E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary Edition

While director Steven Spielberg has sometimes termed his blockbuster hit E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial a loose sequel to his similarly themed Close Encounters of the Third Kind, that notion only underscores the breadth of John Williams's talents as a composer and tempts the listener to consider this score a sort of second, more nakedly emotional movement to his CE3K music. As in his epic Star Wars work, the musical touchstone is early-20th-century Russian romanticism, a link that becomes even clearer with the restoration of three fragile, largely atmospheric cues ("Main Titles," "Meeting E.T.," and "E.T.'s New Home"). While Williams has often suffered odd accusations of emotional manipulation--which is, after all, precisely the job of a film composer--his E.T. music is still some of his most compelling, recalling Herrmann's delicate, pastoral touch on The Magnificent Ambersons in its first half, then steadily ratcheting up the tension as the score's insistent brass motif intrudes ever more ominously. Two decades later, the 15-minute sweep of "Escape/Chase/Saying Goodbye" remains one of Williams's most powerful and memorable film-music achievements. This edition also features an illustrated booklet with a new interview with the composer. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Happy Oooops

I meant to buy the movie and bought this in error. However, as a fan, I listened to it and liked it. I will keep it in my car instead of in my DVD collection. December 30, 2007

Different "Goodbye" cue at the end...

This is a fantastic expanded edition of John Williams' last great score. This is his peak, folks, and it is one to carry with you forever.

But why the four stars, you may ask? Because the "Goodbye" cue at the end is not as it is in the film. A few bars during Elliot's goodbye to E.T. are different; the sweeping strings suddenly drop out and the woodwinds take over, losing all emotional impact. I suspect this is how the scene was originally composed, but Williams felt that it wasn't working for him so SS told him to write it the way he felt it would work best, and that he (SS) would go back to the cutting rooms and cut it to match. But that's not how it is in the film and it's really disappointing to get all the way through this glorious score just to have the dramatic power sucked out in the end. It's nice, but it isn't what's in the film. I will keep a death grip on my original album release, since that has the correct ending to "Adventure on Earth."

I've always held this score close to my heart, along with Jaws and CE3K. I remember listening to it, as a teenager, on a Walkman, while walking through the woods at night. My father was burning some brush down in the stand of trees at the bottom of our hill and just as the ominous theme at the beginning welled up in my earphones, the dark trees before me lit up with the orange glow of firelight. It was an amazing, magical and scary coincidence and I'll always associate it with the original album (since that's all that was available at the time!).

Get this disc for the body of the score, but get the original album (if you can find it) for the original ending. It is emotionally and artistically more satisfying. November 19, 2007

This Soundtrack is Great !

Through watching this film I felt that the music made it what it is. I only just decided to listen to the soundtrack a few days ago and i think it is interesting and varied. I have to say that the older edition of the soundtrack is in my view the better, in comparison with the remastered version. I really have enjoyed listening to the soundtrack i feel that John williams captures the character of the film with just the right approach. Many people will know of this theme through the famed grandeur of the Flying scene. However my preferred tracks are the ones which have captured that relationship between E.T. and Elliot. When i listen to Track 16 E.T. is alive it always seems to make me emotional, I really adore the way that the melody of the strings glides. I also really enjoyed the end credits , mainly because of the piano solo, which i think its utterly amazing! August 1, 2006

Heartfelt, Adventurous, Purely Magnificent

John Williams, the best composer of our generation (and a personal favorite), creates one of the greatest film scores ever. He won a well-deserved Academy Award for this magical feast for the ears. The beauty is that this score represents so many genres of film score, inlcuding adventure, romance, mystery, and many more. I would have to say that the last track in this Anniversary Edition, entiteled 'End Credits,' is by far one of John Williams' most emotional and moving pieces of music. The start of the track is of a piano, but the piano is played so perfectly well and is paced and toned more of a heartfelt tune. This is truly the best part of the track, and is a perfect ending for the magical film, directed by Steven Spielberg. It satisfies the audience. Then, Williams gives the tone of the "Flying Theme' of the film and brings us adventure and excitement, beautifully composed with violins and trumpets. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial is flawless, and John Williams at his best. June 1, 2006

Splendid remastering of wonderful music

First of all, I always wondered why this recording, dating from 1981 - when digital recording was already possible - was being done with analogue machinery. Anyhow, one could (almost) not tell the age of the original recording when listening to this remastered version: so much more of orchestral detail has become apparent that could hardly be heard on the original LP, really opening up the sound-picture, with very little noticable tape hiss.
Firstly, some reflections concerning the film and the music. I must confess, that after seeing this movie as a child, my soul had been affected in ways which I cannot fathom. This may all sound pathetic, but it is true nonetheless. In certain ways, this tragic story of frienship and ultimate loss (we will all die ultimately, however strong the connections between befriended souls may be) 'changed' me as a person, from then on looking out into the world with a somewhat shifted focus. In a more intellectual kind of way I kind of detest this motion picture, with its (over-)emotional sentimentalities, so perfectly and grandiloquently translated into music by maestro Williams. But at the same time it resonates with the strings of the heart (mostly John Williams to blame?) and its deep truths cannot be ignored. The little boy in me screaming: why the hell could these two soulmates NOT be united! Why would these two friends have to be separated! Why did Steven Spielberg have to be so cruel! Well, because life is not so soothingly simple, and because in the end, we all have to go our separate destinies, while our hearts always ring out to the other, maybe only after passing the 'Big Doorway to Another World' being reunited in the light of 'Eternal Love' ;-)
Anyhow, the music in itself is pure, vintage Williams in its ability to weave veritable webs of orchestral colors and emotions. Indeed, where would ET be without John Williams! As Steven Spielberg himself once said: John Williams IS ET!
I personally feel no need to ever again watch the movie itself though (lodged as it already is in my memory), but I do regularly listen to some of the music, evoking for me all the necessary images, emotions and sensibilities from the film. John Williams to me remains maybe the greatest film music composer, and his music for ET remains one of my all time favorites (beside his music for Jurassic Park, which I consider to be even better). January 17, 2006

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