Despite the movies great effects for the time this over the top smaltz factory from the man obsessed by 6 year old heroes himself (mr spielberg) is the most over rated bag of salmon sick I have ever watched. ET go home? I wish he'd never bothered to come here in the first place.

An excellent film directed by a master.

Unlike all the listed critics, I never saw this as a child. Watching it for the first time as an adult makes for a pretty boring two hours. A 97 score? Come on.

This movie was too boring.

It's very decent fluff, but that's all it is. Seems like most critics seem to enjoy fellating Spielberg, and this is no exception. What's more shocking is that this rerelease of a successful film is a sleazy tactic we're more used to from the likes of George "Hack" Lucas. Don't get me started. You know what? If you saw E.T. the first time, there's no reason to waste $10 on it again. The added scenes, cleaned-up special effects and remastered score are smokescreens for Spielberg's grotesque grab for cash. While the film rates a 6, the motivation behind the rerelease deducts it a full 5 points. Enjoy your thievery, Steven.… Expand

Taking the guns out made this movie blow. Leave movies alone.

From sequels to altered originals. The original would have scored a 9. But you don't change a movie once released. Twenty years later, I still love E.T., but the new version would have better use in a scrap heap.

Like all Spielberg movies, every single minute of this looser is predictable. This is the first movie that made me realize that Hollywood was pandering to me--I was about 19 then. The term "puerile" not only comes to mind, but walks up to me with a stupid look n its face and slaps me around for ten solid minutes.

This movie is tired and boring. It makes me feel like a little boy all over again, and that isn't a good feeling. I gave this movie a 1 because I felt like giving it this many middle digits the entire time I watched it.

I loved it. Loved it. I did not see it when it came out twenty years ago, since that was the year I was born, but we own the video, and I have seen it several times, but not for a while. And it was magical, poignant, and the opposite of everything the the "age of irony" stands for. I am certainly a cynic myself, always suspicious of sentimentality, but this movie is neither boring nor hackneyed. It's visual and audial poetry, each working together to enhance the other. You don't need to look for complicated meaning--it's about a child in a grown-up world; reminding us of the honest curiousity of a childhood on the brink of adolescence--old enough to be cognizant of the world, but still young enough not to be sullied by it. And it wonderfully contrasts the adult reaction with the child's--logic versus wonder. It's hilarious as well as thoughtful, and I think it's one of the best movies ever produced.… Expand

The Mulroneycakes Tapes is right. We, spielberg-film lovers, are not "dopes" nor "idiots". We simply like the best movies that Hollywood can offer. And Spielberg makes those films.

This is truly an excellent movie for children and adults alike. Had to take off some points for editing out the guns though... I personally think it was a very bad idea to remove them in its re-release. Still, a great movie.

That the young and gawky Spielberg may have alleviated his lonely childhood with dreams of befriending space aliens is kinda touching. But, did he really have to infuse his inane suburbia-bred silliness with all the sanctimonious messianism of the Holy Roman Church? Some turd shaped frog from outerspace befriends a misunderstood kid named Elliot, and, oh my, the big bad government is out to get them. The brown frog dies, is resurrected, and returns to heaven. Was mankind saved? No, but it was milked worse than by any unscrupulous televangelist. … Collapse

Shamelessly contrived button pusher. Let's just let the children run the planet. Mushy with characters the thickness of cardboard cutouts. Stupid Stupid Stupid. Bad story. Great film. It's amazing how skilled plot development and editing can save the worst of material. The alien becomes a metaphor for a lost pet or lonely child, and the human children are recognized as imbued with wisdom and people worthy of their parent's tolerance and trust. Never judge a film for its subject matter, only for its treatment of it. Spielberg pulled a fast one here. Then went too far (Jurassic Park). … Expand

Hmmmm...this is really interesting. When E.T. was first released, a lot of critics hated it. Now that it's re-released, they love it...i don't get it....Anyway, this movie is just a classic and one of my favorites. (Please stop calling movies "shows"...unless you want to look like an idiot)

Why do some people have to spit on the Great? Steven is one of, if not THE best filmmaker of the late twentieth century. That's a cast-iron FACT, friend. And ET is one of the most toweringest of his towering achievements - unless you're a shriveled husk of a being, of course. Michelle the P makes a good point in that a post-ET's depature coda would have been nice; still, you can't have everything. But with this movie, you'll come close.… Expand

One the great American movies. One of the best children's movie ever made. When it was first released twenty years ago, I was the same age as the lead child actor Henry Thomas and I was living in a sprawling suburb similar to the one E.T. was set in. Spielberg created soulful characters in a cut out, cardboard suburb. If you want a glance at what life for children living in the suburbs was like in the early '80s, then watch this film. … Expand

Seriously one of the best movies of all time. It transcends the boundaries of age and has the power to touch all. It touches the innocent inner child that we all have deep inside. The acting is superb. And don't forget the killer soundtrack that is as moving as the story itself.

Do you believe in magic? A wonderful story for children of all ages. A true classic.

A masterpiece that you will fall in love with every time you see it. Key word, "will."

Don't listen to the cynics, those who reject anything with an ounce of heart. Forced sentimentality is junk, yes, but this movie has none of that. It's enchanting and wonderful. A great film all around.

One of Spielberg's greatest films by far, timeless storytelling.

One of the best modern classics!

Ask John Williams to play in your country live with his orchestra in E.T.'s 30th Anniversary Edition. Please enter here: http://sites.google.com/site/et30thjohnwilliams/Home

Spielberg's E.T. is one of greatest movies ever made, as a 13 year old, i've never been a fan of kid movies. But E.T. lives on as the friendliest alien Earth, or at least, the movie Industry has ever met. The effects are spectacular, everything is superb. It's a favorite of my all time movies.

No, it's not that critics enjoy "fellating" Steven, it's that Steven is arguably the finest filmaker OF his generation, and as such is SPAT ON by people trying to GRAB a minute's CREDIBILITY. They don't realise that they'd get MORE credibility by telling the TRUTH: that ET (t'Extra-Terrestrial) is one of THE greatest, most wonderful movies EVER made. Or by SHUTTING THE HELL UP, whichever requires the least effort on THEIR PARTS.… Expand

Great movie. I thought that this was the most realistic way of showing what aliens might REALLY be like. I was crying like a baby during the movie too! The only thing I have to complain about it is that as soon as E.T. leaves, then that's it. The movie's over. I thought that maybe there should've been something that happened after that.

When I first watched ET as a young teen, I think I was the only person in the theater laughing instead of crying. Even at that age, I found it to be cliche and not really that meaningful. It doesn't beat Wizard of Oz for allegory and myth.