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    WSR Detailed DVD Review
    E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
    2-Disc Limited Collector
    Genre: Fantasy Adventure

    Reviewed In Issue 67 (Dec 2002) Of Widescreen Review®

    Stars:
    Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew Barrymore & Henry Thomas

    WSR Review Scores
    WSR Picture Rating: 4
    DD Sound Rating: 3.5
    DTS Sound Rating: 4
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score: 5
    Internet Links
    http://www.et20.com
    http://www.universalstudios.com/home
    Special Features
    Following an introduction by Steven Spielberg (which, oddly, introduces the supplements rather than the feature film), special features on the two-disc Limited Edition begin on Disc One with the fascinating 18-minute featurette "Live At The Shrine! John Williams And The World Premiere Of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial: The 20th Anniversary," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how composer John Williams conducted a live orchestra (The Recording Arts Orchestra Of Los Angeles) to a premiere screening of the 20th Anniversary edition of the movie before a live audience on March 16, 2002. That said, a great bonus feature is this live music performance as an audio option for the 20th Anniversary Edition, complete with audience participation (the crowd cheers during the opening credits). Finally, there is a Space Exploration interactive feature, presumably for kids, in which E.T. tells you about the planets of the solar system. Disc Two includes the 1982 original theatrical version of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" (yes, the men carry guns, and E.T. is just a light on a track when he


     DVD General Information

    (Studio/Distributor): Universal Studios Home Video
    (Catalog Number): 22257
    (MPAA Rating): PG
    (Rating Reason):

    		 Language and mild thematic elements
    (Retail Price): $29.98
    (DVD Type): Two DVD-9 Discs
    (Widescreen Edition): Yes
    (Full Screen Edition): No
    (Anamorphic Widescreen): Yes
    (Running Time In Minutes): 120/115
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Regional Coding): 1
    (Theatrical Year): 1982/2002
    (Theatrical Release): Yes
    (Direct-To-Video Release): No
    (DVD Release Date): 10/22/02
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

     Credits Information

    (Director): Steven Spielberg
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      DVD Picture Information

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    (Measured DVD Letterbox Aspect Ratio): Subscribe Now!

      DVD Sound Information

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      WSR Narrative Review
    Special Notes:
    Also available in a full screen edition and in a three-disc version with additional supplements.

    Story Synopsis:
    "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" remains today an extraordinary film, one that will warm your heart with its wondrous entertainment and magic. Its story about human values, understanding, compassion, and love is timeless as told through the perspective of a young boy

    DVD Picture:
    For both the original theatrical version and the 20th Anniversary editions, the anamorphically enhanced 1.85:1 DVDs exhibit impressively restored images. Both versions appear virtually identical, but scenes with the addition of enhanced special effects can appear slightly cleaner than the original and with higher contrast. For example, upon side-by-side comparison, there is a shot at the end of Chapter 2 that shows the men searching for E.T. with a cityscape in the background that has been enhanced with a completely new cityscape that gives the illusion of higher contrast and deeper, smoother blacks. Between Chapters 5 and 6, as Elliott waits for E.T. to emerge from the shed, upon close inspection, it is noticed that the night sky has been digitally enhanced for the appropriate placement of the moon in the sky. Yet, scenes that are left in their original form appear identical. The picture only rarely looks

    Soundtrack:
    The Surround EX-encoded remastered soundtracks in Dolby Digital and DTS (included for both the 20th anniversary and original versions on both the Two-Disc Limited Edition and Three-Disc Ultimate Gift Set, except in the case of the original

    This Disc Contains The Following WSR-Rated Superb Qualities:
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