E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Name: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial - Christian Parent's Review
Item: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Rating: 2
Author: StoryScanner

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General Review

Parent's Guide to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) is a classic science fiction family film directed by Steven Spielberg, centering on the extraordinary friendship between a lonely young boy named Elliott and a gentle alien, E.T., who is stranded on Earth. The narrative follows Elliott, his older brother Michael, and younger sister Gertie as they endeavor to keep E.T. a secret from the adult world, particularly from government agents who are attempting to capture him, all while trying to help the alien return to his home planet. The movie explores universal themes of friendship, empathy, and belonging, capturing the wonder and challenges of childhood. It is widely recognized for its emotional depth, memorable score by John Williams, and iconic imagery, such as the bicycle flight across the moon.

Things to Consider

High1

Scary & Intense Content

The movie contains several intense and potentially frightening scenes, particularly for younger viewers. These include the initial separation and fear of E.T., the pursuit by government agents, and E.T.'s severe illness and apparent death.

1. The opening sequence involves E.T.'s species being frightened by approaching men, with aliens running screaming back to their spaceship, leaving E.T. behind. E.T. himself appears somewhat scary with bulging eyes when first encountered by Elliott, and eerie music plays throughout. 2. E.T. suffers a severe illness, appearing discolored and near death in a stream, and later seemingly passes away in an examination tent. This scene is depicted as quite traumatic for Elliott, who screams and begs E.T. to live. Government agents wearing space suits and breathing apparatus invade the house, surrounding it with the army, soldiers, and police.

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Medium4

ViolenceProfanitySubstance UseDisrespect & Rebellion

Low4

LGBTQ & Gender IdentityRomance and Sexual ContentWitchcraft & OccultAnti-Christian Themes

Medium4

Violence

Violence is mild and mostly non-graphic, focusing on chase sequences and emotional distress rather than physical harm. There are scenes of government agents pursuing E.T. and the children, and some minor physical confrontations and accidental injuries.

1. Government agents are depicted actively pursuing E.T. and the children, creating suspense and a sense of threat, especially when they invade Elliott's home and set up roadblocks. In the original cut, agents carried guns, which were later replaced with walkie-talkies in the 2002 Special Edition but restored in the 40th-anniversary release. 2. Elliott cuts his finger on a saw blade, showing a drop of blood on his fingertip and the blade, which E.T. then heals. Additionally, Michael and Elliott engage in name-calling and bullying, leading to a mild physical altercation on a school bus.

Profanity

The film contains some coarse language and name-calling, including mild expletives and a notable offensive term used by a child character. The frequency is not high, but certain words may be concerning for some parents.

Substance Use

The film depicts instances of substance use, including underage smoking and E.T. consuming alcohol, leading to mild intoxication in both E.T. and Elliott due to their telepathic link.

Disrespect & Rebellion

Themes of disrespect and rebellion are present, primarily through the children's actions of hiding E.T. from their mother and defying adult authority, as well as minor acts of defiance and name-calling.

1. Elliott, Michael, and Gertie conspire to keep E.T. a secret from their single mother, Mary, highlighting a deliberate act of concealing significant information from a parent. Elliott also feigns illness to stay home from school to care for E.T. 2. The film portrays adults, particularly the government agents, as antagonists who are not to be trusted. This 'kid empowerment flick' sends messages that adults are often oblivious or harmful, with kids needing to take matters into their own hands, such as when Elliott cuts a plastic tunnel loose from a van containing government agents.

Low4

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The film does not contain explicit LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. Director Steven Spielberg stated that E.T. was conceived as a 'plant-like creature' that was 'neither male nor female,' which can be interpreted as a non-binary presentation for the alien. Academic interpretations suggest the film allows for 'playing gender' through E.T.'s unsexed body.

1. When Gertie dresses E.T. in a wig, make-up, jewelry, and a skirt, her brothers Elliott and Michael express outrage, telling her to 'Give him his dignity back.' This scene has been interpreted academically as a reaction to perceived 'gender transgression' and allowing children to 'play gender' on E.T.'s unsexed body. 2. Steven Spielberg, the director, described E.T. as a 'plant-like creature' that was 'neither male nor female,' indicating an intentionally non-gendered or non-binary design for the alien character.

Romance and Sexual Content

Romantic and sexual content is minimal and generally innocent. It includes a brief kiss and some suggestive dialogue or actions among children.

