E.T. celebrates anniversary

E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is one of those movies nearly every college-age person knows by heart. Who didn't get the movie as soon as it came out on video, pop it into that amazing new contraption known as a VCR and watch it in amazement somewhere around the age of eight? Reese's Pieces, "E.T. phone home," flying bicycles and E.T.'s gurgling cry of "El-li-ot" are all part of the phenomenon that was inescapable following the movie's release. And for good reason, because this is truly a great movie. Now, with the 20th anniversary of its release just passed, E.T. graces the screen again, remastered with a few additional scenes. Most probably know the story already, but here's a recap for those who haven't seen it in a while. E.T. is left behind on Earth when his fellow aliens can't wait for him any longer in their ship. He wanders off and ends up in the backyard of Elliot (Henry Thomas), a young boy who is intrigued when he tosses a ball into a shed in his yard and it is tossed back to him. Elliot eventually lures E.T. into his bedroom with a trail of Reese's Pieces and becomes friends with the alien. Elliot, his older brother Michael (Robert McNaughton) and younger sister Gertie (Drew Barrymore) try hard to hide the creature from their mom and a group of government agents who are bent on capturing E.T. for research. The kids become very close to the alien, while Elliot actually begins to have his mind essentially overtaken by E.T.'s. That's all that should really be told about the plot in the off chance that somebody reading this hasn't seen the movie already. The plot's surprises should be discovered as they come, and they make the film a moving one to watch. E.T. has everything movie-lovers could want in a film: humor, honesty, wonder, hope, fun, sadness, happiness and some elements of surprise. The "kids outsmart the grownups" plot has been done before this film and after, but never better than in this Steven Spielberg classic. It's an escape, and an enormously fun one at that. With all the mindless, soulless movies like Sorority Boys hitting theaters now, it's an absolute delight to watch this movie and think back to when it was okay to dream of peddling a bike, without touching the ground. E.T. the Extra Terrestrial is now showing at Carmike Wynnsong 16, Knoxville Center, Farragut Towne Square and Halls Cinema 7. Rating: A