E.T.

What is the Context of the Film?

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest directors in history. Spielberg's work has been proven to change social views. Spielberg's Close Encounters  was his first movie about aliens. However, it was not his last when E.T.  continued changing mind sets of aliens. E.T. premiered the 11th of June 1982. The movie grossed $792.9 million with a budget of $10 million. Spielberg produced, and directed this masterpiece. At the time of creating the film Science Fiction was booming. The image of aliens was fiercely negative. Spielberg set out to replace that mindset. Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Extra Terrestrial was  sparked by a question “what if aliens were good?” Long before this question Extraterrestrials were villainous.

The evil aliens were flying back to their home galaxies while friendly and social aliens started to land on Earth in the form of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Spielberg's work. Area 51 and Roswell incidents initially brought Aliens as a believable idea for Americans.  These events led to the creation of Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Close Encounters is the adult version of E.T. E.T.’s poster tries to adhere to kids with “His adventure on Earth”.  

Steven Spielberg draws a lot of the film from his own life.  Michael serves as the early Steven as he mocks his siblings but soons becomes the protector as his father leaves them. After his parent’s divorce Steven filled the void with an imaginary alien companion. The companion was a brother he never had and a father he lost.

Why is it Beautiful?

Every screenplay has the potential of being a hit. However, the difference between a hit and a masterpiece is the director and the music. The score by John Williams not only creates the edge of the film but entrances you to the point of loving a creature that does not speak. The music of a film has that ability. Dumbo is a prime example. Dumbo does not say one word but has become a Disney legend due to the animation and music. The first sight of the featherless bipeds are seen in a group. While the group is gathering plants outside of the spaceship E.T. is walking farther out. The music is eerie but slowly builds to lighter and happier music with violins, clarinets, and the tipping point a triangle as the alien looks over the city’s lights. That moment makes the viewer relate to the wrinkled alien. Immediately after you grow to like E.T. the tone of the music changes to suspenseful music with brass horns dominating the sound.  At this point humans arrive and appear as villains here to capture the foreigners. The viewer hears squealing and uncomfortable screams mixed with groans of E.T. and his family hurry to the spaceship but E.T. does not make it. John William’s score does not just add to the feature it makes the film a masterpiece of emotions.  

The score makes E.T. a beautiful film but director’s work makes it a masterpiece. The film was created to be relatable to kids and for adults to relive their childhood. The movie was filmed at a low camera angle. This effect made humans daunting and overlooking Elliott, the main character. E.T. was made the size of Elliott as well. Instead of a large alien E.T. was a small waddling orphan. Elliott's background was a big impact on relating to his story. Elliot was always mocked by his older brother’s friends and his father left him and his mother. The scoring and direction of the film makes E.T. a beautiful American classic.

What is the artist communicating?

Steven Spielberg communicated three themes: religion, coming of age, and friendship.

E.T.’s trailer describes the movie as the story of the arrival, search, and departure of E.T. Many critics relate this to Jesus Christ’s nativity story. E.T. and company arrived in a forest with no one around and was immediately searched for by predators. The creature’s family immediately flee to safety but accidently leave E.T. behind. Jesus was born in a dusty barn and was searched for to be killed. Mary and Joseph flee with Jesus to Egypt. The movie poster reflects clearly of Michaelangelo's Creation of Adam. E.T.’s finger is stretched out and touches Elliott’s finger. Another correlation is the death and resurrection of Jesus. E.T is crucified by the military by being researched on. E.T. relinquishes his connection to Elliott even though he will die because he wants Elliott to live. This is similar to Jesus dying on the cross to have salvation for people. E.T. is resurrected from Elliott’s love and care similar to God’s love for people and Jesus.  

Coming of age and friendship go hand in hand as themes in E.T. The movie was made with kids in mind. E.T. goes through the phases a newborn has when growing up. E.T. is scared of the new members of the family, he learns to talk, and eat. The movie is filmed at the low angle to put the movie as a child’s perspective. Many of the adult’s faces, specifically men, are not shown.  The pair grows up together. Elliott transcends from being mocked to being the leader of the group. Friendship is a huge factor in the film. Elliott begins his relationship with E.T. as a pet. It grows to be equal counterparts. The two grow a connection. Elliott and E.T. are separated for the first time. E.T. drinks a beer which makes Elliott intoxicated. While E.T. watches television he learns English. Elliott replicates the themes and scenes of the shows E.T. watches.  The pair grows a connection so they feel each other’s feelings. The pair become unlikely friends which drives the theme home.