E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Universal, 1982) focuses on the symbiotic relationship of a young boy, Elliott, and a stranded-on-earth alien, E.T. The middle-child of a divorced mother with no adult role models in his life, Elliott is in need of a good friend. His brother and his friends are too old to bother with him and his sister, Gertie, is too young to relate to him. On earth for a botany expedition, E.T.’s co-aliens abandon him when they risk being captured by U.S. authorities. E.T. flees. Back home, Elliott is posted by his brother in the yard waiting for a pizza delivery. On his way to the house with the pizza, he hears sounds coming from the tool shed in the backyard. He thinks it must be the family dog, Harvey, so he tosses his ball into the shed. The ball is playfully tossed back to Elliott, who, terrified, runs back into the house. It is our first example of the humanized qualities of E.T. the extra-terrestrial.
Gradually, Elliott and E.T. develop a symbiotic relationship. Throughout this development we are treated to many humanized aspects of the alien. Elliott encounters the alien again and they both shriek in terror, equally scared. E.T. flees again and Elliott uses Reese’s Pieces to try and lure the little alien back. After becoming alienated from his brother and mother for making a callous reference to his dad’s trip to Mexico with another woman, Elliott goes off to bed lonely and isolated. He is awakened by shuffling noises and becomes frozen in terror at the sight of E.T.. E.T. uses his elongated fingers to touch Elliott before placing some Reese’s Pieces on his bed. They have made an exchange of friendship through sharing candy, just as many humans do. Elliott then tries to use hand gestures to speak with the alien, who mimics him. They are mirror images of one another. After this, Elliott becomes sleepy and falls into slumber as E.T. emits a purring sound in imitation of Elliott.
The n...