Review – E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

I remember what a vast cultural phenomenon this was when it first hit theaters. And now it just seems so quaint and naïve. Kids playing Dungeons and Dragons instead of video games. No cell phones. No laptops. Mechanical effects rather than endless parades of CGI. Could such a world ever have actually existed? Overall this is the paragon of Steven Spielberg’s early career, the tale of a space creature bringing magic and wonder to the lives of ordinary kids in the suburbs. Indeed, the whole thing is crammed full of sub-references to other Spielberg and George Lucas productions. And of course the whole thing is set to an overblown John Williams soundtrack. Though it may be too dated for some 21st century audiences, it’s still a reasonable amount of fun to watch (not to mention a good-sized dose of nostalgia for those of us who were the right age for it when it came out in 1982). Mildly amusing