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Nordling here.
E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL is my favorite movie of all time. It likely always will be. That's not to say that I'm closing myself off from other movie experiences, but too many personal things are wrapped up in E.T. for me to think otherwise. If you're curious, you can read my take on it from back in 2007, when we did a 1982 retrospective - it's all right here.
This weekend, the Alamo Drafthouse is playing E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL as part of its Summer of 1982 Celebration. 30 years ago this weekend, my life changed. Honestly, it changed before that, when I saw JAWS for the first time, but that weekend solidified it for me - if I did nothing else in life, I was going to figure out how to turn my love of movies into something more. I'm obsessed with movies, and it's due to the work of Steven Spielberg.
I have no idea if any special guests are coming to Austin's screening on Friday, and I don't care - seeing my favorite film of all time, in my favorite movie theater of all time, is something I cannot pass up. I'll be in Austin on Friday, savoring every last moment of this movie that means more to me than almost anything, with the exception of my family. I'll likely cry - hell, it's a certainty, because I always cry at E.T. The day I stop crying at it is a day I hope never comes.
Texas, check your local Alamo Drafthouse listings - it's playing at both the Houston and Austin locations, and leave your cynicism at the door. If you've never seen this movie, you should make an effort to go and see it in the theater. E.T. is childhood writ large and I can't wait to see it again.
There's one thing that my E.T. review did for me, something that I'll cherish forever and it's something I have hanging at my office at work. It's gotten me through some rough patches (and when Talkback gets particularly nasty, I look up at it and smile), and I'll probably have the damn thing buried with me. Thank you, Mr. Spielberg, for the movie that's changed my life forever. Hope to see you all this weekend.
