8.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A young boy befriends a friendly alien and tries to help it escape Earth and return to his home world.
Starring: Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, Drew BarrymoreAdventure | 100% |
Family | 70% |
Sci-Fi | 53% |
Fantasy | 49% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS:X
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS 2.0
French: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Spanish: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, French, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy
DVD copy
Mobile features
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Five years after the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray (which was also available as a 4K combo pack and a Limited Edition with a bonus CD), Universal reminded us how old we're getting with a recent 40th Anniversary Edition of Steven Spielberg's seminal E.T., which just so happens to be the first movie yours truly watched in a theater. Core memory unlocked. Highlights are limited to a pair of new featurettes and, for the separate 4K edition, a better encoded 2160p/HDR10 transfer. This Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is basically identical to the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray but at least retains both new extras. For the record, this brings the total number of E.T. home video releases to half a bajillion.
As mentioned earlier, this 1080p transfer of E.T. looks essentially the same as Universal's 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray, which was in turn a downsampled SDR version of a then-new 4K remaster. It's a competent presentation though it shows its age in several spots, with a few somewhat rough encoding patches that reveal compression shortcomings on flat, darker values (skies and the like) and more visually complex scenes. Therefore, it'll play decently enough on small to mid-sized displays, and anyone all that picky about video quality has likely moved on to 4K by now.
Similarly, the included audio options are identical to both earlier 35th Anniversary 4K/Blu-ray editions and include a full-bodied DTS:X remix as well as the original theatrical 2.0 audio in DTS 2.0 Surround (447 Kbps). While a lossless 2.0 track would've been a nice touch, it's nice that fans have both options to choose from.
This two-disc release ships in a keepcase with Elliott-free cover art and a Digital Copy code. Two brand-new extras are detailed below; otherwise, everything here is identical to the 35th Anniversary edition, which in turn ported over extras dating back to the 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and much earlier home video releases.
Steven Spielberg's E.T. is a perennial family favorite around these parts, a truly classic family film that holds up thanks to its superb craftsmanship and broad, enduing appeal. Universal's 40th Anniversary Blu-ray is identical in A/V quality to the last Blu-ray edition and only features two new extras. It's a decent jumping-on point for fans uninterested in 4K and technically the best HD package available, but I'd personally wait for something better to come along.
Anniversary Edition
1982
1982
30th Anniversary Limited Edition
1982
100th Anniversary Collector's Series
1982
30th Anniversary Edition | with Plush Toy
1982
30th Anniversary Limited Amazon Exclusive Spaceship Edition
1982
Academy Award Series
1982
35th Anniversary
1982
1982
35th Anniversary Limited Edition
1982
1982
1982
1982
Limited Edition Steelbook
1982
40th Anniversary Edition
1982
40th Anniversary Limited Edition Gift Set
1982
40th Anniversary Edition
1982
40th Anniversary Limited Edition Gift Set
1982
35th Anniversary / Glow in the Dark Slipcover
1982
(Still not reliable for this title)
2014
2018
2016
The Star Beast / Wild Blue Yonder / The Giggle
2023
2016
2009
2007
2009
2014
2010
30th Anniversary Edition | US Version
1984
2015
2018
2019
2016
10th Anniversary Collector's Edition | Limited
2014
2010
2016
2014
Collector's Edition
1988