The Fantasy Hall of Fame

I watched this first run at the movie theater and like most people who saw it back in 1982 I really liked it. Then a few years ago I decided to re-visit this old favorite, only I found out I no longer cared for it.

So I watched this yet again last night. If anything my opinion solidified that this is Spielberg's cash cow...The product placements in the film are heavy and so is the syrupy sentimentally. I like sentimentally when a movie earns it, here the overpowering score and Spielberg's close up reaction shots, tells the audience just what they should feel. I couldn't escape the duel feeling that I was being manipulated by the movie and that the film existed to sell products.

I did like the movie at times, but never bought into the story, too many plot holes. First we have intelligent aliens who can build a spaceship and travel from a nearby star system. They're apparently xenophobic because as soon as humans arrive they flee. They flee so quickly that they leave behind a crewman. If they're so scared of first contact then why land in a patch of woods right by one of the largest cities in the world? Maybe the aliens could've just shut off some of those bright lights that make their ship lite up like a Christmas tree.

So then E.T. is separated and alone, does he hide in the woods waiting to be rescued, no he heads down to a housing area where 1000s of people are. But you know E.T. has the power to levitate himself high off the ground, so why didn't the ship just hoover in the air and he could have safely floated up to it? Hmm?


Dee Wallace was good in this, but she's one bad movie mom! She lets underage teens smoke in her house. She then leaves a grade school age Elliott home alone when she believes he has a fever. And at one point she even leaves little Gertie, who's about 4 years old home. I'm calling child protection services and reporting her

Oh, the main theme of the movie is E.T. Phone Home...we hear that over and over E.T. Phone Home. E.T. Phone Home....But wait! don't the other aliens in the spaceship already know that E.T. is stuck on Earth??? Yes this is clearly a fantasy, cause as sci fi it just doesn't work.

The two kid actors: Henry Thomas (Elliot) & Drew Barrymore (Gertie) were good, though Elliott gave me a headache in the living room/IC unit, when he's screeching at the doctors to stop.

Little Drew Barrymore had the best lines, especially when she first meets E.T. and screams...and he screams....and she screams again and again. That was a funny moment, and she had others too. But those moments were too few and too far between to hold my interest.

When I saw The Fellowship of the Ring in theatres, I was drawn in from the very first words uttered in the prologue. My captivation was immediate, and lasted until the end credits rolled. Never before had I been so fully engrossed in a film. I knew practically nothing about the source material, because at that point I had not read a single word written by Tolkien. It's been nearly 20 years since then, and in the time that has passed, I've only read a chapter or two from The Hobbit. So my love for this motion picture trilogy is wholly rooted in the films themselves, and nothing else.

This production was a massive undertaking, and the more I learned about the making of The Lord of the Rings, the more impressed I became. The pure ingenuity that went into creating this version of Middle Earth is unbelievable. These films are a great example of how practical and digital effects can work together to create something truly breathtaking. Howard Shore's score is quite unforgettable as well, and not just because the music is often twice as loud as it needs to be, but because it captures the spirit of each scene almost perfectly.

I watched the theatrical cut for the first time in what felt like ages, then followed it up with scenes from the extended edition in order to more accurately compare the two. I stand by my previous assertion that the additional content in Fellowship is overall the least important to the trilogy as a whole. However, it is a little more successful at showing the progression of time, which was something I found lacking in the theatrical cut. The extended scenes obviously offer a fuller picture of the fellowship's journey, but their overall impact is quite minimal. Both versions provide an excellent start to a fantastic trilogy of films.

Where The Fellowship of the Ring spends time early on providing a calm, light-hearted start in the Shire, The Two Towers maintains a significantly more sombre tone from beginning to end. There is the occasional comedic relief provided by Gimli or Smeagol, but overall the atmosphere is quite serious. Also unlike Fellowship, which really felt like an epic journey, the second film isn't as grand in its scope, instead focusing on the build up to a major battle between Rohan and Isengard. The pacing feels less rushed because of that.

Attention is shifted away from the hobbits somewhat, in favour of Aragorn and the Rohirrim. Since Aragorn is by far my favourite character in the series, this change is one of the reasons why I prefer The Two Towers over Fellowship. The tragic nature of Théoden's story, and his people's impending destruction at the hands of Sarumon is more compelling to me than how close to Mordor Frodo is able to carry the ring. After having only a minor appearance in the first film, the proper introduction to Gollum and Smeagol, played perfectly by Andy Serkis, is one of the best moments in the entire series.

When I claim that The Two Towers is my favourite of the trilogy, that assertion is based on the extended edition of the film. This was my first time watching the original edit since its theatrical run, and I did honestly find it a little lacking, especially when viewed immediately after Fellowship, rather than a year later. While I wouldn't call it essential material to viewers who are primarily interested in Frodo's journey, the additional content does much to enhance the story in Rohan. The flashbacks featuring Boromir explain his brother's behaviour, and shed light on his own actions in the first film as well. For those interested in character development, the extended edition is the better choice.