4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Review: E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY

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Oct 24, 2022 Posted by Kyle Nolan in DVD/Blu-ray, Reviews | Comments

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, which marks its 40th Anniversary this year, is one of director Steven Spielberg’s most iconic and beloved films, following the friendship and bond between an alien who is accidentally stranded on Earth, and a human boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). With assistance from his siblings, older brother Michael (Robert MacNaughton) and younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore), Elliott helps the creature on his quest to return home. The children’s mother Mary (Dee Wallace) has recently separated from her husband, and the kids are still dealing with the fact that their father is no longer around, and off living in Mexico with his new young girlfriend. This leaves Elliott often feeling alone. He doesn’t really have any friends at school, and is usually ignored when he tries to join in the games his older brother is playing with his own group of friends. So when he finds E.T. in the tool shed, Elliott sees this alien as a kindred spirit, someone else who is lonely and just looking for a friend. But the bond that quickly forms between the two is much more than just friendship—they actually become connected at an emotional level, able to sense and influence each other’s feelings and emotions. Initially it’s all fun and games as Elliott and his siblings get to know the creature, give him the name E.T. (short for Extra-Terrestrial), dress him up in clothes, teach him to talk, and marvel at E.T.’s supernatural powers, all while trying to keep him hidden from their mother and others. But Elliott soon senses that there is something wrong with E.T. and that he needs to get home ASAP, and so the trio help him get in contact with his home planet. However, the children are unaware that the government has also been hunting for E.T., looking to experiment on him, rather than become friends with the alien creature.

E.T. is a film I haven’t seen in about 40 years. It was one of the first films I ever saw in the theater when it was first released, and I remember being a bit traumatized as a young child at the time. Revisiting it now, I’m not sure what I found so scary about this alien at the time, though there are some aspects of the film that younger viewers may find a bit emotionally tough. As an adult, I can see more of the dramatic tones of the film. Mary and the children are still trying to figure out the new normal of a single parent home. The kids miss their father, and Mary is trying to move on with her social life and provide for her children. The film is told very much from the kids point of view—the faces of all the adults (except Mary) are not shown for nearly the entire movie. The movie holds up very well 40 years later, with a story and characters that still feel relevant and relatable today. The friendship that forms between Elliott and E.T. is very sweet, and you can see how this once lonely boy finds not only a friend, but also his own inner strength. While he’s the middle child, he takes charge of the situation, and even bosses his own older brother around. Henry Thomas is great in this role, giving one of the best child performances in film.

E.T. takes some very emotional turns, some of which may be rough for younger viewers, but the movie also has a lot of humor, thanks in large part to a young Drew Barrymore as Gertie. She is so delightful in how she goes from screaming at the top of her lungs when she first sees E.T., to treating him like her personal dress-up doll and teaching him how to communicate. She may be the annoying little sister at first, but she soon becomes one of the gang as the three siblings work together to execute their elaborate plan to get E.T. home. The character of E.T. is also a lot of fun, leading to several laugh out loud moments. As you watch the movie, this alien creature feels like a living, breathing being, and you instantly forget that puppets and animatronics are what’s actually bringing it to life. You find yourself really invested in this character and the relationships he has formed with Elliott and the others. In just a short time, he manages to really change this family, while they also have a profound effect on him.

One thing that I found both surprising and oddly refreshing is the very natural and realistic language used by both the adults and the children. These days dialogue in “family” films is very sanitized, and doesn’t really reflect the actual way people talk—you would never find kids calling each other “douchebag” or “penis breath” in a PG movie made today, but hearing it in this film, it felt very true and honest to the era, and I could definitely picture my own older brother talking like that back then. That said, parents who fondly remember this movie may have forgotten about these moments (plus several other 4-letter words), and may wish to consider this when showing to younger viewers.

Universal had previously released E.T. on 4K disc 5 years ago for the film’s 35th anniversary, and this new re-release is very similar presentation-wise. The film features a strong 4K picture, with HDR10 color grading. The picture is quite clean and detailed throughout and looks great. There are only a few moments where the age of the film is a bit evident. For example, the picture looks excessively grainy when E.T.’s ship takes off at the beginning of the film, as its bright over-saturated lights whiz across the screen. Another scene that doesn’t hold up as well as the rest of the movie is when the kids are flying off on their bikes in front of a bright red sky—the effects here don’t really hold up. That said, the practical effects of E.T. himself actually hold up incredibly well, making you instantly believe that this is a living and breathing creature and not a puppet or animatronic. The DTS:X soundtrack provides clear dialogue, showcases John Williams’ iconic score, and does a nice job of providing ambiance and an immersive viewing experience, especially in exterior shots with the wind blowing, or the sounds of nature and birds. There is excellent use of the surround sound when E.T. runs through the corn crops after seeing Elliott for the first time.

One of the main differences between this 40th anniversary release and the previous 35th anniversary is that the bonus features are actually included on the 4K disc this time around (as well as the accompanying Blu-ray disc). There are also two new bonus features—a 20-minute retrospective look back at the film from some filmmakers and other folks who have worked with Spielberg, plus a 27-minute panel from this year’s TCM Classic Film Festival with director Steven Spielberg. All of the bonus material from the previous release (over 3 hours worth) has also been ported over to this new 40th anniversary release.

