I watched ET again today with Moonbase Junior.
There's just something about this kids film that captures the heart. Yep, I blubbed several times and Junior did too by the end. The universal Spielberg heartstring-puller in full cosmic flow.
Made in 1982 its holds forever in aspic an American way of life that dowdy broke young Brits like me could only dream of. Sunshine, space, pizza delivery, Halloween, large cars, BMX bikes and aliens making friends. Its a zeitgeist that countless modern series and flicks have strove to re-create, Stranger Things being a good example. Imagine now those sunny days before mobile phones and social media when kids and parents actually interacted with each other without taking a picture every few seconds. I know ET's a film but they seemed to be having lots of good ol' fun.
The mention of Star Wars Kenner figures in the flick just makes it even more fun for someone my age looking back. I imagine kids in 1982 were only just realising quite how special the Star Wars universe was. I wasn't even on board that year. It took me ages to realise.
Me and Junior were so upset when the film ended that to compensate I dashed into the attic to retrieve the remaining two ET toy figures from my daughter's old collection from 30 years ago. There was a plush ET like an alien teddy and a stuffed faux-leather ET that was a bit mouldy.
Old mouldy came down and was put to one side for a thorough clean but ET teddy was going home with Junior. He loves it. It just needed a loose arm stitching back on and dust-mite destruction programme since Junior has allergies. We opted for freezing.
So ET is currently being frozen overnight in the freezer. Tomorrow he will be right here but after lunch he's going home with Junior and a whole new generation of Eliotts, not to mention the original owner, our daughter. A full circle or what!
Did and do you like ET? Did or do you have any collectables readers?
E.T. has a very, very special place in my personal history. After seeing Jaws (1976) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and then every other Spielberg film available, I had developed into a full-blown Spielberg aficionado. At the time I was a subscriber to the American trade paper Variety, so I was aware of Mr. Spielberg's next sci-fi film right after the glossy teaser supplement was published between its pages. It showed only an illustration of dark clouds illuminated from within, which provided a wide space for fantasy of what was to be expected.
ReplyDeleteThe summer 1982, for me at least, marks the apex of the Spielberg fever, because there was not one but two great films to be expected - the other one being Poltergeist, which was widely considered a Spielberg film albeit being directed by Tobe Hooper.
Back in the day, it was customary that big U.S. summer releases had to wait until Christmas season to have their Finnish premieres. That was the case with E.T. as well. However, as I had good connections with the distribution company, who invited me to a preview in August 1982, I was able to arrange a preview for my college in my home town in December 1982. That was the second-ever screening of E.t. in Finland, nine days before the official premiere.
I was so into all things Spielberg that in the summer of 1983 I made my first trip to London, making my way onto the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at Thorn EMI Elstree Studios. But that's another story.
Fascinating Arto! Your connections are intriguing! You should write a book! I was thinking about Poltergeist while watching ET. The new developed town reminds me of Queste Verde! ET's a special film. A landmark somehow. Uniquely child-friendly. Close Encounters is a bit more adult oriented but an amazing flick too. I opften make my mash into Devil's Tower in homage to it!
DeleteI had loved CE3K and Raiders of the Lost Ark, and was aware of Jaws, though I hadn't seen it, but I was just too old and cynical for ET. It's shmaltsy feel just seemed corny.
ReplyDeleteI was looking for John Carpenter's 'The Thing' or Cronenburg's 'Scanners', stuff like that, so for me it didn't do it.
I'm sure it's an age thing though. If I'd been a few years younger , I suspect I'd have loved it.
All great films Mish, deffo. I loved the Thing and Scanners too. Scanners is a fabulous flick and really Cronenburged my teenage brain. 10 years ago I emailed Cameron Vale.
DeleteI saw it when it came out in theaters, what a flashback !!!!
ReplyDeleteYou phoned home EW!
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DeleteI loved CE3K, still do, but hated the schmaltzy E.T. I don't think ive ever seen it all the way through in fact. I had a couple of the green and silver friction spaceships, but again, wasn't keen on the leathery looking et dolls with button eyes. Like Mish, it was John Carpenters Thing for me. Poltergeist is another favourite of mine, although its dated badly now. The remake is appalling and doesn't even come close to the original. For a similar sci-fi aline romp, I cant recommend Abrams and Spielbergs 'Super 8' - both from a coming of age kid flick standpoint and a damn good alien film. Not suitable for kids, but beautifully made and with shades of E.T, Poltergeist and CE3K running through it.
ReplyDeleteET was for kids really I think Wote. Little 'uns back in '82. Its a great flick for small kids. Moonbase Junior loved it. I'm amazed Super 8 is a 12A here and a PG-13 in the States. here's an interesting list of the reasons why and all the ratings it has around the globe. Great flick. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/parentalguide
DeleteTry him with the early cgi extravaganza, Flight of the Navigator
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