Roberts.WBST@sri-unix (06/01/82)
!!!!!! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE !!!!!!!!! On Sunday, May 30th there was a "Sneak Preview" showing of the new Steven Spielberg film E.T. at two of the local Rochester theatres. E.T. received rave reviews in the last issues of "NEWSWEEK" and "TIME". After seeing the film it was easy to see why. It was pure magic -- a cross between Walt Disney and Close Encounters. The comical moments ( of which there were many) left the audience roaring with laughter, while the tear-jerker ending didn't leave a dry eye in the house. The showing I attended was completely sold out, with many people turned away at the door. It appeared that the entire audience loved the movie as much as I did, as evidenced by the long and loud ovation given at several points during the film. Even my girlfriend, not known to be a science-fiction lover, thought it was a very good film, as it was not "heavy" S.F. in the Star Wars, Star Trek mode. Without revealing too much plot (I don't think), E.T. is the story of a small alien being stranded on earth, who is befriended by a small boy. The film details the adventures of the boy while trying to hide and protect E.T. from the perils of earth, but yet help him return to his home. Mr. Spielberg appears to have another blockbuster ready to keep us all happy for another summer. E.T. is supposed to open on June 18. Russ
rlr (06/18/82)
I was surprised that no one noticed the fact described by inuxa!rael----that the aliens glowed red in their abdominal area at the beginning of the movie, and that ET didn't do so again until the end of the movie. Friends that I saw the movie with didn't realize this at all---they thought ET's being packed in ice had something to do with it. They agreed later, however, that the *proximity* of others in his species (and/or the spaceship) explained what happened much better. My feeling is that some sort of "life force" was received in the abdominal area occupied by the red glow. When the spacecraft took off, the glow within ET disappeared soon after. The absence of this force caused his growing deterioration and eventual "death". He apparently was capable of lasting for a short time without this force. The return of the craft marked the return of the glow, which I noticed as soon as Elliott closed the case in which ET was packed in ice (check this out if you see it again). Any other opinions? Also, another question: is ET an old botanist, as the blurb on the paperback novelization states, or is he a young child? His (are we assuming somehting when when say 'his' and 'he'????) behavior is definitely "childlike", the way he says his name repeatedly and shrieks "ET go home"; but perhaps I am imposing human psychology on an alien as my housemates repeatedly say. Rich Rosen pyuxjj!rlr
nrh (06/19/82)
This question of why ET's chest grows red could perhaps be answered by someone who's read the book, but I had a completely different idea when I saw the movie, and enjoyed the irony implicit in the situation as I saw it. You may recall that ET's chest glows red and he returns to health after heroic efforts to save him have failed. Hoping to preserve the body, the scientists have ET packed in ice. Shortly thereafter, ET perks up. How ironic! ET didn't need the proximity of his ship or the elaborate efforts of the scientists. ET NEEDED TO BE PACKED IN ICE! The only support I have for this is the similarity between the mist that appears in the spaceship at the beginning, and the mist that appears in the ice-chest. In any case, let's not speculate on something a book can tell us.
bstempleton (06/20/82)
First of all, E.T. must be a little more than a child, or else their people can build radio transmitters out of alien IC technology while still children which is no simple feat. (not bad for a botanist either) The interesting question is: is it proximity to people or a ship that give this race its power? What would be the evolutionary reasons for each? If it is the ship, the ship must be simulating something from the home planet, as necessary to the ETs as food to us. If not, how did this evolve? How did such ungainly, slow creatures evolve? Could they fly from the start? How?
rlr (06/21/82)
NO! NO! NO! E.T. did NOT need to be packed in ice! If cold was what he needed, why did he fizzle out and turn all white after staying out in the cold night air????? I still think the theory about proximity to his own species (i.e., a transmitted life force received in his abdomen) makes the most sense. Any other opinions? (Reading the book is no guarantee of knowing the right answer either; such novelizations need not be even close to the original intention.) Rich Rosen pyuxjj!rlr
rlr (06/21/82)
Wait a minute!! I still believe that E.T. was "cured" by proximity to some sort of life force from members of his own species on the arriving ship. But how did he get sick???????? Empathy works both ways. If E.T. drinking a sixpack can make Elliott drunk, then Elliott staying out all night and catching a cold (he appeared to be sick, coughing if I recall, when he returns) could make E.T. sick!!!!!!! This and/or his inability to live without the "life force" could be the cause(s). Rich Rosen pyuxjj!rlr
spence (06/21/82)
#R:esquire:-36100:harpo:9600002:000:898 harpo!spence Jun 21 09:29:00 1982 SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* SPOILER******************************************************************* I just saw E.T. and came to the conclusion that it was not the ice itself that brought are little friend back, but the fact that they useed NITROGEN to freeze him. could it be that this is what he needed??
hankers (06/21/82)
My theory is that neither the ice nor the cold nor the possible nitrogen had anything to do with ET's recovery. The overwhelming number of people trying to make ET recover was frightening it. I think that either ET was faking it to get rid of the people (after all it worked!) or it just needed to be left alone (which is what happened when it recovered. By the way, it seems to me that saying "spoiler" inside of an article is sort of useless. People like me who read news at 9600 baud really don't have a chance to type a ^C after starting an article, and people who read news at 300 baud really don't want to see the many lines of spoiler warnings. Saying "Spoiler" in the header is what is really needed. Scott Hankerson !ihnss!ihps3!stolaf!hankers !harpo!stolaf!hankers
rael (06/21/82)
Remember what happened to the martians in War of the Worlds???