The standard 40th Anniversary 4K UHD release contains 4K and Blu-ray discs packed on either side of a standard HD keepcase, along with a an embossed carboard slipcover, and an insert containing a 4K MA digital copy of the film. Universal has also released several retailer-exclusive limited edition options, including an Amazon Exclusive Gift Set containing a collectible tin tote, thermos, booklet and certificate of authenticity, a Walmart.com Exclusive Gift Set containing a collectible BendyFigs figurine, and Target Exclusive SteelBooks.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:54:29)

2160p / Widescreen 1.85:1
HDR10
Audio: English DTS:X, English 2.0 DTS Digital Surround (Original Theatrical Audio), Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Blu-ray:

1080p / Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English DTS:X, English 2.0 DTS Digital Surround (Original Theatrical Audio), Spanish 5.1 DTS Digital Surround, French 5.1 DTS Digital Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (code may not be valid after 12/31/2023):

4K Digital Copy (Movies Anywhere compatible)

Extras:
The same bonus material can be found on both discs. Most of the features have been ported over from previous releases, with the exception of two new featurettes. These are noted with an *.

40 Years of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial* (20:14)
In this all-new retrospective of the film, J.J. Abrams, Ernest Cline, Chris Columbus & Leonard Maltin discuss their first experiences with the film, their own theories on the character of E.T., how the film inspired their own careers, their favorite moments from the movie, the score, the lasting legacy of the film, its use of practical effects, its suburban setting, working with kids, and more. Includes some behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the movie.
TCM Classic Film Festival: An Evening With Steven Spielberg* (27:07)
Recorded live earlier this year at the TCL Chinese Theater, TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz sits down with the director/producer for a discussion about his early love of movies, his career, and working on films like Jaws and E.T..
The E.T. Journals (53:38)
An extensive behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film, composed entirely out of original behind-the scenes footage shot during the films production in 1981 by cinematographer John Toll, and presented in the order the scenes appear in the film. Features interviews with the film’s cast and crew. The documentary was originally produced in 2012 for the film’s 30th anniversary. Play all, or select from Part 1 (24:50) or Part 2 (28:48).
Deleted Scenes (3:40)
Two scenes play back to back. In the first, E.T. and Elliott hang out in the bathroom, checking their weight and height, and while Elliott talks to his mom on the phone, E.T. gets into trouble trying out bathroom products and climbing into the bath. In the second scene, Mary drives into a more dangerous neighborhood looking for the kids on Halloween, and stops to pick up Michael and Gertie. First included with the 30th anniversary release in 2012.
Steven Spielberg & E.T. (12:31)
Originally created in 2012 for the 30th anniversary release, producer/director Stephen Spielberg talks about the genesis of the movie from early ideas he had while working on Close Encounters, setting the film in suburbia, collaborating on the script with Melissa Mathison, telling it from the POV of the kids, working with the child actors, previewing the film for the studio for the first time, what the film meant to him, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes photos and footage.
A Look Back (37:43)
Originally produced in 2002 for the 20th anniversary release, producer/director Steven Spielberg, producer Kathleen Kennedy and other cast and crew members look back at and discuss the genesis of the film, coming up with the design of E.T., working on the film, and more. Presented in 4:3 full frame format. Clips and archival behind-the scenes footage in letterboxed format.
The Evolution and Creation of E.T. (50:16)
Originally produced in 2002 for the 20th anniversary release, Steven Spielberg and other cast and crew members look back at the making of the film, the cast auditions, some of the changes for the 2002 re-release, the special effects, and more. Presented in 4:3 full frame format. Clips and archival behind-the scenes footage in letterboxed format.
The E.T. Reunion (17:56)
For the film’s 20th anniversary, director/producer Steven Spielberg reunites with producer Kathleen Kennedy and stars Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Robert MacNaughton, Dee Wallace & Peter Coyote to reminisce about their time on set together. Originally produced in 2002, and presented in 4:3 full frame format.
The Music Of E.T.: A Discussion With John Williams (10:04)
Composer John Williams and director/producer Steven Spielberg look back at working on the film, coming up with the themes, recording the score, and more. Originally produced in 2002, and presented in 4:3 full frame format. Includes some archival behind the scenes footage presented in letterboxed format.
The 20th Anniversary Premiere (17:49)
Footage and interviews from the 20th anniversary premiere as John Williams and his orchestra prepare for a live music performance to accompany the film, the cast on the red carpet and stage, and more. Originally produced in 2002, and presented in 4:3 full frame format.
Designs, Photographs, and Marketing
Various slideshows of production photos, sketches and artwork. Photos auto-advance every 10 seconds, or can be manually advanced. Presents in. 4:3 format Select from the following galleries:
- E.T. Designs by Production Illustrator Ed Verreaux (7:00)
- E.T. Designs by Carlo Rambaldi (1:40)
- Spaceship Designs by Ralph Mcquarrie (1:20)
- Designs by Production Illustrator Ed Verreaux (1:30)
- Production Photographs (23:11)
- Marketing E.T. (10:20)
Theatrical Trailer (1:57)
Presented in 4:3 letterboxed format.
Special Olympics TV Spot (1:02)
E.T. helps a young high jumper find his strength.

Final Thoughts:

My Rating

Film:

Video:

Audio:

Extras:

Recommended

Even 40 years after its original theatrical release, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial still holds up incredibly well, with a timeless and borderless tale of love and friendship. Universal’s 4K UHD presentation looks and sounds great, but the release isn’t all that different from the previous 35th anniversary release, so those who already own that version will need to decide if they want to double-dip for the 2 new featurettes and/or would find it more convenient to have the bonus material on the 4K disc itself. That said, you can’t really go wrong with either the 30th or 40th anniversary releases, or one of the new special store exclusive sets. After I avoided re-watching this film for so many years due to childish fears, I’m surprising myself to now wholeheartedly recommend picking this up, but the movie really is very fun, entertaining and heartwarming decades later.