Steven Spielberg purists, you can breathe easy.
The legendary director, best known for films that wowed generations of audiences and influenced countless filmmakers, has learned his lesson. After digitally touching up his classic film, “E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial” in 2002, for the 20th anniversary, Spielberg has vowed never to do it again.
In an interview with Screen Rant, the website asked the director if he’d ever go back and digitally alter his films to improve special effects or change scenes, much like his good friend George Lucas did to the original “Star Wars” trilogy. Thankfully, it looks like we don’t have to worry about it from Spielberg.
The director had this to say:
“Well, I got in trouble for doing that. When ‘E.T.’ was re-released, I actually digitized 5 shots where E.T. went from being a puppet to a digital puppet and I also replaced the gun when the F.B.I. runs up on the van, now they are walkie talkies. So, there’s a really bad version of ‘E.T.’ where I took my cue from ‘Star Wars’ and all of the digital enhancements of ‘A New Hope’ that George [Lucas] put in, and I went ahead, because the marketing at Universal thought we need something to get an audience back and see the movie so I did a few touch up in the film…”
This quote is refreshing and depressing all at once. First, Spielberg is quick to state that he made a mistake with the ‘E.T.’ debacle, back in 2002. He goes so far as to call that 2002 version “really bad.” At least he’s learned the error of his ways. Second, and the reason why it’s so depressing, is he reveals what everyone assumed: Steven Spielberg altered a classic film just to help drive up ticket sales and potential home video sales. Ugh. Not even the most famous director on the planet is immune to studios asking for favors.
But for those fans that are concerned that Spielberg will have a change of heart and add a CGI shark to “Jaws,” he put it as plainly as possible. “So I learned a big lesson and that’s the last time I decided to ever mess with the past. What’s done is done, and um, I’ll never go back and do another movie I’ve made and I have control over to enhance or changes,” concluded Spielberg.
Thank God.