MovieChat Forums > E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Discussion > Anyone remember the Special Edition?!

Anyone remember the Special Edition?!

posted 8 years ago by Hendry_William_French
16 replies | jump to latest

It's gone forever now, but it still mystifies me why they did it. Was it George Lucas' idea to change it? It seems to me that it was inspired by the star wars special editions with not only the CGI replacing perfectly good practical effects shots, but going all PC and taking out the guns so they wouldn't scare pussies just like Han shooting Greedo. George Lucas is close to Spielberg, so maybe he got into his head and convinced him do it while Steven just acquiesced? Or did Spielberg just temporarily lose his $hit? I mean, the special edition had Lucas's signature post 80s golden turd touch all over it.

Why would they make changes to the visual effects of a film like ET that had already won an academy award for SFX when it came out? The original special effects still look tremendous so it seems completely ridiculous to mess with the craftsmanship and dedication of many people like that. I'm just glad Spielberg saw the light, but unfortunately Lucas hasn't with Star Wars.

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[–] ck100 8 years ago

It was Spielberg's idea although I'm sure Lucas had some influence on him. Spielberg has said he wasn't ever 100% satisfied with some of the special effects so he had them changed.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Spielberg has said he wasn't ever 100% satisfied with some of the special effects so he had them changed.

I loved this line said by Spielberg about the special editon:

"I realized what I had done was I had robbed people who loved E.T. of their memories of E.T"

It's a shame Lucas doesn't share the same mindset and come to his senses as well. This idea of going back and changing films seemed to be a weird habit in the late 90s/early 00s. I'm glad other directors didn't start altering their stuff. I'd hate a special edition of Spaceballs with a CGI Pizza The Hutt, or one of Back to the Future with a CGI Delorean.

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[–] ck100 8 years ago

Well Ridley Scott made changes to Blade Runner for The Final Cut, but that was done discreetly.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Did he also make the original cut available, though? I think if you change something but at least give the fans an option to choose what version they'd like to see, then that's fine.

Also, think of the original Terminator. James Cameron is an sfx aficionado, and he could easily have gone back and put a CGI endoskeleton over the stop motion one at the end of the movie, but he didn't. I like when film makers accept their movies and their original sfx as part of its charm.

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[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ck100 8 years ago

Did he also make the original cut available, though? I think if you change something but at least give the fans an option to choose what version they'd like to see, then that's fine.

The original cut is available on Blu-ray. It's part of that huge Blade Runner set as far as I know.

[–] jpowell180 8 years ago

The changes for the Final Cut of Blade Runner are different; none of the FX are messed with - Ridley did use CGI to put Joanna Cassidy's face on her stunt double - not entirely unreasonable - and the change in Roy Batty's line, "I want more life, F___er" to "Father" was actually a correction; Rutger Hauer actually did say "Father" when the scene was shot; it was the studio who wanted to dub it over with the F-bomb to make it more "edgy".

These changes plus adding some scenes that originally had to be cut due to run time can hardly compare to the desecration that Lucas did to the original Star Wars Trilogy.

[–] Mr-Fusion 8 years ago

PC revisionism has been offered by people over the years (by people, I mean fans, usually this board, etc.). Possibly in response to September 11th, I'm not sure (this one has also been bandied, but I've never heard Spielberg comment on the actual reason). Again, this is all conjecture.

As to why he'd change Oscar-winning effects . . . it's not the first time he's rereleased a beloved movie (Close Encounters, now with new footage!), and it's possible that the Star Wars Special Editions™ convinced him there's a modern day market for this. Clearly, he wanted to do something to commemorate the 20th, and this would've (should've) been a no-brainer. Nostalgia + new CGI = Asses In Seats!

But it turned out to be a mistake, and at least Spielberg (lookin' at you, Lucas!) learned his lesson.

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Well, forget it! I'm not doing it! This episode was badly written!

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Clearly, he wanted to do something to commemorate the 20th, and this would've (should've) been a no-brainer. Nostalgia + new CGI = Asses In Seats!

Good point, Fusion. That would've got people curious and given them something new. It made sense in some ways, but at least he didn't try to wipe the 1982 version from existence.

But it turned out to be a mistake, and at least Spielberg (lookin' at you, Lucas!) learned his lesson



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[–] ck100 8 years ago

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5229907

Just click the link and scroll down.

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

Thanks, ck. I'm a big fan of movie-censorship.com, go on there a lot. It's amazing how much stuff they changed, they really turned that movie upside down with the special edition. For Spielberg just to jettison it altogether shows you something.

I like added/deleted footage, but not when it's put back into the film. The theatrical cut is always the one and only, imo. Deleted footage should just be something you view as special features on the dvd.

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[–] Mr-Fusion 8 years ago

I didn't know about that site. Thanks for the link. Also ...

alternative footage:
Time Index TE: 18.37
Time Index SE: 18.47

In the old edition, the moon is visible, in the special edition it is not.
No time difference

Why the hell would you erase the moon?!

---
Well, forget it! I'm not doing it! This episode was badly written!

[–] ck100 8 years ago

Here's a comparison between the Puppet E.T. and the CGI E.T. This mainly applies to the ending with E.T. touching Elliot with his finger, the close-up on E.T.'s face, and E.T. picking up the flower pot.

Theatrical Version:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IrZEGgweHM

Special Edition:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75M1XXEZciU

[–] Hendry_William_French 8 years ago

CGI ET just looks all kinds of wrong.

I also found this comparison shot of the end bike flying scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWx9te5kro4

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[–] ebright99 8 years ago

For the record the ET Special Edition was put together for the 20th anniversary. Four or five years earlier the Star Wars SE's had made a boat load. As had a rerelease of The Exorcist with alterations.

For ET the changes were made and there was a premiere in Hollywood, a wide theatrical release, and the debut on DVD. All for money. Spielberg later came to his senses.

[–] ItsEddieHaskellBeyotch 8 years ago

Most of the CG added sucked but some of the subtle things I didn't mind so much like the mistake of how his hand was positioned at the end or the position of the moon, the shot of E.T. looking over the cityscape, etc. Spielberg should have just kept it cosmetic instead of going overboard.

When theres no more room in Hollywood, remakes shall walk the Earth.