If you ask IMDb viewers, then the answer is yes. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial was indeed better than eventual Oscar winner Gandhi. If I remember correctly, our Film Review Admin Jeremy Welsch launched his tMF Top 5 lists with a feature on Best Oscar Losers and he put Spielberg's film at Number 3.

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Says Jeremy:

At the time, E.T. was Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece. 25 years later it still might be. Gandhi may have featured a great impression, er…, performance by Sir Ben Kingsley, but E.T. has withstood the test of time. It is the science fiction movie for non-science fiction fans. A fantastic story dealing with the simple theme of loss, this was the first film I remember seeing that actually moved me to tears.

Richard Attenborough, the director of Gandhi, recently admitted that his film was inferior to Spielberg's 1982 box office hit:

Steven Spielberg film ET: The Extra-Terrestrial was a better film than Gandhi and should have won more Oscars, its director Richard Attenborough says. His biopic about Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi won eight awards, including best director and picture, at the 1983 Oscars compared with ET's four. Lord Attenborough told BBC Radio Five Live Gandhi was a wonderful story "because it's about a wonderful man".

ET was "extraordinary" as it "depended on the concept of cinema," he added. In an interview with presenter Simon Mayo, Lord Attenborough said ET was "an infinitely more creative and fundamental piece of cinema" than Gandhi.

I think Gandhi is a great film because it depicts a great man, the one who stood up to the might of the British Empire and introduced the so-called bloodless revolution, and while that term may not be entirely accurate, it inspired other countries to rebel against their rulers and against tyranny.

ET, The Extra-Terrestrial is a great movie because it says something about us, about humanity in general, and what might happen when we are faced with the possibility of encountering an alien life - will we take care of the alien and offer our welcome or are we going to panic and ask the government to take care of these so-called 'little green men'?

But which is the better film? Such a hard question to answer because both deserved to be winners in my book.

What's on your mind? How about you? Do you think E.T. should have won the Oscar Best Picture over Gandhi?

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Comments (2)

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just saw ET for the first time in many years today. Cannot agree that it was a great movie. Pastiche of special effects, science fiction commonplaces and Walt Disney. Too many pointless long reaction shots. Central conflict of "big government out to get you" not carried through in any logical way. The heavily costumed bad guys who invade their house all turn out to have vaguely good intentions and are likable guys.....until they need to turn into bad guys again for the chase scene. Seems like a kids' movie to me. Was innovative for the time, but now would be a Disney special. John Williams score was good, but nothing special.

The key motif and the flashlight/spotlight motif were repeated ad nauseum. Yes, if E.T. were captured, he would become a prisoner, we get it. Stop pounding in your point.

This was a sweet movie that seemed innovative at the time and does succeed at protraying the love of a 10-12 boy for someone outside of his family. Reminds me of Lassie.

Rosalie Novara , October 07, 2008

ET should have won

I am biased because I have always thought that ET was the greatest movie I have ever seen. I am not a sci-fi geek. Attenborough is dead on when he said that ET spoke to the humananity in us all.

I too just saw the movie recently, I think HBO has the movie running this month. After all these years, I still had the same emotional experience that I did when I was high school. Thank you Mr. Spielberg for making this movie!

Jay Iacobucci , October 19, 2008

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