E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

     They call Steven Spielberg, the director of E.T., the most succesful movie maker ever. For he makes films ranging from the silly and fun to the serious and brooding (Munich). Most people have seen his best films. This is one of them. ET is about childhood, even Spielberg's childhood. Its main character Elliot (Henry Thomas) is the standard young boy, he looks and acts like one. But then something very strange happens to Elliot. He finds an alien, an extra-terrestrial who he refers to as E.T. Only Elliot and his younger sister (Drew Barrymore) know E.T. exists, and they hide him from the rest of the world in a closet (somehow knowing that ET would be in danger otherwise).
     That is the story, it almost sounds silly and like an idea for a bad and campy fifties movie, but what results is one of the best movies of the '80's. For, Spielberg knows how to deal with the material. He allows it to swell and to astound the audience, and then brings it down to quieter and simpler moments. Even the character of the younger sister is played with such appealing qualities by Drew Barrymore that those moments seem special. The entire films feels like we are getting to witness something. We are in on the secret with Elliot and his sister. There's a lot of nostalgia in ET, and a lot of heartwarming moments. This is the movie that set the template for that kind of thing. Unfortunately, a hell of a lot of shit has resulted from that. However, ET must be enjoyed for what it is, a grossly entertaining and generally great films.
E.T: ★★★★