Hindsight

Classic kids, or films the kids in your life have to see by 13 or else! 

Day 20 

ET.  The Extra-Terrestrial  (1982)

One of director Steven Spielberg’s earlier films.  A little boy, Elliot (Henry Thomas)  and his siblings, one played by a very young Drew Barrymore, harbor a lost extra terrestrial (ET).  The script written by Melissa Mathison, based on an idea from Steven Spielberg.  I guess when Spielberg was a young boy and his parents divorced, He created an imaginary friend, akin to E.T.   

In honor of the wonderful Roger Ebert, here was part of his review, in 1982, of E.T.  He nailed it! "This movie made my heart glad. It is filled with innocence, hope, and good cheer. It is also wickedly funny and exciting as hell. "E.T The Extra-Terrestrial" is a movie like "The Wizard of Oz."  that you can grow up with and grow old with, and it won't let you down. It tells a story about friendship and love."

Trivia: One of the best product placements ever is when E.T. eats Reese's pieces.  Sales quadrupled for the candys upon the films release.  Guess what?  M&Ms were actually approached first, but passed.  Ouch!

Themes:  Love, friendship, loyalty, outsiders, trust.

Media literacy questions:  How can you tell this is one of Steven Speilberg’s earlier films?  What are the special effects?  What is your favorite scene, and why?  What genre is this film?