E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Blu-Ray Review
By: MattInRC
The instant classic E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial arrives in a stunning Blu-ray release that's a must-have catalog release.
There are few films in the pantheon of great ones that supplant E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. Growing up when the film was released in 1982, I honestly ignored it as I took to the theaters to watch Blade Runner, the re-run of Empire Strikes Back, and played with my Star Wars figures. To me, E.T. seemed neither deep enough nor dark enough for my tastes. It wasn't until its recent release onto Blu-ray that I learned what all the fuss was about; and while I take nothing away from Blade Runner and its remarkable achievements, I can see why so many people revere E.T. The reasons are hard to pin down, but I think it offers that special blend of nostalgia from those who grew up in the 80's and 90's, mixed with the perfect amount of humor, thrills, and sadness that results in a powerful experience. And while it's almost a given that 21st Century kids will likely scoff at several elements, it's clear that E.T. is still as funny, touching, and remarkable as it was 30 years ago, stretching beyond the bounds of most films and into the American consciousness itself..
The Film - 4.5/5
At first glance, E.T. seems like a story about the 10-year-old Elliot (Henry Thomas, Gangs of New York) who helps to get a stranded alien back home. But it's much more than that when you consider the family dynamics of a middle child struggling to identify himself in the midst a recent divorce and his growing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Director Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark) didn't want to make just a film about a lovable alien returning home; he set out to show a family broken and dysfunctional that becomes re-invigorated via an extraordinary series of events. E.T. represents that spark, although his role is fairly simple: alien is lost, wants to go home, meets nice humans, gets sick, goes home. How Elliot and E.T. get to that wondrous ending is done via good performances by the stressed out mother (Dee Wallace, The Howling), her eldest son Michael (Robert McNaughton), and Elliot's younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore, Whip It). Of course, no story about a dysfunctional family would be complete without government agents pursuing E.T. while he attempts to contact his ship. But not all of these agents are evil: Peter Coyote (Erin Brockovich) plays an empathetic scientist who tries to help the poor creature when he becomes infected.
This is Spielberg at his optimistic best, fresh off his success with Raiders, before descending into the darkness that would later become Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and War Horse. The mostly light tone of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial hasn't been seen from him since, and it's somewhat refreshing to look back on a period some might suggest was the end of his freshman year in high school. Spielberg weaves an intricate story between children who view adults only from the waist down, and those same children who see adults as people who want to dissect something that a child would treasure. That may seem heavy handed and fairly dark, but when you consider the breadth of Spielberg's work, E.T. almost seems like child's play. That opinion shouldn't take away from the great cast or terrific music by Composer John Williams (Superman), whose anthemic melodies have inspired a generation of soundtrack enthusiasts (me included). And while some of E.T.'s look and movements may look dated, it's the powerful story of love and letting go that will bring a tear to your eye each time you watch that ending.
The Video - 4.5/5
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial arrives with one of the most beautifully-restored 1080p MPEG-4/AVC transfers of a library print that I've seen. I can't imagine many people criticizing it, which keeps most of the grain without looking too...well...grainy. Too many times, we see transfers that filter out so much grain that we're left with a softness that the director never intended. Not here: Elliot's red sweatshirt is perfectly preserved, while outdoor elements such as blue skies and green forests look sharp and authentic. Details on buildings, including the area surrounding the then-newly constructed neighborhood, look crystal clear and probably better than they ever looked in a theater. There's zero evidence of aliasing, banding, or edge enhancement, while details on hair and skin pores look perfectly preserved. Unfortunately, some of Spielberg's early works contain a lot of image distortions that unfortunately show up here; it's certainly not Universal's fault that such abnormalities appear, so I'm happy to award an outstanding transfer to this one. I hope fans of the movie will be enthusiastic about its quality, as Spielberg must have used the mother of all master prints here. It's truly a great example of Universal's continuing commitment to delivering quality transfers from its catalog.