ET is in an alien environment. No surprise he got sick and almost
died!!!
I believe that the steril environment created around ET was intended
to keep humans from infecting ET rather than viceversa (for those who
disagree, it works both ways anyway). I base my belief on the fact that
this wasn't a film of good guys against bad guys, but rather good kids
against good (but not quite as good) grown-ups.
I do agree though that there was a strong connection between ET and Elliot
and perhaps that's what kept ET alive for so long, that is why when ET let
Elliot go, Elliot got better so quickly and ET collapsed so fast.
inuxa!raelbratman (06/22/82)
Although E.T. went to the river I presume to lower his body temperature, and the doctors commented on it being very high, I tend to agree with the life force proximity theory. Could it have been a form of advanced bionics or symbiosis? As far as his being a child, certainly it's possible that a child of his species could have built the radio signaller, Elliot knew HIM better than anyone, and told his friends that he was a MAN from SPACE. True, to Elliot, that could have been a teen-ager, but I sort of doubt it.
burt (06/22/82)
The 'abdominal glow' in the extra-terrestrials did not appear until it was 'time to go home'. It came on suddenly and simultaneously in all of them, and I assumed it was some kind of signal to return to the spacecraft.
burt (06/22/82)
While I enjoyed the movie, I think it has a central weakness
illustrated by some of the net discussions on it. Because it is
presented as reality, we want it to be consistent ('though it
doesn't have to be plausible). I think it is more enjoyable when
viewed as a fantasy adventure that doesn't have to make sense.
The plot is for children. In the eyes of an adult, it is
terribly pat and predictable (in hind sight anyway). This movie
has to be seen with some child-like innocence. There is still
enough character development, symbolism, etc. to keep an adult
happy. (You noticed Peter Pan; did you notice The Wizard of Oz?)fhcluk (06/23/82)
NO! Nitrogen isn't what he needed. There is tons of nitrogen in air. Felix
fhcluk (06/23/82)
Wait a second! Emapathy DOESN'T need to work both ways. I know how you feel doesn't imply the converse is also true. ET got sick probably because 1) staying away too long from his own race weakened his life force 2) stayed up whole night in the cold further reduced his risistance, so ET was infected by some kind of disease, and his death (?) is also probably faked, it's some kind of body machanism that put him into suspended animation until help arrives (in the movie, the proximity of his race boosted up his life force).
nrh (06/24/82)
I suggested a while ago that someone look up the book version of ET's "cure", but nobody posted the results. I managed to sneak a peek at the book though. If you thought the movie was sentimental, then BRACE YOURSELF for the book. The book doesn't offer any conclusive suggestion as to what cures ET (something unknown activates his healing finger), but the way in which it is stated (sorry, only glanced, can't quote) really kills my idea that ET needed to be packed in ice. Oh well.... Speculate away! No answer you could possibly suggest could be as sappy as the ones the book "guesses" at. On the other hand, perhaps there has been too much speculation about a possibly undecidable question? AAAGH! Sorry, just kidding!!!
otto (06/25/82)
Actually, the first time we see the abdominal glow in the aliens is *immediately* after a wolf or coyote starts howling. Thus it would seem that the glow is somehow associated with some kind of group alerting system (danger, be aware, warning, etc.). Thus, it seems likely that when ET lights up at the end of the film, it is in response to a signal from the ship or people on it that he should be aware that they are coming. George Otto Bell Labs, Indian Hill ----------------------
Cowden.WBST@sri-unix (07/07/82)
I saw E.T. last night and highly recommend it. Character development is good, dialog is natural, and acting, directing, and special effects superb! My whole family enjoyed it immensely. Go without preconceived notions, expecting only a first rate film. You won't be disappointed. p.s. for you Monroe county fans. The lines are still long at Eastview Twin, and I've never been in a filthier theater. Charlie.
aps (07/21/82)
I always felt that ET "came back to life" because of the optimism he felt knowing that he was going to be "rescued". The question should also be raised concerning the application of "earth" medicine to an ET. Is the absence of what appears to be a "normal" EKG cause to think that an ET has expired (died)? Could this have been some form of hybernation (hoping his friends would come by, again)? As to the question of his not using his levitation when being chased byt the government people, I can only think that ET was panic'ed. Does anybody see possiblilties for a "Return of the ET", or "Elliot grows up"?? I would see them. I thought ET was a much better movie than Close Encounters of the Ridiculous Kind, or what I call "The Adventures of Flying Juke Boxes". Armando. decvax!aps.