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We Don't Talk About E.T.

🕑 Added 2022-12-22 22:35:47 +0000 UTC

Comments

WJ ZAV

Speaking of emotional earnesty. I just watched Gullermo Del Torro's Pinocchio and I am still a bit blown away by the sheer emotional turmoil that movie caused me. There are rough scenes in this and the ending is both hopeful but also kind of bittersweet depressing.

Onyeka A.

My town played this at the park one summer, it was nice to get together with everyone and experience this movie again

sunlit_music

Thanks so much for making this video, Lindsay. You're right, there's nothing wrong with being emotional and sincere, and that's one of ET's strengths. Learning about ET's history through your video was really fascinating and eye opening, and I'm glad it influenced your books. I remember watching bits and pieces of it as a kid, and I plan to rewatch it.

Jesse Duncan

Yes it's intentional, the abrupt cuts are meant to be funny; they're jokes. It's a common thing Youtubers do, like they cut right as they're about to say something stupid/trite/controversial/etc.

Jan S.

Ok, first of all, I already feel that me becoming a patreon was a good decision. Secondly I really liked this video and its subject matter. The concept of emotional honesty has been near and dear to me ever since i reemerged from the human mental hell that is known as puperty. Its easy to wave away an intensely emotional moment with a cheeky wink to the camera, but it is hard as diamonds to truly commit to a moment, especially if the story one is trying to tell is supposed to be family friendly or at least a story that is not above a PG13 rating. I think "Arrival " might be a similar experience to ET in its Emotional Landscape.

Reed

It's really worth the watch!

Scrambles

The video seems to have some editing errors here and there? Like at 12:24 "just like John Lennon s- it's a highly sentimental and borderline luddite theme..." is that intentional?

JordanL

I’ve never seen Ted Lasso and don’t know much about it. But I’m assuming it doesn’t have the same ironic, self-aware sensibility that most shows have (or at least to a lesser extent)? If so, that’s promising.

BestStressed

I think/hope there's a correction coming. The popularity of Ted Lasso could be the beginning of a trend?

JordanL

The points you made about a film needing some level of irony in order to connect with the culture in recent years (arguably since the 90s) is so dead on. Lately I find myself craving sincerity and earnestness in the films that I watch, as I’m so, SO burnt out on that self-aware, ironic, wink wink, nudge nudge sort of sensibility. As a result I’ve found myself turning to older films that I haven’t seen before more often than newer ones. I hope the pendulum eventually begins to swing back the other way. As a side note, I recently watched Starman from 1984 and it also kind of has an ET quality to it in terms of story and tone, with the primary difference being that it’s much more adult. It’s not as good as ET, but it’s sincere and emotionally driven, and well worth a watch.

Kait Hatch

The terrified of/totally loves E.T. binary of anyone who saw this as a kid is SO TRUE. I had a little E.T. doll that was made of pleather (because of course) and one of my best friends HATED IT SO MUCH. She would make me hide it when she came over *just* to make sure she wouldn't accidentally see it. She was also terrified of my gremlin toys, which, fair enough. Gremlins are creepy AF. Anyhoo, I love that this movie hasn't been exploited to death for nostalgia.

Vladimir Barash

This is one of your best videos. I love the point you make, I love the visual references, I love that you take something so deeply embedded in our popular culture and say something, well, not new, but seemingly long forgotten in The Discourse. It's so refreshing to step outside the formulas of media, and media analysis, that have become popular over the last ten years, to show that there are really alternatives to plot by numbers, technically perfect films that don't dare do anything cringe. Thank you thank you thank you!! (also YAY Nebula works for me now finalllyyyy)

run_away

Finally say down to watch this and man. Lindsay looks so much more rested and more at peace than in some of the later youtube vids. Hope I'm not just projecting here but it's just nice to see her happy. I hope the nebula switch has been as much of a positive change as it appears to be.

