In 2002, just twenty years after the release of “ET, the Extra-Terrestrial”, director Steven Spielberg decided to remaster his science fiction masterpiece. Discover the differences between the two versions of the film.
AND the extra-terrestrial: a great classic
In 1982, Steven Spielberg embarked on the production of a new film: ET, the extra-terrestrial. Worn by young Henry Thomas, by Drew Barrymore, or even Dee Wallace, the feature film tells how harmless little aliens land on planet Earth and is picked up by young Elliot. As often with Steven Spielberg’s films, ET, the extra-terrestrial met with great success with more than $792 million in box office receipts for an estimated budget of $10.5 million. The feature film also won 4 Oscars out of his 9 nominations.
Two versions of Steven Spielberg’s film
In 2002, to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary, Steven Spielberg decides to release a brand new version of, the extra-terrestrial. It offers some improvements and some modifications compared to the original version. If the main lines of the scenario have obviously not changed, certain sequences have been transformed. The most striking example obviously concerns police weapons. At the end of the film, ET and Elliot pass a police roadblock.
In the original version, lawyers carry guns (even if they don’t use it). While in the remastered version, weapons were bartered for walkie-talkies. Likewise, the insults disappeared from the film, as did the term “terrorist” used by Elliot’s mother in the first version.
The alien gets a makeover
Steven Spielberg has also improved alien design. The little alien has acquired new movements, his expressions have been increased, and his neck is telescopic in the 2002 version.
The city lights, sky, moon, and tall grass also changed from version to version. Unfortunately for Steven Spielberg these modifications clearly did not please everyone. In hindsight, the filmmaker also regrets these choices, as reported Tele-Leisure :
Personally, I tried to do this once and ended up regretting it. Not because of fan anger, but because I disappointed myself. I was overly sensitive to some of the criticism of ET from parent groups when it was released in 1982 that involved dialogue like “penis breath” or the shots on weapons… And then, there were pretty sketchy close-ups of ETs, and I always thought that if technology ever allowed me to improve on them, I would. In the end, I realized that I had only stolen ET’s memories from those who loved him. And I regret it.
ET, the extra-terrestrial just landed on Prime Video. We leave you the opportunity to find out which version it is. We also leave you below a video that lists all the differences between the two versions. Good viewing!
