- Actors: Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace, Robert MacNaughton
- Directors: Steven Spielberg
- Writers: Melissa Mathison
- Producers: Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Melissa Mathison
- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 3
- Classification: PG
- Studio: Universal
- DVD Release Date: 9 Dec 2002
- Run Time: 115 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00007J34J
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 42,021 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
This 20th Anniversary edition of E.T. introduces the warmth and sense of magic of Steven Spielberg's much-loved movie to a whole new generation. And it is the youngsters at whom this new version has been aimed, with the film being given a Star Wars-style make-over in the hope that it will appeal to a generation weaned on digital effects. Thus, ET now has a souped-up space ship and the pursuing FBI agents are more politically correct, carrying walkie-talkies in place of guns. They've even given ET himself a CGI face-lift, digitally replacing the beloved puppet in certain scenes.
But this is no Apocalypse Now Redux. The re-edited scenes are small and insignificant to the plot: the only additional footage of any note is ET taking a bath and demonstrating that he can breathe underwater, which is amusing but irrelevant. The surprise is that the deleted scene with Harrison Ford playing Elliot's school Principal has still not made it to the new version. Despite such grumbles, E.T. is still the joyful experience it was 20 years ago, only this time grown-ups can follow the story through an added glow of nostalgia, as they fondly remember just how great BMXs were! --Nikki Disney
On the DVD: E.T.--20th Anniversary Edition has the revised version of the movie (but not the original cut) on Disc One, presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen and with a choice of gloriously remastered Dolby 5.1 or DTS sound options. The major beneficiary of this new presentation is John Williams' outstanding music score, which uniquely can also be played along with the film in the live version from the LA Shrine Auditorium 2002 premiere. A documentary about Williams conducting this extraordinary performance and a feature on his original scoring sessions are the best extra features on Disc Two. Other documentaries cover the "Evolution and Creation of ET"; a "Reunion" of the principal cast and crew with some fun behind-the-scenes footage; a piece on the planets of the Solar System narrated by ET himself (!); a photo gallery; trailers, and DVD-ROM extras. There's no director's commentary, but Spielberg does briefly introduce the movie on Disc One. --Mark Walker
Special Features
Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic
Dolby Digital 5.1
Contains both the 20th Anniversary Edition (2002) and the re-mastered original version (1982)
A Look Back -- 40 minute exclusive documentary
20 Years Later: An intimate interview with director Steven Spielberg
Isolated John Williams Live Music Score
The Music of John Williams
20th Anniversary Premiere
Space Exploration
The Creation and Evolution of E.T
The Reunion
E.T. Archives
Trailers
DVD-Rom features
Dolby Digital 5.1
Contains both the 20th Anniversary Edition (2002) and the re-mastered original version (1982)
A Look Back -- 40 minute exclusive documentary
20 Years Later: An intimate interview with director Steven Spielberg
Isolated John Williams Live Music Score
The Music of John Williams
20th Anniversary Premiere
Space Exploration
The Creation and Evolution of E.T
The Reunion
E.T. Archives
Trailers
DVD-Rom features
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Good Lord no! ET is my favourite film ever made. I remember watching it a million and a half times when I was 8 and could happily watch it a million and a half times again.
This version of the film is an absolute catastrophe. The old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it - Spielberg has disregarded this saying and in fact, has managed to break the film in the process.
The digital remastering of films is a brilliant if dubious way of re-presenting films, but messing around with scenes using computers is a no-no. The scenes in question look incredibly fake, add nothing to the film - the one in the bathtub completely disrupts the tone of the movie, ET's face becomes a different colour (!!!!!!!!!!) when the computers come in to play and it just means that your enjoyment of the movie decreases. You end up laughing at it. The very last scene (I'm in tears thinking about it) is completely ruined by the criminal messing around with ET's face as he says: "I'll be right here". Oh God! Where art thou?
This version of the film is an absolute catastrophe. The old saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it - Spielberg has disregarded this saying and in fact, has managed to break the film in the process.
The digital remastering of films is a brilliant if dubious way of re-presenting films, but messing around with scenes using computers is a no-no. The scenes in question look incredibly fake, add nothing to the film - the one in the bathtub completely disrupts the tone of the movie, ET's face becomes a different colour (!!!!!!!!!!) when the computers come in to play and it just means that your enjoyment of the movie decreases. You end up laughing at it. The very last scene (I'm in tears thinking about it) is completely ruined by the criminal messing around with ET's face as he says: "I'll be right here". Oh God! Where art thou?
In brief, because I'm angry, I would like to sell my copy of this release but I don't want to pass the burden on to someone else - everyone should enjoy the film in its original form: remastered yes, but tampered no. Unfortunately, as it stands you can only buy the 1982 version remastered WITH the crappy 2002 version. Well, I'll just have to do that and throw the spare DVDs away. Please believe me. I adore this film.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD boxset comes with both the 1982 original and the 20th anniversary edition from 2002. The 2002 edition has added scenes and done up special effects and the like. The 20th anniversary edition also has a live soundtrack from the premier of the special edition conducted by the man himself, John Williams!! It really is uplifting to hear the score being cheered as it reached its climax at the end!! There are also other special features such as documentaries and so on!!
The film itself is great stuff! It follows the story of a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth who is trying to find his way back to his mothership before the Feds get to him first.
The soundtrack is great, (and rightly won an Oscar) done again by Spielberg regular John Williams! The end scenes will have you close to tears and the music plays a massive part in it! Try watching it with the sound off and it wont have the same effect!
All in all, a nice wee package with 2 versions of the film so you can compare them and a healthy amount of features to keep you amused for a while, but its the film that will keep you coming back!
The film itself is great stuff! It follows the story of a young boy who befriends an alien stranded on Earth who is trying to find his way back to his mothership before the Feds get to him first.
The soundtrack is great, (and rightly won an Oscar) done again by Spielberg regular John Williams! The end scenes will have you close to tears and the music plays a massive part in it! Try watching it with the sound off and it wont have the same effect!
All in all, a nice wee package with 2 versions of the film so you can compare them and a healthy amount of features to keep you amused for a while, but its the film that will keep you coming back!
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was thrilled to receive this in my Christmas stocking last December. E.T. remains one of my favourite films ever - I vividly remember going to see it with my parents and sister when I was 8 years old, and being utterly captivated and obsessed.
I've actually only seen it about 4 times in my life. I like to come to it fresh at each viewing. I love it because I think it's a wonderful story, flawlessly told.
I was a little disappointed by the remastered version - I don't agree with Spielberg's assertion that the changes are discreet and almost unnoticeable. For someone who has only seen the film a handful of times, I could spot the changes a mile away.
I'm not a fan of CGI - I think it makes many modern films look utterly fake and soulless. The beauty of E.T. is that the special effects were merely secondary to this timeless tale, and very adequete. Touching them up makes the film a teeny bit blander. What harm to leave them as they were? The original film has aged beautifully. I especially take umbrage to dickeying with E.T.'s face - making him too cutesy and removing much of his poignancy. Seeing the extra bathroom scene was interesting, but I agree with its original deletion. It just didn't sit with the tone of the rest of the film - it was unnecessarily comical.
It was good to see Spielberg's new director's cut, but I'm surprised at him for feeling the need to alter his most personal film. It was perfect the first time - so why change it, and water it down slightly?
This 20th anniversary box set does include the original film, though, and I've more or less decided to only watch this version in future. I also enjoyed all the little documentary pieces about the making of the film and the reunion of the cast. So I am still thrilled to have the DVD - just a little underwhelmed by the new and 'improved' version!
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