Matt Robold

Some of my earliest movie memories are of ET. I know I was taken to see Empire Strikes Back in theaters when it came out but have no memory of it (I was 3). But ET I remember watching over and over and over again - and then just stopped. Thank you for reminding me that I should revisit it, and for saddling me with the dilemma of when to show it to my kids. Wonderful video.

Yvette

Decided to give the movie a rewatch but this time in Spanish. It’s a visual masterpiece. There’s a reason Guillermo del Toro gave that movie a shout out during his best picture acceptance speech.

Katie Gunn

I’m glad for the comparisons to The Iron Giant here, because while ET never really did it for me (not afraid of it, just watched it when I was too old) putting into the same context of what I feel about The Iron Giant really helps me understand why this is considered such a classic. And yes, the Ready Player One thing is absolutely infuriating and I refuse to acknowledge even the existence of that property because of it.

Alistair Struck

There's something refreshing about earnest media in our post-gritty realism, irony-poisoned media landscape. I'm reminded of The Princess Bride's framing device where the boy's arc has him changing from detesting kissing books to engaging sincerely with the story. We could use some vulnerability.

Keith D. Jones

I saw E.T. with my family at a preview screening at the Pruneyard in Campbell way back when the Pruneyard still had a very nice theater. It wasn't even a finished print of the film. There would occasionally be white or red gaps lasting a second or two between scenes. There was wild clapping and cheering at various names in the credits, so maybe a bunch of people who had worked on the film were there. I have no idea how we heard about the screening or how we got in because we knew nobody in the industry. I must have been twelve, and I cried my eyes out at the torture/death of E.T. scene. It wasn't because he died. It was because the "nice people" were basically torturing him. I remember the novelization. That book had a very dirty mind, and I loved the sequel novel, E.T. and the Book of the Green Planet, or whatever it was called. That book was crazy and very, very funny. Basically E.T. has "gone native" and all his coworkers back on their home world think he's crazy. In the end, E.T. and a bunch of other outcasts steal a ship to head back to Earth to rescue Elliot from puberty. No, seriously. The highest ranking official we meet helps them get away on the grounds that their society has gotten stagnant and needs a good kick in the butt.

Aurora H.

Honestly one of your very best videos. Also really glad you spelled out “boy and his x” on screen, because I was thinking of it for a while as “boy and his ex”

Kai Ellis

Have never seen this movie though it's been on my "really should watch" list for years and you've convinced me to finally give it a go because goodness the score is great and I love the earnestness!

Kit Brogden

Lovely and insightful as always, but i was SCREAMING “Psycho Goreman” at the screen!! Lindsay, please tell me you have seen Psycho Goreman!!

Anya Lienau

Rewatchables did a podcast on ET that I thought was a a good listen but that's the only one I'm aware of. Lindsay I'm curious what is going on with all those tanks in the background of this video! But mostly just want to say thanks for the interesting, thoughtful and entertaining video essay as always!

Finn Hobson

I can't believe you got me to associate myself with that movie at all..... Still scares the crap out of me to this day. Yes, Elder Millennial too.

Scottie McPherson

Good to see you again! Dang, how'd you know I have problems even looking at ET? I have always dismissed the movie for exactly the reasons you listed. I think I saw it once and never wanted to again.

Robyn Bee

I'm absolutely of the Millennial age to think of E.T. as a horror movie, and hadn't considered that til now! I was probably 6 or 7 when I watched it on VHS with my older cousins and was completely terrified. Even after growing up as a film nerd with a huge fondness for both Spielberg and horror, I never rewatch E.T. because of how badly it spooked me at an impressionable time.

