This Thursday, Movies at Miller, Miller Outdoor Theatre's summer free movie fest will screen one of the greatest alien movies of all time, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial. As many times as we've seen E.T., we can't help turning on the waterworks when E.T. and Elliott say their goodbyes (spoiler alert?). It is one of those movies that has withstood the tests of time. Despite its '80s trappings, there are so many wondrous aspects to this film, it is hard to deny its charm. Even with today's technological advances in CGI and animation, E.T. is as real as it gets.
Art Attack loves a good sci-fi flick, especially ones about aliens. So, we decided to put together a list of our favorite movies about the UFO-flying, Reese's Pieces loving, cat-eating, super-healing, intergalactic species.
In no particular order:
Aliens While we love the original, the second installment of the Alien movies, directed by James Cameron, is absolutely frightening. Unlike the first movie, aliens are intergalactic cockroaches that get everywhere and come out of nowhere. To her credit ,Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, returns with the wisdom and fighting skills she had not had previously. Plus, the parallels between Ripley and the momma alien are spot on.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers Whether Invasions was indeed an allegory for postwar McCarthyism or a reaction to the dumbing down of 1950s society, it is one of the best alien movies ever made. Imagine, Pod People taking over your loved ones, stealing their personalities and turning them into emotionless droids. Although, this is not that far off from our friends who have become obsessed with "Khloe & Lamar," when we think about it.
Starman "Starman" really has it all: John Carpenter directing, a young Jeff Bridges, alien impregnation of a human being and the resurrection of the deer scene!
District 9 In recent years, alien movies have focused on "them" coming down to Earth in an attempt to take over and "us" blasting them back to their dirty planets with our superhero, American ways. "District 9," released in 2009 and produced by Peter Jackson, took the alien theme in a different direction. While the film contains many of your typical alien-movie fare, mystery, evil government plots and illegal experimentation, "District 9" presents undertones of the real alienation that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of racism plays nicely with the concept of this other species and the aliens' difficulties on a planet that is not their own. The movie had an unknown cast and was filmed on a shoestring budget ($30 million is technically not that much), which probably adds to its mystique and brilliance.
Earth Girls Are Easy OK, this is a ridiculous movie hands down, which is exactly why it is amazing. The fact that it's a musical only makes it that much better. Three furry aliens come down to Earth and find Geena Davis, and when she shaves their fur off, they are reasonably good looking guys. I bet you are thinking that this movie could only get better if Geena Davis and the alien formerly known as Jeff Goldblum fall in love. Well guess what...
The Explorers Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix as tweens in outer-space - need we say more?
Close Encounters of the Third Kind If there has ever been a movie to make you feel as if there really may be other life forms out there, it has to be "Close Encounters." The entire movie builds up to the final moment when the obsessive, mashed-potato sculpting Richard Dreyfuss meets the aliens that he has so desperately been searching for. If you have seen the movie, then we bet the legendary five note song has been playing over and over in your brain since you first heard it - us too. Unlike many alien movies, we are given an ending of potential hope and friendship and beautiful special effects.
Notable mentions: Contact V The Thing Cocoon Coneheads Predator Mars Attacks! Star Troopers (hell yeah!)
"E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial" will be shown Thursday, June 30 at 8:30 p.m. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Dr. Free.