Nostalgia, Movies, and Extra-Terrestrials

[Laurel]

The movie E.T. came out when I was 10 years old. A friend of the family took me to see it, and it affected me like no other movie had before. I don't know how or why, but it really struck a chord with me and many other kids my age. I was a little hesitant to see the 20th anniversary release because I was afraid the movie would look cheesy and overdone to my adult eyes...but I saw it today, and it brought out all the feelings I had when I saw it at 10 years old. I don't know if it's nostalgia on my part, or if the movie is just that damn good. My heart raced when he made the bikes fly. I got teary more times than I can count. I cried when he died, and I cried again when he said goodbye to Elliot.

For those that remember...how old were you when E.T. was first released? Did you see it in the theaters then? Comments? Will you take your kids to see it?

 

[Vilac]

I was 11 years old at the time....and it was the very first movie that my parents took us to at an actual "theater". My brother and I thought we'd died and gone to heaven. lol....the things you marvel at when you're young.

Nonetheless....it's a memory that I won't soon forget.

V~

 

[Calamity Jane]

I was 8 when it came out... and I saw it in the theater after I read the book.

I remember being pissed because in the book, Elliot lures ET into the house with M&M's and in the movie it was Reeses Pieces... such a nitpicky child.

I thought it was the greatest movie I'd ever seen. I watched it on video a few weeks ago with my five year old, and she loved it. I can't wait to see it in the theaters again.

 

[kotori]

For those that remember...how old were you when E.T. was first released? Did you see it in the theaters then? Comments? Will you take your kids to see it?

I was 25--think I saw part of it on t.v. once; I would take my eight-year old--but she's pretty into Digimon

 

[Mellon Collie]

I was really young the first time I saw it and I remember I was terrified of death of him. I never watched the entire movie when I was little and I think I still have yet to now that I'm older. I suppose I really should go see it in the theater.

 

[Xander]

I was really young the first time I saw it and I remember I was terrified of death of him. I never watched the entire movie when I was little and I think I still have yet to now that I'm older. I suppose I really should go see it in the theater.

I'm gonna join up and stand next to Mellie here.
I saw ET the first time when I was 7 years old. And I was scared shitless of him.

My dad bought me one of these little dollies of ET with the red light in his chest and everything.
That thing never left my drawer under the window. I refused to look at him at that age.

ET was scary, he really was!!

 

[MissTaken]

I was 12 yrs old and it was the first movie I saw in the movie theater!

*hick towns rule!*


Do you remember the scuttlebutt concerning whether or not it was a movie for children? Psychologists said it was too emotionally involved for children and could be traumatic.

 

[Ree]

I was 13 and I got to go with a bunch of friends for my birthday. It was the best day! It is still one of my favorite movie. I rented the movie for my kids and they were as excited as I remember being. We couldn't find the movie anywhere to purchase it and now we are thrilled it is in the theaters. I can't wait to go and see it again on the big screen. My kids made fun of me at Christmas because I wanted the stuff toy that when you pushed on E.T's tummy his finger lit up and he said several phrases. (Still bummed that I didn't get it, too!!!!) I had the same reaction as Pagan did when it came to the M&M's vs. Reeses Pieces. I had read the book and was upset they didn't follow the book. Took me a long time to accept that most movies don't follow the book. I guess the bright side is that the books are usually always better but you get to enjoy both on their own merits.

 

[MissTaken]

Dumb question

Are there new scenes added to this version?

I noticed a scene I didnt' recognize on the previews.

And like ree, my kids and I have been watching the movie over and over. I have rented it so often, I could have bought it brand new....if you could find it!

 

[lovetoread]

I was 9 when it came out. I have yet to see the whole movie. I have seen bits and pieces of it though.

 

[SexySlut2]

I was 12 when it came out and went to see it with a friend of mine. It was my favorite movie for years.
I plan on taking my children to see it and hope they enjoy it as much as I did.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Re: Dumb question

I have rented it so often, I could have bought it brand new....if you could find it!

Neener neener neener! I have the movie!!! Yard sales rule.

