With the upcoming 40th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's sci-fi adventure E.T. releasing in theatres, movie fans online have begun to discuss the film and share their personal hot takes surrounding the genre-defining piece of cinema.
Reddit is a hotspot for unpopular opinions online, and that's no different when it comes to discussing movies - particularly those that are considered masterpieces or classics. So, it's no surprise that there's a huge number of people online whose interpretations of Spielberg's movie might not match popular opinion.
For a movie that's supposedly made for families, there's something about E.T.'s practical design that's surprisingly disturbing. Perhaps this was intentional, and it certainly helps us understand why the government was so hasty to get rid of him, but a lot of children found themselves particularly frightened.
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"I've been traumatized by the movie as a kid and had nightmares for years," writes one Reddit user with particularly strong opinions about E.T's design. They continued, "Until today I can't really look at him without the feeling of fear and disgust."
Although E.T. was met with overwhelming praise when it first released in 1982, many movie fans have discovered that the film doesn't quite hold up as well today. Whether that's the underdeveloped practical effects or the fairly predictable story, many believe that E.T. should stay in the '80s.
Reddit user jordanmmac1995 refutes the opinion that E.T. is one of Spielberg's best movies, writing that "I get it was amazing for its time, but if I were to watch it now, it would only be if I was being held hostage and forced to watch it." Nevertheless, there is no denying that E.T. has been influential in the sci-fi genre, helping inspire more complex movies and TV shows related to extraterrestrial premises.
There are plenty of technical aspects in E.T. that get praised time and time again, but one of the things that's rarely mentioned is the film's lighting. As Reddit user torrent4dayz notes, Spielberg's unconventional use of lighting helps create the dreamlike tone that makes E.T such a special film.
"I love how different types of light shine differently, how different types of silhouettes can be represented," they write, praising the film's visual creativity and noting how this helps create a very distinct atmosphere.
For a long time, Spielberg's E.T. was praised as one of the most inventive and original films of the 1980s. But, Reddit user motorbiker1985 theorizes that the story may not be as original as it suggests: "There is strong argument that Steven Spielberg didn't come up with the idea."
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They theorize that Spielberg was inspired by "an eastern bloc TV show" that aired two years before Spielberg's movie went into production, and there are many similarities between the two. Whilst it's unlikely that Spielberg would steal an idea in this way, it's definitely possible that he was inspired by a similar story.
John Williams undeniably has had one of the most impressive careers out of all the famous Hollywood composers, and with films such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and Jurassic Park under his belt, it's no wonder why. However, Reddit user yourballcourt believes that Williams' best work to date is his score for E.T.
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"The bike chase is the best scene in the movie, and it's completely driven by the score," they write, noting the importance of Williams' music in the progression of Spielberg's story. The two go hand-in-hand, and neither could work as effectively as it does without the other.
Whilst the film is marketed towards families and younger children, Redditor legitiamjack shares their unpopular opinion that E.T. is actually better once people watch it at an older age. This way, they're able to appreciate all the finer details and skilled craftsmanship on display.
"I watched it when I was 14 and hated it, since then I matured quite a bit and liked it a lot more," they write, proving that many aspects of the film aren't really noticeable until people are slightly older. Perhaps, it also helps that in E.T, the children are forced to take up the roles of the adults in the story.
Spielberg is usually great at crafting interesting characters that audiences can relate to, but some Reddit users don't think that the characters in E.T. live up to that standard. One of the issues that Redditor animewhitewolf has with the characters is that they're "annoying," and not as interesting as E.T himself.
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When viewers consider that Spielberg was responsible for the creation of characters, such as Indiana Jones, Martin Brody from Jaws, and Captain Miller from Saving Private Ryan, the protagonists from E.T. start to feel much more forgettable. That is a real shame because the story itself is one of his most magical.
E.T. is supposed to be a family movie, but many fans believe that the film is actually pretty frightening for younger audiences, whether E.T.'s design or the plot itself. Whilst the story remains full of magic and important life lessons, there are a few moments that Reddit user srike71109 believes are actually "scary."
They write, "The scene where [E.T] stretches his neck still haunts me to this day... I've never actually been able to sit through the movie but I still remember those few scenes I was forced to endure decades ago." Most people probably wouldn't describe E.T. as a traditionally scary movie, but it's clearly had an effect on many younger audiences.
Steven Spielberg is widely considered to be one of the best directors of the 1980s, but some Reddit users don't think that E.T. should be included in a list of his greatest accomplishments. Few people would deny Spielberg's influence over cinema, but there seem to be some who view E.T as his least impressive and poorest-quality movie of that era.
"I don't understand the love for E.T... I wouldn't put it in the top 10 Spielberg movies made," writes Reddit user thegame81677. They praise several of Spielberg's other movies (Including Schindler's List and Jaws), but they simply can't see anything in E.T. that lives up to the greatness Spielberg is clearly capable of.
In the same way that calling E.T. Spielberg's worst movie is an unpopular opinion, so is calling it his best. Most people would place E.T. somewhere around the middle of the director's filmography, but some Reddit users believe that "E.T." is actually "Spielberg's best film".
Whilst it might not be his most prestigious picture to date, E.T. is undeniably one of his most entertaining films. The way that the story plays out is incredibly creative, and the central dynamic between E.T. and the children is a lot of fun. It's for this reason that so many fans are calling to see a legacy sequel for E.T. some time soon.
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