Disclosure Day is not Steven Spielberg’s first film about the confirmation of alien life, nor is it the first such Spielberg film we’ve discussed on this podcast — that would be Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which we covered a decade ago. But Spielberg’s latest is specifically concerned with whether humanity possesses the empathy to process such a revelation, a question that led us directly to his 1982 classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, about the empathetic link between a 10-year-old boy and an orphaned alien that crash-lands in the forest outside his suburban home. So this week we’re revisiting E.T. to consider how Spielberg, with a crucial assist from Melissa Mathison’s screenplay, navigates the sentimentality of a story that’s all about feelings. Then in Feedback, our recent episode on Babe: Pig in the City prompted a listener to share their own recommendation for an unusually dark kids’ movie. (#529)

Please share your thoughts about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Disclosure Day, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to comments@nextpictureshow.net, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

This episode is presented by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off.

Disclosure Day&nbsp;is not Steven Spielberg&rsquo;s first film about the confirmation of alien life, nor is it the first such Spielberg film we&rsquo;ve discussed on this podcast &mdash; that would be&nbsp;Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which we covered a decade ago. But Spielberg&rsquo;s latest is specifically concerned with whether humanity possesses the empathy to process such a revelation, a question that led us directly to his 1982 classic&nbsp;E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,&nbsp;about the empathetic link between a 10-year-old boy and an orphaned alien that crash-lands in the forest outside his suburban home. So this week we&rsquo;re revisiting&nbsp;E.T.&nbsp;to consider how Spielberg, with a crucial assist from Melissa Mathison&rsquo;s screenplay, navigates the sentimentality of a story that&rsquo;s all about feelings. Then in Feedback, our recent episode on&nbsp;Babe: Pig in the City prompted a listener to share their own recommendation for an unusually dark kids&rsquo; movie. (#529)
Please share your thoughts about&nbsp;E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Disclosure Day, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email or voice memo to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:comments@nextpictureshow.net">comments@nextpictureshow.net</a>, or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.
This episode is presented by⁠&nbsp;<a href="https://www.regmovies.com/join-unlimited" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.regmovies.com/join-unlimited&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782268293033000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0x-kK_FA-4iymQd_spMfQ7">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Regal Unlimited⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>, the all-you-can-watch movie subscription pass that pays for itself in just two visits. Use code NEXTPIC26 for 15% off.

Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen review new and classic movies, offering "affable, insightful film analysis since 2005" (NY Times).

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How Spielberg navigated the sentimentality of a story that’s all about feelings.

Our Aliens, Ourselves Pt. 1 — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/17e4cbdd-d7f8-4d8a-9188-b472002a1cfa/transcript