E.T. The Extra Terrestrial

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

Now that there is word of a re release of E.T., I wanted to see if this time classic release of '96 was lacking something to make that upcoming release a bonus or something to my ever growing collection. From the first look I would have to say no, because you receive ever more the majestic Williams' sound of the '80, a booklet containing a short interview with John Williams and an arsenal of pictures from the movie. And secondly, the score is taking good ground with the sound quality. So, it has apparently to do with missing material but by then, it already has to become a double disc because this one is running just 71 minutes and I can't believe that they will just insert 7 to 9 minutes of missing music. It has to be a collector's edition which will satisfy the fans but I'm happy with what I got (so far, I'll will probably be drooling anyway). Anyway, E.T. The Extra Terrestrial is classic film music, from maestro John Williams from those good periods of time, and without sounding pretentious, a score that is composed between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi will not be missing much of potential. And it doesn't. Perhaps one slight detail is the lack of true interesting material running from tracks 3 to 9 but in the end they serve the film and the purpose, and they serve E.T. in its glory quest towards a majestic sounding finale.

The score of E.T. starts really too good not to start bragging about it, with a mournful cry before the tension starts to build and the fanfares rain with excellence, I never appreciated them as good as now, so to mention that 'Far from Home / E.T. Alone' starts this score good is an understatement. As said before, nothing truly earth shattering happens between tracks 3 and 9, making more the mood and the underscore for various scenes of character development. Track 10 by then shows the first sings of the main theme, with pride in the ever famous (moon / bike sequence) 'The Magic of Halloween'. Then, some more scary music is heard, for instance during the quite frightful entrance of the scientists in 'Searching for E.T.' or its depressing final highlight at the end of 'E.T. is Dying'. Still, its brilliant and relieved statement is discovered in the following track 'E.T. is Alive', also with A.I. Artificial Intelligence sounding underscore. But not a lot of soundtracks can end the way E.T. finishes, with unraveling brilliance in both the 15 minute classic 'Escape / Chase / Saying Goodbye' and the amazing 'End Credits'. No doubt that re hearing those musical moments can put you in heaven without you losing your head over it. It is the final that blesses any classic of its time.

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial may limp on several musical interesting notes, meaning it doesn't offer sensational moments from begin to end, so for some the score might drag a little. But the case is that it accompanies the movie with shine and that it tells the tale more vividly than anyone heard before. Williams and Spielberg have made several undeniable classics together but I think both will pick this friendly tale as their most beloved and best project together, and the fans with it. A collector's edition yes or no, improved sound quality perhaps or just slightly, it is still the driving brilliance that controls the heart of Williams' score and everything is present here to make the score as successive as possible. Don't see the short list of highlights as a hindrance but more that these are simply ten times better than the usual highlight and that counts equal so with Close Encounters of the Third Kind. So what is a classic in general; a score that has potential in making the movie ten times better than before and the music ageless in its sound. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial succeeds in doing it to me each time and without question it will do it to anyone fortunate listening to it from now on.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Far From Home / E.T. Alone (6.49) Excellent Track

2. Bait For E.T. (1.43)

3. The Beginning Of A Friendship (2.50)

4. Toys (3.11)

5. "I'm Keeping Him" (2.18)

6. E.T.'s Powers (2.42)

7. E.T. And Elliot Get Drunk (2.53)

8. Frogs (2.09)

9. At Home (5.37)

10. The Magic Of Halloween (2.52) Excellent Track

11. Sending The Signal (3.57)

12. Searching For E.T. (4.15)

13. Invading Elliot's House (2.22)

14. E.T. Is Dying (2.17)

15. Losing E.T. (2.00)

16. E.T. Is Alive (4.18) Excellent Track

17. Escape / Chase / Saying Goodbye (15.04) Excellent Track

18. End Credits (3.52) Excellent Track

Total Length: 71.23

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===