Stars:
Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Drew Barrymore, and Henry Thomas
Writer:
Melissa Mathison
Director:
Steven Spielberg
Feature
length: 120 minutes
Languages:
English Hi-Fi Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Digipack Gatefold
Chapter
Stops: 10
Sound:
Hi-Fi Stereo Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1982/2002/VCD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Universal Home Entertainment Through HVN (In Malaysia Only)
MPAA
Rating: PG
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
story has become a classic part of American pop culture and is timeless. To
celebrate the 20th Anniversary of “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”
Director Steven Spielberg added some unseen footage as well as a few new CGI
effects and a remastered soundtrack. Then about a month ago Universal Home
Entertainment released both a full-framed and widescreen Two-Disc Limited
Collector’s Editions to DVD-Video containing both the 2002 and original 1982
version of the film as well as an Ultimate Gift Set version and even a VHS
release of the 2002 version of the film. There has been some unforeseen
controversy over the DVD release. I purchased the widescreen 2-disc set and was
lucky the sticky tape they use to protect the contents from theft did not ruin
the Digipack gatefold covering, but I know others have not and many are unhappy
with the way the discs were packaged too. There is no spine to tell someone what
the film is in one’s DVD library. Add to that some stuff regarding what is and
is not included in the extra features and it all gets confusing. I still have
not had the chance to watch Universal’s DVD release of “E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial,” but it is not unusual for me to buy a movie and then not
watch it for as long as a year because I am busy screening other movies sent to
me and writing reviews.
So
I received the VCD special edition import to review and I have to say this is
the first time I have seen “E.T.” in years and what struck me about the film
was just how good it still is after 20 years. Effects or no effects, the story
is superb and one can just sense that Spielberg was on top of his game with this
film and at times one can see hints of films to come like when Dee Wallace reads
a young Drew Barrymore the story of “Peter Pan,” and yet there is so much
more to be impressed with like the way Spielberg frames the scenes so we can
visually understand who is doing what, where, and why just through the pure
cinematic images alone. There is no denying the obvious; Steven Spielberg is
truly one of the best American Directors of his generation and “E.T. The
Extra-Terrestrial” is a classic that has stood the test of time.
Among
the obvious additions and subtractions are the CGI replacement of guns with
flashlights, which is odd since in an earlier scene where the mother has called
the police to look for her missing son, we can see the gun in the holster on the
cop’s right side so I am not sure what could be more upsetting to the viewers,
a mother who thinks her son is missing or a bunch of guys in suits holding guns?
The word “Terrorist” has been changed to “Hippie,” but why would a
mother object to her son dressing like a hippie and the whole glasses and ski
cap masks motif with the older brother’s friends at the film’s climactic
bike chase scene seems somehow more out of place because by setting up that the
older brother wanted to dress up like a terrorist for Halloween helps to sell
the idea that he and hid fellow friends enjoy playing the “bad boys” role
with the sunglasses and hat that covers everything but their eyes. They are not
real bad kids, just kids and while in this day and age I agree that terrorism is
not something one likes to think about, I also know that it is on every
television and radio news program all the time so if kids cannot escape it in
school or at home, why deny that it exists in a movie?
The
CGI “E.T.” looks fine to me with more expression and wider eyes. I would
have to compare this new cut to the original, but as far as I can tell, the 2002
version does not play badly at all. I just think the vocal and some cosmetic
choices were not necessary, but thankfully Spielberg has given American DVD
consumers to the opportunity to have both without breaking the bank. So what is
the deal with the VCD then? The VCD presents the 2002 version in a full-framed
(1.33:1) aspect ratio and the transfer is terrific. This is one of the
best-looking VCD titles I have seen this year. There are no foreign subtitles
that obscure the image and the digitally remastered Hi-Fi English Stereo
Soundtrack kicks some serious butt. Both discs feature rudimentary menus as
well. The packaging is a two-disc Digipack gatefold and it the artwork outside
and within the packaging is glossy and this actually has a spine so you can read
what the VCD set is in your library and the packaging seems sturdier too.
There
are no extra features at all, but if one is looking for something they can
playback on their laptop while on a plane or long train trip and they do not
have a DVD-ROM drive, the VCD of “E.T.” is not a bad way to go. It is also
an inexpensive way of sampling the new version of the film without having to
resort to VHS. The way I see it is this VCD is a nice compliment to the DVD
already available in America.
Please
note that this VCD is PAL formatted, but should work in any computer with a
Pentium processor or better and a compatible media player and CD-ROM drive.
Please check your DVD-Video player’s documentation to see if your player can
playback PAL and NTSC Video-CDs. Most do, but not all.
“E.T.
The Extra-Terrestrial: Special Edition” VCD is available now and can be
purchased online at www.eurekamovies.com.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.