Cheyenne Lin

cant wait to watch! i watched the movie first as a kid and i think it was the first movie to actually make me cry? when ET is dying like damn. i couldnt watch it again for a while after that

run_away

I have the same thing with almost every spielberg movie. Especially indiana jones. The only ones I have ever liked are Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Tintin and I've seen most everything the man's put out. Impossible to say that in public though. "You don't like Jurrasic Park?!" no... I want to... I just don't. Big poltergeist fan though. Don't know what that says about me.

max_rbmc

"It's okay to hug the ugly little squishy guy." Can you tell this to guys at the club so I can get some hugs?

Jetstream

(about five minutes into the video in the "nobody talks about it" spiel) I can't speak for anyone else, but I can explain my reasons for not talking about it. It's a great film. Magnificently put together. It has a lot of heart. It is one of the best films of all time. I HATE this movie. It is a purely emotional reaction, but I have always hated it. How do you talk about a movie that's objectively good but that you dislike intensely?

Scott Christian Simmons

For some reason, it makes me want to go back and watch The Iron Giant again. :)

Jamie McAfee

Your stuff is always great, and it's nice to have you back on the movie beat. Terrific video.

run_away

Yay!! Best Christmas gift : D

Aaron Lutes

A Boy and His Dog is hot trash, but I love it lol

Benjamin Preston

Great video! It makes me want to go back and watch ET again. I don't think I've seen it since I was in elementary school. I recently heard an anecdote from Drew Berrymore about her time on set. Apparently, between takes she was worried ET would get cold, so she got it a scarf to wear. And I am the same age as Drew, so that'll add a new interesting point of view to rewatching it too.

Jasmijn Wellner

A Girl And Her Horse

Colleen S.

Thank you for this! I feel thoroughly comfortable declaring E.T. as one of my favorite movies of all time; I was also the kid who wore out the VHS, but I’ve only watched it like three times as an adult because it hits too hard emotionally. Broken lonely childhoods unite!

slizzaro

That was fantastic!!

Ravi Pillalamarri

thanks I love it

Lily Alexandre

This was excellent

kavrnathyTHEBOLD

Another banger. Thank you for continuing your film analysis, I love it deeply. Looking forward to your third book. :)

Rachel N

great video, however Bumblebee is 100% a horse girl movie 😉

Manuel Antón

There's MTG cards in the background now?! Great vid as always, thanks!

Amos Stillwell

Great Video. It was very interesting thinking about ET watching Spielberg's new movie the Fabelman's. I felt like in ET he was processing his childhood metaphorically, while in the Fabelman's he was processing it literally.

The Pillowman

Was something cut around 8:14? Seems to skip.

queerly beloved

great video :)

Jack Baker

Good essay. Probably won't see E.T. again, but, with the number of children's movies I'm stuck watching whenever my brother ropes me into babysitting his kids, I'll probably end up watching it anyway.

Norman

Thank you for sharing that. ET fell off my radar. It was one of those movies that i saw as a kid, wanted to see again, but by the time it hit VHS I had moved on to other things. It is time to revisit it.

Dylan

Yeah the Iron Giant in Ready Player One genuinely bothered me more than I care to admit. It actually made me feel sad about like our current culture when I know it's not really that deep lol. I loved your video as always. I don't know why, cause this is never your style, but when I first saw the title I was afraid you were gonna rip into ET. But nah, you totally get why it's such a classic. I have very fond associations with ET. My grandma loved aliens. Anything with aliens she was game to see. She loved Close Encounters, Star Wars, even Alien. But ET was always her favorite and I always thought it was because it was the only Alien themed movie that was genuinely as sweet as she was. Thanks for the dose of memories. I haven't seen ET in far too long. Not since before grandma passed away. I'm gonna watch it this weekend

Patrick Wheeler

Heads up there is a bug on the last video linking to Nebula and this one where clicking "Sign in to Nebula" reloads the page for me rather than going to the video on Nebula.

John Rovell

Your videos are always genuinely informative and entertaining. You are truly a master at what you do!