The Audio - 5/5
From The Bourne Identity series to Safe House, Universal's absolute dominance in the audio category continues with their release of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, which is presented in a stunning DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track that's one of the best of the year. While the forward speakers do most of the work, delivering clear dialogue and effects, it's inclusion of a 7.1 track that allows the rears to stand out, immersing the audience in a mixture of forest sounds, classroom chat, as well the portable med-lab scenes. Granted, we're still talking about sound quality that was released in 1982, but what's there seems improved from previous versions. John Williams' score elevates every scene, especially the end, as his orchestral melodies inspire one to grab a bike a try flying to work. They erupt from every channel, reminding you just how important his work has been since Jaws in 1975. Any additional hissing has been removed and it seems like the entire track has been scrubbed. Once again, dialogue is clear and easy to hear, keeping the listener from having to play The Remote Game between action scenes. It's a terrific lossless experience that complements the 1080p transfer.
The Supplements - 5/5
It appears that much of the features from the 2002 20th Anniversary Edition of the movie have been ported over to the Blu-ray release. There's a nice mix here of old and new pieces constructed for this release:
- Steven Spielberg & E.T. (HD, 13 minutes): Spielberg discusses the story of E.T.'s origin, development and production in this new retrospective, with several good pieces which touch on his inspiration for the script, the focus placed on Elliot's story, relationship with E.T., as well as his personal attachment to the project and the overwhelmingly positive response to the film.
- The E.T. Journals (HD, 54 minutes): Nearly an entire film by itself, and composed of original behind-the-scenes footage shot during the production, this two-part featurette is among the release's best. While there's no narration (something I wish Spielberg had added), the on-set interviews with the cast and crew are very insightful. From this diamond in the rough, you learn how committed this group of people were in creating such a memorable movie. If you choose one part of the supplements to watch, this would be the one.
- Deleted Scenes (HD, 4 minutes): While the now-classic deleted scenes of Harrison Ford as Elliot's principal is not here, there are a couple provided that make you realize why a director might choose to cut certain scenes out.
- A Look Back (SD, 38 minutes): This is a good, albeit standard-definition, release from the 20th Anniversary Edition DVD. It's very good and represented one of the best from the original release.
- The Evolution and Creation of E.T. (SD, 50 minutes): A longer version of "A Look Back," this 20th Anniversary Edition is a bit mired in redundancy, but there's a lot of interviews and other behind-the-scenes footage that should entertain and inform.
- The E.T. Reunion (SD, 18 minutes): Spielberg and actors McNaughton, Thomas, Wallace, Coyote, Barrymore, and producer Kathleen Kennedy gather to share memories of the shoot.
- The 20th Anniversary Premiere (SD, 18 minutes): It's nice to see Williams get such a nice treatment here, as he conducts the film's score for a live audience watching the movie at the 20th Anniversary Shrine Auditorium premiere.
- The Music of E.T. (SD, 10 minutes): As I love film scores, it was great to see this conversation with Williams ported over to the Blu-ray release.
- Designs, Photographs and Marketing (SD): Six image galleries give you lots of excellent insights into the shooting of the film.
- Special Olympics TV Spot (SD, 1 minute)
- Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)
Universal has produced several nicely designed designed options for fans to choose from. For those wanting the standard version, our evaluation copy came in an attractive, embossed slipcase, with a DVD, Blu-ray, Digital Copy, and UV component. While there's no interior artwork, the Amaray case does not feature the cheap clasp design. Those of you who wish to upgrade your experience have several choices. While Target released an attractive steelbook for the same price as the standard case, Amazon might get the award for best collectible of 2012, as they released E.T.'s spaceship that houses the discs and plays the theme as several parts of it open. It's one of the best special editions I've ever seen, and completely over the top; but if you're a fan of these things like I, it's a necessary purchase.
The Final Word - 4.5/5
While not a flawless classic (unlike this year's The Avengers), E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial stands out as one of the most iconic movies of all time. It's great to see Universal took its time with this one, as the results are remarkable and well worth the wait. A vastly improved digital transfer, coupled with a 7.1 surround sound mix that's off the charts, reminds us that studios can and sometimes do create works of art that span the generations. It's also appreciated to see that most (if not all) the DVD features from 2002 survived the process. If you haven't had a chance to reconnect with E.T., take a moment to do so. I promise the experience will be well worth the effort. Welcome home, E.T.
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