew Barrymore, Actress Actress Gertie Henry Thomas, Actor Actor Elliott and John Williams, Composer Composer (Music) Carol Littleton, Editor Editor James Bissell, Production Designer Production Designer [as James D. Bissell] Allen Daviau, Director of Photography Director of Photography Melissa Mathison, Writer Writer Steven Spielberg, Director Producer Kathleen Kennedy, Producer Producer Steven Spielberg, Director Director Frank Marshall, Producer Production Supervisor Melissa Mathison, Writer Associate Producer Wallace Worsley, Production Manager Production Manager Katy Emde, Assistant Director Assistant Director (1st) Daniel Attias, Director Assistant Director (2nd) Carlo Rambaldi, Creature Design Creature Design E.T. Dennis Muren, Visual Effects Visual Effects Supervisor Mike Fenton, Casting Casting Jane Feinberg, Casting Casting Marci Liroff, Casting Casting Jackie Carr, Set Decorator Set Decorator Glenn Randall, Stunt Coordinator Second Unit Director John Flynn, Director Trainee DGA Sue Dwiggins, Production Coordinator Production Coordinator Esther Vivante, Script Supervisor Script Supervisor Dick Vane, Location Manager Location Services Janice Pober, Assistant Assistant to Mr. Spielberg Denise Durham, Assistant Assistant to Ms. Kennedy Patty Rumph, Assistant Assistant to Mr. Marshall Michael Burmeister, Production Associate Production Associate Lance Young, Production Associate Production Associate Bonne Radford, Accountant Production Accountant Jane Goe, Accountant Assistant Accountant Pattee Roedig, Production Manager Representative Cine Guarantors II [as Patricia Roedig] John Fleckenstein, Camera Operator Camera Operator John Connor, Camera Operator Camera Operator Steven Shaw, Director of Photography Cameraman (1st Assistant) [as Steven Shaw] Richard Fee, Cameraman Cameraman (2nd Assistant) Bruce McBroom, Photographer Still Photographer Gene S. Cantamessa, Sound Sound Mixer [as Gene Cantamessa] Raul Bruce, Sound Boom Man Charles Payne, Sound Sound Technician James Plannette, Gaffer Gaffer Joseph Capshaw, Best Boy Lighting Best Boy Gene Kearney, Grip Key Grip Bob Munoz, Grip Best Boy Grip Donald Hartley, Grip Dolly Grip Ernest Depew, Construction Construction Coordinator William Teegarden, Set Designer Set Designer Ed Verreaux, Production Designer Production Illustrator Eero Hautanen, Properties Propmaker Foreman Jack Jennings, Properties Propmaker Foreman John Villarino, Properties Propmaker Foreman Clark Shindel, Misc Labor Foreman James Moss, Misc Paint Foreman Leslie Butcher, Misc Greensman K.C. Martel, Actor Actor Greg Sean Frye, Actor Actor Steve C. Thomas Howell, Actor Actor Tyle [as Tom Howell] Erika Eleniak, Actress Actress Pretty Girl David O'Dell, Actor Actor Schoolboy Richard Swingler, Actor Actor Science Teacher Frank Toth, Actor Actor Policeman Robert Barton, Actor Actor Ultra Sound Man Michael Darrell, Actor Actor Van Man Glenn Randall, Stunt Coordinator Stuntperson Fred Lerner, Stunt Coordinator Stuntperson Richard Butler, Stuntperson Stuntperson Bobby Porter, Stuntperson Stuntperson Bennie E. Dobbins, Stunt Coordinator Stuntperson [as Bennie Dobbins] Felix Silla, Actor Stuntperson Ted Grossman, Actor Stuntperson Chuck Waters, Stunt Coordinator Stuntperson Keith Harvey, Actor Stuntperson Allan Wyatt, Stuntperson Stuntperson Martin Cohen, Producer Executive in Charge of Post Production 20th Anniversary Edition Charles L. Campbell, Sound Editor Supervising Sound Editor 20th Anniversary Edition Richard LeGrand, Jr., Sound Editor Supervising Sound Editor 20th Anniversary Edition Andy Koyama, Sound Re-recording Mixer 20th Anniversary Edition Jonathan Wales, Sound Re-recording Mixer 20th Anniversary Edition Rick Kline, Sound Re-recording Mixer 20th Anniversary Edition Shawn Murphy, Sound Re-recording Mixer 20th Anniversary Edition Bill George, Visual Effects Supervisor Visual Effects Supervisor 20th Anniversary Edition Colin Brady, Animation Supervisor Animation Supervisor 20th Anniversary Edition Allen Daviau, Director of Photography Director of Photography 20th Anniversary Edition Robert Raring, Misc Color Timer 20th Anniversary Edition
More details
Soundtrack
Outstanding
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
What format are you reviewing?
DVD
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