2-disc special edition features: *6-PART MAKING-OF DOCUMENTARY *WEDDING VIDEO *JACOB’S DESTINY *EDWARD FAST FORWARD and JACOB FAST FORWARD *AUDIO COMMENTARY by director Bill Condon

2-disc special edition features: *6-PART MAKING-OF DOCUMENTARY *WEDDING VIDEO *JACOB’S DESTINY *EDWARD FAST FORWARD and JACOB FAST FORWARD *AUDIO COMMENTARY by director Bill Condon

One of the most popular movies of all time, Steven Spielberg’s E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL tells the touching and often comical story of an alien creature, E.T., who is accidentally left behind on Earth. Elliott (Henry Thomas), a young boy from a single-parent home, befriends E.T. and tries to protect him from the adult world of NASA scientists who want to "examine" the alien. With the help of his younger sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and his older brother, Michael (Robert McNaugton), Elliott helps E.T. try to get back to his home.

Original film was 160 minutes which included an intermission, and was rated MPAA G. Filmed in Cinerama, Super Panavision and Metrovision, using Metrocolor and Technicolor, at MGM British Studios, Ltd. Borehamwood, England. Shooting actually began December 1965 and took more than two years; finally being released April 4, 1968. Critical reaction to the film at the time of its initial release was mixed; most critics found much of it tedious and plotless. The absence of plot is actually beside the point, as Kubrick's approach was to emphasize the visual elements, producing a lyrical, poetic fantasy that continues to raise far more questions than a simple narrative could answer. Other cast members include: Sean Sullivan (Michaels); Frank Miller (Mission Controller); the director's daughter Vivian Kubrick (Dr. Floyd's Daughter); Alan Gifford (Frank Poole's Father); Edwina Carroll and Penny Brahms (Stewardesses); Bill Weston, Edward Bishop, Glen Beck, Ann Gillis, Heather Downham, Mike Lovell, John Ashley, Peter Delmar, David Hines, Darrel Faes, Jimmy Bell, Terry Duggan, Tony Jackson, Joe Refalo, David Charkham, David Fleetwood, John Jordan, Andy Wallace, Simon David, Danny Grover, Scott Mackee, Bob Wilyman, Jonathan Daw, Brian Hawley, Laurence Marchant and Richard Wood. Laserdisc producers are Peter Fitzgerald and Rennie Johnson. Director Stanley Kubrick was also the special photographic effects designer and director. Other people in the special photographic effects unit were: David Osborne, Frederick Martin and John Jack Malick. Frederick I. Ordway III was the scientific consultant. Martin Balsam was originally chosen to play the role of HAL 9000. The film is based on a short story by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, but the film generated one of the first commercially successful "novelizations," a trend which was to become very popular in the 1970s and 80s. A sequel to the film, "2010: The Year We Make Contact," was released in 1984. A computer program has been developed by Scott French that generates output based on the literary style and conventions of the novels of Jacqueline Susann and the name of the program is HAL. The films of director Stanley Kubrick include: 1. "Fear and Desire" (1953), also producer, photographer, editor 2. "Killer's Kiss" (1955), also co-producer, screenwriter, photographer, editor 3. "The Killing" (1956), also screenwriter 4. "Paths of Glory" (1957), also co-screenwriter 5. "Spartacus" (1960) 6. "Lolita" (1962) 7. "Dr. Strangelove" (1964), also producer and co-screenwriter 8. "A Clockwork Orange" (1971), also producer and screenwriter 9. "Barry Lyndon" (1975), also producer and screenwriter 10. "The Shining" (1980), also producer and screenwriter 11. "Full Metal Jacket" (1987), also producer and screenwriter

It's so nice to see a film that lives up to its hype -- as epic and impressive as the book upon which it is based. The daunting task of putting J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classic on film was taken up with great enthusiasm and talent by Kiwi filmmaker Peter Jackson, and the result is magnificent.

The challenge was to impress the heck out of devotees of the books without leaving non-readers scratching their heads and Jackson has done just that, with help from a monumentally talented crew of artistic directors, costume designers and technicians and a wonderfully-chosen cast. Elijah Wood is brave and tortured as Frodo Baggins and the other hobbits -- especially the pitch-perfect Sam (Sean Astin) -- are marvelous. Viggo Mortensen is beguiling as Strider/Aragorn, Orlando Bloom is both luminous and steely as the elf prince Legolas, and Sean Bean is brilliant as the shady Boromir. Sir Ian McKellen deserves special notice (like, say, an Oscar nomination) for his turn as the wizard Gandalf and even Liv Tyler, whom we expected to resent, plays the Elvish princess Arwen with grace and skill.

The New Zealand locations are magical, from the rolling green hills of the Shire to the dreamy refuge of Rivendell to the ethereal forests of Lothlorien. The myth was brought to life in every way and good on Jackson for being brave and smart enough to complete all three films at once, preserving the artistic integrity of the project and the strength of the wonderful performances. The investment in time and money will, no doubt, be richly rewarded.

For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD. Plus, these 2-Disc DVD's will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983.