E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a gargantuan hit of a film when it was originally released back in 1982. A real childhood gem for millions of people all over the world. Believe it or not, but writer/director Steven Spielberg even had a sequel idea he wanted to explore, it’s an article I’ve been meaning to write for a while now but have just not yet gotten round to it… maybe next year?
Anyway, we may never have gotten that E.T. sequel, but the lovable alien has recently returned. Here in the UK, every Christmas there’s always a battle for the year’s best Christmas ad. Major supermarkets and shops usually lead the pack with their mini-epic Christmas themed stories, trying to tug at the heartstrings of us viewers while also wanting to sell their name and products.
It’s a tricky balancing act to pull off and for me, I find a lot of the Christmas ads just don’t work. Occasionally you get ones that really hit home, like this Sainsbury’s ad from 2014.
That’s the kind of thing we get year after year, mini-movies that tell a story while trying to get a nice Christmas message over at the same time. Normally it’s John Lewis who are champions at this… normally. They’ve had some cracking Christmas ads over the years, but recently they’ve definitely fallen of their perch. Last year was a blatant ad for Elton John and this year it’s an ad about an arsonist dragon.
This year, SkyUK has knocked it out of the park by bringing us a reunion almost 40 years in the making, finally come true when they brought back E.T. along with his earth-friend Elliot. I have to admit to just not having the admiration and love for E.T. now as I used to when I was a kid, but this ad really hit me hard in the childhood. I could sit here and explain the ad, but what’s the point when you can just watch it yourself…
Aside from the numerous references to the original film, it’s great to see this reunion finally happen after almost 4 decades. There’s just a lovely warm, fuzzy, family feeling running through the whole ad and for me, that’s what Christmas is about, family. SkyUK (or Comcast for our American cousins) have won Christmas 2019.
Well, instead of phoning home, E.T. can just send a email these days.
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