E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL – 40th ANNIVERSARY
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is proud to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial with a brand new 4K, Blu-Ray, Digital release along with other three other premium releases including a limited edition gift set, a Walmart.com exclusive edition, and a Target exclusive edition.
From the press release, “Captivating audiences of all ages, this timeless story follows the unforgettable journey of a lost alien and the 10-year-old boyhe befriends. Join Elliot (Henry Thomas), Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton) as they come togetherto help E.T. find his way back home,E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIALis “one of the great American films” (LeonardMaltin) that forever belongs in the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere”
Steven Spielberg has made quite a few masterpieces throughout his career. For me, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial will always hold a very special place in my heart. It’s a film that sticks with you through your entire life. It’s my favorite Spielberg and one that I always come back to as one of the reasons why I fell in love with the movies. It’s hard not to get choked up seeing the special friendship build between Elliot and E.T. when he needed a friend in the wake of his parent’s separation. It was a personal film from the Oscar winner, and his casting of Henry Thomas is truly one of the greatest child performances of all time. His innocence, determination, and love of E.T. is beautiful and special.
The audience is on this emotional ride full of fantastic one-liners, cute little Drew Barrymore dressing E.T. in girl clothes, the scary space men, E.T. dying, and it all culminates in the bike ride scene. Elliot, Michael, and his friends are racing against time and a bunch of government agents with guns pointed at them only to have E.T.’s magic lift them off the ground as the iconic John Williams score transcends to even greater heights. It’s absolutely breathtaking as Spielberg, his cast, and his creative team make the power of cinema and movie magic come alive. It’s a film that I cannot wait to experience with my daughter when she gets older. I hope she falls in love with movies like I did so many years ago.
The picture quality on the 4K is quite stunning, and yes, they go back to the original cut of the film with the guns instead of the re-release that replaced them with walkie talkies.
Here are the special features that can be found on the new release
–40 YEARS OF E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL-An all-new retrospective of the film and its lasting legacy.
–TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL: AN EVENING WITH STEVEN SPIELBERG-The acclaimed director reflects on his career and the making of E.T. 40 years later.
–THE E.T. JOURNALS-Retrace the day-to-day experience of creating E.T. from never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage shot by Academy Award®-winning cinematographer John Toll.
-DELETED SCENES
–STEVEN SPIELBERG & E.T.-Watch an interview with Steven Spielberg, as he reflects back on the film and discusses his experience working with the actors, as well as his overall and current perspective on E.T.
–A LOOK BACK -A special insider’s look into the making of E.T. featuring interviews with Steven Spielberg, the cast, and others intimately involved with the film.
-THE EVOLUTION AND CREATION OF E.T.
-THE E.T. REUNION-The cast and filmmaker reunite to discuss their thoughts on the impact of the film.
–THE MUSIC OF E.T. : A DISCUSSION WITH JOHN WILLIAMS-Interviews and footage focused on the long-standing relationship between John Williams and Steven Spielberg.
–THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY PREMIERE-Composer John Williams played the score of E.T. live at the Shrine Auditorium for the re-release premiere of E.T. This featurette gives us a behind the scenes look at this presentation.
-DESIGNS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND MARKETING
-THEATRICAL TRAILER
-SPECIAL OLYMPICS TV SPOT
