SELECTED REVIEW OF THE DAY: E.T. The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Here's finally one regarded as one of cinema's greatest. In honor of the the film's 30th Anniversary I am going to review E.T. Though widely known as Steven Spielberg's magnum 

opus, I don't think it's his best. I love Spielberg, but I think he did better films than this. But I do agree that this movie is engaging, creative, and overall well-done. Spielberg's main goal when making this film was to put the audience in the shoes of a child, in fact a lot of his films, for me anyways, makes the audience experience something in a way as if we were experiencing something for the first time, as if  they were kids again. The kid we follow throughout the movie is named Elliot, and though for the most part he does not seem like a real kid, though he can sell some emotional scenes and scenes where he needs to act like a real kid. Plus the issues Elliot is going through before he meets the alien is relatable and I can feel what he's going through. Now let's talk about the real star of the film, E.T. This character does hog up a lot of scenes, but the scenes when he an Elliot are together are actually pretty good. The films mainly about the this extraordinary friend this boy encounters and the impact it makes on his life. Also the practical effects such as costumes and puppets done for this creature is very impressive for the time, you almost believe E.T. is actually there. His voice I think is perfect for the character, truth be told it was actually done by a sick old lady and some were done by Spielberg himself. Though the voice is slow and sick-like, there is still an innocence to it that perfectly matches the character. But what I am impressed the most about this film is the way Spielberg shoots this film. He was inspired by Tex Avery and Tom and Jerry-style cartoons where a lot of the times you never saw the adult/owner's face only from their waist down. This inspired him for the majority of the film to have all the adults, except the mother, to be shot from the waist down and instead let the audience experience the film from a child's perspective which I think is creative. Only till the right and perfect time does Spielberg decide adults can be shot from the waist up. Though I don't think its' the best Spielberg has done, it is still a good movie. I do recommend seeing it if haven't yet, and I do encourage children to watch it as well just so they can have their own experience with it. Grade: P