 

[MissTaken]

Re: Re: Dumb question

Neener neener neener! I have the movie!!! Yard sales rule.

Will you take 50 bucls for it?

 

[Calamity Jane]

Re: Re: Re: Dumb question

Will you take 50 bucls for it?

Nope, but you can come over and watch it.

 

[kotori]

Re: Dumb question

Are there new scenes added to this version?
I noticed a scene I didnt' recognize on the previews.

Yes, they've redone lots of the puppet work with CGI, and reinstalled a couple of scenes that were cut because they didn't look right first time around.

 

[ohiobbw]

I was about 6 months old when it came out.

So, I didn't go see it in the theater. But I plan on seeing it this time around.

 

[Summery]

I was 12 when the movie came out. I saw it in the theatre.
Now I will be taking my 4 year old son to go see it.

 

[xMorganx]

Ohhh

I cannot remember my age all i remember is crying through it! I know that they have changed one scene and that is when Elliot is riding away and the cops (used to) have guns... Now they are holding walkie talkies.

 

[Laurel]

Re: Ohhh

I know that they have changed one scene and that is when Elliot is riding away and the cops (used to) have guns... Now they are holding walkie talkies.

This week's Entertainment Weekly tells all the changes they made. Spielberg changed all the guns to walkie-talkies, which is lame, but even lamer still is the part where you can hear the older son arguing with his mother about his Halloween costume. Originally, she said something like, "There is no way you are going out dressed as a terrorist!" In the new version, Spielberg changed it to, "There is no way you are going out dressed as a hippie!" - which is really silly and stupid, IMHO.

The only ones that I really noticed while watching the movie, as it's been 20 years since I saw it originally, were 1) when ET is stranded at the beginning and Keys' men are searching around, ET hopes like a rabbit through the brush instead of pushing through it at ground level like before; and 2) the scene with Elliot & ET in the bathroom is much longer.

 

[xMorganx]

Re: Re: Ohhh

This week's Entertainment Weekly tells all the changes they made. Spielberg changed all the guns to walkie-talkies, which is lame, but even lamer still is the part where you can hear the older son arguing with his mother about his Halloween costume. Originally, she said something like, "There is no way you are going out dressed as a terrorist!" In the new version, Spielberg changed it to, "There is no way you are going out dressed as a hippie!" - which is really silly and stupid, IMHO.

I heard the whole terrorist thing too but i thought it was a joke at first!

 

[Laurel]

Re: Re: Re: Ohhh

I heard the whole terrorist thing too but i thought it was a joke at first!

No, they really changed it! And it sounds sooo lame...it makes zero sense that a mother in the 80s would worry about their child dressing up as a hippie on Halloween. And it's scary and strange that Spielberg thought "hippie" was a suitable substitute for "terrorist". Oh well.

 

[kotori]

terror hippies

And it's scary and strange that Spielberg thought "hippie" was a suitable substitute for "terrorist". Oh well.

Guess we do need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows.

 

[Ladyhawke]

I was 12 when it came out. It was the first movie I went to without a parent along, just me and my friend and the tag-along little sister. My daughter is totally excited to go. My son (age 3 1/2) keeps calling it ET Potter..too cute!

 

[tigerjen]

If the movie came out in '82......

at the time I was 8 years old......

I remember seeing E.T. like it was yesterday.......originally
my mom didn't want to take me to see it because she
thought it would be too scary for me, but my grandparents
(my mom's parents) convinced my mom that the movie
was really good, really cute, but sad at times......so my mom
took me to see it at the Community Theater here in Fairfield.

I loved it....and I laughed and cried....esp. when E.T. was
dying, and at the end of the movie when he goes back
home.....I still cry during the movie...never fails!

I have not gone to see the re-release yet....but I do plan
to!



tigerjen

PS...I wonder where my mom packed away my E.T. doll?

 

[LadyDarkFire]

I was 1 year old when the movie came out, and I remember the first time I saw it, I was 5. I slept with the lights on for a week. That entire glowing finger thing FREAKED me.