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

Often when talking amongst friends and collegues about film classics, someone will pipe up and say 'no i haven't seen Gone with the Wind" or "i never saw Ben-Hur", but c'mon! what planet are they from if they've never seen E.T - The Extra Terrestrial???. Most people i know (other than thinking i'm crazy :) have seen the original version of ET, given at the time of it's original release,, when many similarly ages friens it was THE film to see and well, didn't everyone see it? Apparently not, or at least so a friend of mine recently tells me. (i know i know :)

At the time of E.T's early eighties release, it was really only just "post Star wars" and movie effects where still "hand made". ET being essentially 1 big special effect, and also appeared frequently within his self titled film. Due to the limitations of FX and computer technology back in those days, E.T wasn't what the director (Steven Speilberg) ultimately wanted. Come 20 years later, Mr Speilberg gets his change to revisit and revamp his now film classic. Additional scenes were added, and ET effects where enchanced, along with the soundtrack to give us ET The Extra Terrestrial 20th Anniversay Re-Release.

As the Story still goes. A young Boy Elliott (Henry Thomas) finds an adandoned alien in his backyard. The two become good friends and with this aid of Elliott's Brother Michael(Robert MacNaughton) and sister Gertie(a totally adorable Drew Barrymore) keep ET safe and hidden from the world..and their mum Mary (Dee Wallace).
The "authories" are privy to the alien landing, and are soon on the hunt for an alien being.

So how does this DVD Scrub Up?

VIDEO
ET has been fully restored for the re-release and issued on DVD as Anamorphic Widescreen. Given it's over 20 years old there are source problems with the material used, but it looking pretty spiffy, just the same.
The DVD looks a little dated, but colours are suprisingly vibrant. Grain is evident, but is relatively unobtrusive, with only a few scenes showing signs of degradation. It is also really only the "grainy" scenes that show signs of MPEG artifacting, which is also very light, so is essentially not much of a distraction.
Sharpness is quite good, but looks a little pushed, and so there is minor edge enhancement, as well as some light alaising throughout.

Spread over 2 layers of an RSDL DVD, the layer change occurs at 55:19 on a still shot of Elliott, just after ET comes out of the closet dressed in drag :)

AUDIO
For the re-release the audio was digitally remastered into Dolby Digital EX. The DVD is also sourced from this remastered track and so we have a choice of a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX track (384kbps) (English and Dutch) OR a DTS-ES 6.1 Matrix track (754kbps) (english only). While it is commonplace for a Dolby EX track on a DVD NOT to contain the auto-detect flag, it ISN'T for DTS-ES, so i was somewhat surpised that one wasn't included on this DVD. It's no biggy really, but given the menus make no mention of the "extra channel" being in either audio track, it may go unnoticed by some. Also, The Audio Tracks can ONLY be selected via the menu, your remote AUDIO button selection has unfortunately been locked out :(

Again, you're hearing 20+ years sound, and so there is a dated sound on offer. Admittedly, it's been very well cleaned up for the 21st century, with a beautifully presented music score from John Williams.
Dialague is relatively clear and so is intellegable (sans the opening chase sequence which i needed subitles to understand), but the soundtracks on a whole sound a bit thin. (even though the bass/LFE has been beefed up a little)

Though neither audio track is reference quality, the DTS edges out the Dolby Track with a slightly more refined quality to the sound. Being a very musically driven soundtrack, John Williams lets fly on more than a few occasions and each time the stringed instruments, which are very dominent here, are far less shrill on the DTS track.

As for the "6.1" factor of this DVD, it's not all that impressive. There are a few moments where the surround back channel kicks in (like the spaceship flying overhead toward the beginning). Ambience from ALL 3 surround channels is very low overall, which is a pity.

EXTRAS
Coming as a 2 disc set, the bulk of the extras are contained on disk 2. (all of which are 4x3 formatted with Dolby 2.0 sound and 17 subtitle languages

DISC 1 -

Introduction by Steven Speilberg :- Mr Speilberg gives a quick intro to the 20th Anniversary Edition of the film.
John Williams Live at theShire :- (only accessable once you've played the Speilberg intro) This is a first for DVD. For the films re-release premiere, ET was screened at the Shine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The movie's original music score was TAKEN OUT of the audio track (leaving only the dialogue and FX sounds). John Williams got an orchestra together and played the music LIVE on stage as the film played up on the screen. This Audio track has been included on the DVD for all to here in Dolby Digital 5.1 (the base track is from the new EX mix). When this track first plays, you will here the crowd cheering as the opening credits role, but as the film progresses they quiten down to a low level of laughter, etc. Musically it is essentially newer sounding to either Dolby or DTS tracks mentioned above, so you very well may want to play only this track.

DISC 2 -

Evolution and Creation of ET :- Looking back at the making of ET with Mr Speilberg and Co. runs a whopping 50 minutes
The Reunion :- 20 years after the fact, Steven Speilberg, Kathleen Kennedy and the whole main crew come together for a group interview. runs 18 minutes.
The Music of John Williams :- 10 minute interview with Mr Williams on scoring E.T.
20th Anniversary Premiere :- 18minutes behind the scenes in getting the auditorium ready to screen ET with the live orchestra, as well as on the day footage.
Designs, Photos and Marketing :- Umpteen art sketches, publicity stills, etc of E.T.
Trailers - for ET :- The ET Game and the Back to the Future DVD
DVD-ROM :- There's a few goodies here as well, with ET PC wallpapers, Printable B&W piccys, ET Screen Saver and a few ET Games (some require shockwave to work).

Sadly, Universal Australia have not included the Original Theatrical Cut as part of this 2 Disc release, as done in the USA with their 2 disc Release.
Given the nature of DVD, there'd be WAY too much data to cram onto the PAL DVDs versions anyway, but given Mr Speilberg's desire to make sure the original is not forgetten, it's disappointing to see it missing
. DVD wise, the piccy looks a treat, the audio is pretty good, and the extras plentiful..

DVD Ratings

PICTURE QUALITY	8/10 surprisingly very good for it's age
SOUND QUALITY - Dolby	7/10 thin, but cleaned up nicely (add 1 point for the Live version)
6.1 WOW FACTOR	4/10 not much in the surround department
SOUND QUALITY - DTS	8/10 a richer, more detailed sound
6.1 WOW FACTOR	4/10 not much in the surround department
EXTRAS	7/10 good collection on offer

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