Melissa Mathison – Stream On Demand

Henry Thomas and friend in Steven Spielberg's beloved science fiction fantasy

Last chance: ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ – Steven Spielberg’s suburban fairy tale at 40 on Peacock

!Featured, Academy Award, Blu-ray, childhood, DVD, Essential Viewing, family friendly, fantasy, Kid Stuff, National Film Registry, Peacock, Science Fiction, Streaming Movies, SVOD 11/16/2022 Sean Axmaker

Steven Spielberg’s suburban fairy tale for kids who think they are too hip to believe in fairies is as glorious as ever decades after its debut.

Ruby Barnhill and Mark Rylance star in Steven Spielberg's "The BFG."

‘The BFG’ – Spielberg meets Roald Dahl on Netflix

!Featured, Blu-ray, DVD, family friendly, fantasy, Kid Stuff, Netflix, Streaming Movies, SVOD 03/15/2021 Sean Axmaker

The BFG (2016) – Steven Spielberg directs this big screen version of Roald Dahl’s storybook fantasy, the tale of orphan Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) and the dreamcatching giant she names BFG (Mark Rylance), short for Big Friendly Giant. And though big to Sophie—he can carry her in the palm of his hand and set her on […]

‘Ponyo’ – Hayao Miyaki’s ‘Little Mermaid’ fable on HBO Max

!Featured, Animation, Blu-ray, DVD, family friendly, fantasy, Kid Stuff, Max, SVOD, Venice winner 11/25/2020 Sean Axmaker

Part Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid, part ecological fable, and part children’s fantasy come to life, Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo (Japan, 2008) is a gentle storybook film, a simple, sweet tale animated with a delicacy unique to animated features. Ponyo is a water sprite, a curious undersea creature and daughter of the sea gods who […]

Blu-ray: ‘E.T.’ at 35 from Universal

Blu-ray, Blu-ray review, DVD, Science Fiction 09/13/2017 Sean Axmaker

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Steven Spielberg’s suburban fairy tale for kids who think they are too hip to believe in fairies, turns 35 with a new E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 35th Anniversary Limited Edition (Universal) plus additional Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD editions. Henry Thomas is Elliot, an emotionally bruised kid suffering under his parents’ […]