Arielle Lyons

ok i have two ET-related things i have to brag about since it’s relevant- 1. i saw john williams conduct the cleveland orchestra last month (still can’t believe that was a real thing i saw) and he did conduct the ET score and it was fucking fantastic. 2. i had to take marketing last year and my professor was apparently on the marketing team for Hershey when ET was in production and was responsible for the Reese’s Pieces thing and apparently they were pretty new at the time and put them in the movie to get the word out and i guess it worked??

Mr. Grahf

Is it weird that to me the movie that I've seen most recently that engages in the same sincerity as ET would probably have to be RRR? The movie covers a lot of bases, but it does it all with such earnestness and with a lack of the "wink wink nudge nudge" style that's become so ubiquitous throughout movies these days.

Josie Cakes

Wow! I often forget that ET was one of the first full length movies I ever saw, as I was maybe 4 years old at the time. (Circa 1989) I remember it had a huge effect on me, and the experience was really emotional. It was like someone took a lens and saw what it was like to see the world as I did. Small things, inconsequential objects, all feeling very tangible and important as part of every day life. It really captured the intense importance of love and connection, especially when someone really saw you as a person and not just a kid. I remember for years telling people it was my favorite movie until I hit the age of about 7 or 8. Weird how you resurrected that memory for me. Totally explains why Iron Giant is my favorite animated film, now. Never made that connection before. Thank you for making this and warming my heart a little 💕

Will Donahue

Idk if this is a hot take, but I feel like How to Train Your Dragon is the best "Boy and his X" story ever.

Nick Oswalt

This came at the perfect time for me! I recently watched both Totoro and ET one after the other for the first time in a looooong time and it was such a delight. Just a Lil Guy and Big Fluffy Friend are two of my favorites. What a treasure both of them are!

Tim Butler

Thanks for making this! I’ve always kinda disliked “a boy and his [x]” plots. Free Willy, The Iron Giant, Doug’s First Movie, ET; they all kinda take up the same place in my head of stories I don’t really enjoy, regardless of quality (high or low). Because of this, I never really dug into it, but now going through the plot, thematic elements, and hearing all the history of it was super interesting!!

Scarlett Dale Woodall

Great essay! I remember not getting this one as a kid. Where were the bad aliens? My already militarized brain was waiting for the other side to show up. And also,where was Harrison Ford? I thought the friendship was gonna be the first act. But of course an emotional bond can be a whole movie. It's a small story,yet a cosmic story.

Addie

THANK YOU for pointing out how terrible of an addition Iron Giant was to Ready Player One! That was the exact reason why i didn't see that movie. I got so pissed seeing a very obvious anti-gun, anti-war character used as nothing but a weapon in the trailer.

SM Hillman

I did see it as a kid (Gen X here for context) and was bored by it. I do remember that the first time I saw it was on a bootleg VHS tape our neighborhood Rental place lent us because there were some rumors that ET would be many more years before it came out on tape. But I never understood the appeal. I appreciate that 99% of the human race disagrees with me, however.

SwordAtSea-Hayley

i recently saw a clip of drew barrymore saying she thought E.T. was real so they had someone act the puppet with her off camera which was pretty sweet and made me want to watch it. because i've seen clips but unabashed sincerity is what i am missing at the moment-- you're right about films needing irony to funciton nowadays, or some joke, or quip, and i am so tired. i should watch E.T.

Mister CPU

I saw ET first run and liked it as a sci-fi film. However, other people added a whole other layer to the movie about ET coming back to life that really creeped me out.

Jahames

"It’s been 40 years since Steven Spielberg’s E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was released" Nuh-uh, nope, no, no no, nope, nah, nope, no... I refuse. I refuse to believe that.

maladendron

oh my god i just got the et/ampersand thing

Tommy Esson

I think of ET in the same way as Beauty and the Beast. I know only the beginnings are super eerie, but that's where my mind immediately returns.

trainboy

Pretty sure the plural of "Back to the Future" is "Backs to the Future" not "Back to the Futures"

John Fischer

Needed this. Thank you.