1. Elliott kisses a girl in his class (Erika Eleniak's character) because E.T. is watching a romantic movie (The Quiet Man) and telepathically influencing Elliott's emotions. 2. Michael's friend licks his finger and playfully reaches for Elliott's mother's butt when she bends over while wearing a robe. Michael also jokes about a potential intruder being a 'pervert,' and another boy makes a pun about E.T. being from 'Uranus' ('Your anus').

Witchcraft & Occult

There is no explicit witchcraft or occult content. E.T. possesses supernatural abilities, such as telekinesis, telepathy, and healing, but these are presented as alien biological functions rather than magical or occult practices.

1. E.T. demonstrates telekinetic abilities by levitating several balls to represent his planetary system, and later uses his powers to make Elliott and his friends' bicycles fly. This is presented as an inherent ability of his species. 2. E.T. possesses healing powers, shown when he instantly heals a cut on Elliott's finger and later revives a dead chrysanthemum. These acts are depicted as natural to E.T.'s physiology rather than magic.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film does not contain explicit anti-Christian themes. Instead, some critics and viewers have identified strong Christological parallels within the narrative, such as E.T.'s arrival from the heavens, his ability to heal, his apparent death and resurrection, and his final message, which can be interpreted as aligning with Christian symbolism.

1. E.T.'s story arc draws parallels to the life of Jesus, including his arrival on Earth from the heavens, his ability to perform 'miracles' like healing Elliott's finger and reviving a plant, and his 'crucifixion by military science' followed by 'resurrection by love and faith.' 2. The iconic image of E.T.'s and Elliott's fingers touching is seen by some as an inverse homage to Michelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam.' E.T.'s final message to Elliott, 'I'll be right here' while pointing to Elliott's head, has been likened to Christ's promise of the Holy Spirit.

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E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, while not overtly religious, presents several themes that resonate with a Christian worldview, offering valuable discussion points for parents. At its core, the film champions unconditional love, empathy, and sacrificial friendship, which align strongly with biblical commands to love one's neighbor and demonstrate compassion. Elliott's commitment to E.T. despite the risks highlights a selfless love that seeks the well-being of another, even at personal cost. The morality of the characters is generally rewarded for virtue; the children's loyalty, care, and efforts to help E.T. are ultimately vindicated, leading to his return home. Conversely, the government agents, initially depicted as faceless and threatening, represent a more fearful, distrustful approach, which is shown to cause harm, although they are not necessarily portrayed as evil but rather misguided. The worldview presented leans towards a transcendent view of life and meaning, even if expressed in secular terms. The wonder and mystery surrounding E.T.'s existence and abilities suggest there is more to the universe than what is immediately seen or scientifically understood. Themes of redemption are particularly strong, with many critics drawing parallels between E.T.'s story and the narrative of Jesus Christ, including his arrival from the heavens, ability to heal, "death" and "resurrection," and eventual "ascension" with a promise to remain in Elliott's heart. E.T.'s healing touch, particularly when he restores Elliott's cut finger and later revives plants, mirrors acts of miraculous healing. The sacrifice theme is evident as E.T. nearly dies due to Earth's environment while Elliott risks everything for his friend. Family values are portrayed in a nuanced manner. The film centers on a broken family, with Elliott coping with his parents' divorce and an emotionally preoccupied mother. However, the children, especially Elliott and his siblings, demonstrate a strong bond and take on significant responsibility in protecting E.T., illustrating resilience and care within a challenging family dynamic. The mother, Mary, is depicted lovingly and sympathetically, even if initially unaware of the extraordinary events unfolding around her. While overt faith or Christianity is not explicitly depicted, the film's "Christomorphic" elements and universal themes of love, sacrifice, and belonging can serve as a springboard for discussions about faith, grace, and God's pervasive love and presence. Spielberg himself, while not intending a religious parable, created a story that deeply resonates with archetypal spiritual narratives.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Parental Guidance for children under 8, suitable for children aged 8 and older. The film is rated PG for some intense emotional scenes, mild thematic elements, and infrequent coarse language. Younger children may find E.T.'s illness and the government pursuit frightening, while older children and pre-teens will likely appreciate the themes of friendship and protecting the vulnerable.

Good to Know

The 2002 Special Edition of the film made some content changes, most notably replacing government agents' guns with walkie-talkies and adding CGI enhancements, which were met with mixed reception. However, the original theatrical version with guns was restored for the 40th-anniversary release in 2022. Parents should be aware of these differences if selecting a specific version for viewing. The film's depiction of a broken nuclear family (Elliott's parents are divorced) is also a significant thematic element that some parents might wish to discuss with their children.

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