Conference bookie::movies

    It is definately out on videotape. We have owned it for about four
    years. My son has watched it no less than 50 times. I still cry
    every time Elliott is talking to ET in the cryo-chamber. 
    
    Jodi-

  I really liked this movie a lot. Not only was it a great story with really
fine acting, it was filled with little moments that were very well thought out.

  After losing the Oscar to Gandi a large ad was placed in the L.A. Times
saying "Gandi was a great man, E.T. was a great movie". 

  For quite some time, Reses Pieces were really big,
  George

    (From a saved copy of my old notes) 
    ================================================================================
    Note 169.26               E.T. (The Extra Terrestrial)                 26 of 34
    MINAR::BISHOP                                        31 lines  3-NOV-1988 17:42
                      -< Let's make a bundle selling the toys... >-
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        I think this movie is easier to understand if you see it as
        "consciously manipulative".  For example, the odd shape of
        E.T. makes perfect sense when you look at a plastic E.T. toy
        figure--it is easy to cast in plastic, and requires only simple
        dies.
    
        E.T. and the Ewoks are very conscious efforts to pander to the
        American public's desire for cuteness.
    
        For a more literary analysis, I'll have to mention the ending.
        (spoiler)
    
        E.T. is the New Testament story, with E.T. as Christ:
    
            E.T. comes from elsewhere, he is persecuted and killed by the
            local temporal powers of a small place, he is restored to life
            by the power of love, he performs miracles, small children are
            special to him, and on and on.
    
        It's also clear that "Close Encounters" is those parts of the Old
        Testament which are used to justify the New:
    
            Something very special is going to happen, it involves
            light and the proper reaction is awe, it started a long
            time ago and hints have been left, certain people have
            been selected to broadcast the news....
    
        E.T. left me cold emotionally, it was too obvious.
    
                            -John Bishop
    ==========
    
    There's a sequel to the last line: I saw ET on a date--my girlfriend
    had loved it and wanted me to see it, and wept and wept during the
    film.  She decided I was too hard-hearted and broke up with me as
    a result of my comments...Ah well, probably wouldn't have worked out
    anyway.

    re: .3
    
    Perhaps the ghost of Christmas past will one day mend you of your ways.
    ;^)
    
    Steve

    If you live in the Framingham/Natick, Ma. area I saw it at Sears at the
    Natick mall for ~$7.00.  They are clearing out a lot of stuff before
    the move to the new store.

    
    E.T. is available at the Bedford Mass. library.

    >    E.T. is the New Testament story, with E.T. as Christ:
    >
    >        E.T. comes from elsewhere, he is persecuted and killed by the
    >        local temporal powers of a small place, he is restored to life
    >        by the power of love, he performs miracles, small children are
    >        special to him, and on and on.
    
    This sounds very much like the Hero Cycle propounded by Joseph Campbell
    in his study of literature and mythology. The idea is most heros in the
    narrative tradition undergo a remarkably similar cycle of experiences: noble
    birth, childhood in obscurity (usually to escape enemies), a call to
    action, night-sea journey, etc. John Barth made elegant use of this
    concept in Giles Goat-boy (a book). I guess it means that the public of
    all ages and cultures have very similar expectations of their heros,
    because stories set in this mold sell very well.
    
    However, just because you can see this, or even if it is obvious that
    the producers see this and take advantage of it, doesn't mean that the
    story is not worthwhile. I quite enjoyed E.T., apart from the well-worn
    villianization of Big Science. Also, in that scene near the end, when
    the boys were escaping on bicycles, two police types were shown cocking
     their shotguns. Just who were they expecting to shoot, anyway?
    
    Not long after E.T. was released, Drew Barrymore was the youngest host
    ever on Saturday Night Live. She was in a skit in which she put E.T. in
    a freezer after beating him to death with a baseball bat. The funniest
    part of this bit was when Eddie Murphy burst into the room, dressed in
    mohawk and feathers, and declared, "Hi! I'm Mr. T.! And I'm lookin for
    ma boy, E.!"

    I couldn't get into this one.  I watched about 15 minutes, and found
    more interest in picking belly button lint.  Everything seemed
    predictable, and wrong.  
    
    Sorry, 
    
    Carl

    I liked it, when it came out. Compared to 'now' movies, I can see how
    it could be considered dull, but then again, since a household member
    babysits for younger children, and this movie get's put in as much as
    the Turtles movies, I guess you could say that now days it is primarily
    a kids movie, or if you're not tired of it then a 'kid in all of us'
    movie.
    
    MBH