E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

☆ ☆ ☆ ½

E. T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) – S. Spielberg

I was already too old in 1982 to appreciate this film aimed at younger kids but I thought it might be the right time for Amon (aged 7), so we checked it out.  Turns out that I didn’t have much memory of it at all (although what little I had was probably jogged by our visit to the movie’s ride at Universal Studios Florida a couple of years back).  As you probably know, the film takes place in one of those nondescript California suburbs and centres on a single mum’s household and principally her youngest son, Elliott (Henry Thomas), who discovers an alien in their pool shed.  This alien is friendly and adorable and a quick learner.  When Elliott’s older brother and younger sister are in on the secret, they all discover that E. T. is keen to go back to his home planet (he was left behind when they scrambled to escape from the Feds) and they help him to create a communication device from some household items.  But soon the Feds have figured out where E. T. is and the jig is up; in fact, after staying out all night waiting for his friends, E. T. is in no condition to escape.  Amon had to “push the tears back up into his face” at this moment and I confess that I felt a bit weepy too.  But of course it all works out fine in the end and John Williams sweeping score carries us (and E. T.) home.  As a critical viewer, it was all a bit too sentimental for me but I’ll admit that Spielberg does seem to capture the spirit of childhood (wonder, adventure, naughty words and all) and Amon enjoyed it.