“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial IMAX Re-Release” (2022)
There are always risks when we rewatch something that is so important to us, a movie that in many ways is one that made us love cinema as we do today, and yes, we say this for both because this is a movie that crosses generations and that even after 40 years it keeps touching hearts.
Yesterday because it turns 40 years it was Re-released on Imax, and we could not miss it; as soon as the movie started, it did get us worried; for the first time ever, it was clear as day that the opening shoot of the movie with the stars was a painting, you could see every texture and detail, that is the magic and curse of the Imax.
We will not lie; this happened several times more; some iconic scenes just looked horrible visually because they had never been seen in this detail, and we noticed it all even with all the tears going down our faces, even with the huge smile in our face and even when we were sitting in the edge of our seats.
That is when we realised the most important thing, the magic of cinema is not how it looks but how it makes you feel.
Spielberg tapped into something magical, the last time I saw this movie properly, I was not a father; what I took away from it was the friendship between this boy and his Extra-Terrestrial friend; this time, what hit me was this extra-terrestrial “child” being left behind and how he finds people to protect and help him, this is the magic of a good movie, this is the magic of a masterful director, he creates movies that grow with you.
It melts your heart from the very beginning, and you just keep getting moments that honestly are hard to describe; seeing Drew Barrymore for the first time is one that every single person in that cinema just could not contain.
Also, Henry Thomas deserves more credit for what is one of the best child performances of all time.
To make clear, we talked many times about the visuals that don’t stand up to the test of time but let’s not forget this movie turns 40 years; 40 years ago, this was groundbreaking, and even today E.T. itself looks fantastic, so let’s appreciate that many of the revolutions and leaps and technology we got from this and many other Spielberg movies.
The way this movie inspired so many that came after, like tv shows like stranger things, is just another credit to how revolutionary it was, it really is a movie that deserves to be seen for many years to come, and I am so glad that I was able to share it with my daughter.
Have you seen it? What did you think?
What iconic movies would you like to have the chance to watch in IMAX?