Scarlett Dale Woodall

Starts to pop up,then the video vanishes on me.

dirtside

I saw ET as a little kid and don't really remember it, but I never had any fondness for it. I don't find it creepy nor do I love it; it's just something that didn't land with me.

Bryan Cybershaman(X) Logie

Oh, you'd KNOW if you've seen it. 😜 Seriously though, if you were a child of "I'll be back" and "there can be only one", then you'll be fine if you don't see it again. 😉 However, it might be worth it to watch (the unaltered one, that is) just because it was such a monumental event in movie-going history. I don't know. You'll probably still be fine. Maybe... 🙄 LOL! 😉 😎🤘☮️

Jane Mahoney

I've never seen ET in its entirety because I was terrified of him as a kid, but you did a great job of making me want to give this movie a second chance (especially because I'm a huge cornball who CRAVES emotional sincerity in the media I consume; I'm so sick of how almost everything nowadays is wrapped in a million layers of winky-wink meta irony). <3

Bryan Cybershaman(X) Logie

This is the BEST Christmas, E-VARRR! 😉 Thank you so much! 😃☮️❤️🌈

Twippit

Excellent piece. Thanks, Lindsay!

Connla Lyons

I actually dont know if I've seen ET. it came out 3 years before I was born and I watched a lot of films with my family as a child so I might have seen it while I was super young, but I also might not have but the film was such a presence in media I might have tricked myself into assuming I've seen it (I know this is 100% the case with close encounters and also field of dreams. I thought I had seen it because I knew the whole communication scene and the "if you build it they will come", but again both were parodied a lot in the early 90s) But ET is hard because I am 60% sure I've seen it, but also I might simply have not. It doesnt help that by the age of 4 my older sister decided that I was old enough to watch Highlander and terminator etc with her, so my memory of childhood films is heavily mixed in with a bunch of obviously not for kids action and horror films. So ET gets lost in the fuzz. And I've never revisited ET. The drama over the 'walkie talkies' kept me away when it went to dvd and I didnt know Spielberg reversed that. I guess my lack of interest in revisiting it is the biggest indicator I probably didnt see it as a kid.

Christine D

Ahh, this video felt like a perfect holiday gift. Thank you!

Rich Kee

I'd forgotten how eerie the first act of ET is because it's one of those movies that's on TV all the time and I can't not watch if it's on so I've seen the ending dozens of times but the beginning maybe two or three times tops. And no matter how old and cynical I get I cry every single time. I can't imagine what watching this in 1982 must have been like.

Pete Langhelt

Video doesn't work for me?

Alexander

I saw “A Boy and his Dog” when I was in high school and I remember loving it. But then, I was an “edgy” teen. I don’t know what I’d think about it now.

Yoav Rahm

I did actually see a Boyand His Dog, I'd agree I wouldn't call it good, but I did think it was interesting and mildly entertaining Especially that ending

Brad

"This was probably the only VHS in your house..." Guilty as charged. I am, indeed, "above a certain age." Did I wear E.T.-branded Buster Brown sneakers in first grade? Yes. Would I not see the actual movie until receiving that VHS tape, many years later? Also yes.

Shannon

This is my favorite Christmas gift, thank you Lindsay. And Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Katie C

Shockingly it did work for me, despite the fact that i was never able to watch the lotr vid with my patreon. I didn't do anything different this time

Tony M Parker

"Don't Google it." Too late.

Jessica

"In this essay, I will..." is a pretty common turn of phrase! It is typically followed up by nothing but the colloquial expectation is that the preceding sentence is something the individual strongly believes.

Adam Dudzinski

Love to see more videos from you. Just wonder if either i don't get a "cut sentence short" joke or if there's something that was supposed to get cut, right after mentioning John Williams is the best composer of all time, there's a sentence like "in this video essay..." but it feels like an editing fragment because it just suddenly changes topic and doesn't really follow.