Written by: Norith Soth
Before we wore clothes, before we drank milk, before we shaved… we told stories. And the same stories continue to circulate and confront us. Like a cinematic Tootsie Roll pop, there is sometimes a hidden story inside the very movie you are watching.
The first movie we will dissect is Steven Spielberg’s once highest grossing film of all time, “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.” Let’s suckle on this tale of a boy and his prune-like alien friend for a little bit. Beginning with…
Steven Spielberg’s Loveable Puppet
WHAT HAPPENS: A being appears from the skies. Performs miracles. Provides joy to those close to him. Said being is discovered by the government and considered a threat. Said being dies. Said being comes back to life. Said being returns into the skies and leaves. Does this sound familiar yet? Jesus Christ, you really don’t know? I just gave you two clues!
Drum roll please….
… Congratulations “E.T. The Extra Terrestrial,” you are actually the Jesus Christ story! Let’s take a look at their…
Don’t stick fingers in electrical outlets, or this happens.
J.C in a Hoodie
SIMILARITIES: Christ and E.T. are both sensitive. Christ brings people back to life. E.T. brings flowers back to life. The Romans persecute Christ. The American government persecutes E.T. Christ is crucified. Although it’s not clear, the government performs uncomfortable experiments on E.T. Christ dies. E.T. dies. Christ and E.T. are both resurrected.
UNIVERSALITY: The Messiah story is a very intimate story for us. A person sacrificies him or herself for the greater good – usually, a very unclear greater good. This hero person, generally someone different with a special ability to help others, is tortured and humiliated in the worse way imaginable until death or just straight up shot in the head (Malcom X, Milk, The Matrix, Fists of Fury).
E.T’s First Kiss
MESSAGE: Stories are social mirrors. Their purpose is to broadcast messages we can’t admit to ourselves. So, why do we care so much about stories of people that suffer for us. Maybe because… people do suffer for us? Maybe because deep down inside, we know our lifestyle is paid for by somebody. Whether that’s our parents, the soldiers that protect us, or the Chinese kids that make our shoes. People are constantly paying for our way of life. Is it a coincidence that E.T. looks sunburned and exhausted all the time. He’s probably from a planet where he has to make a thousand pairs of Nikes and his space ship is like an escape slave ship… or something.
From the Sky…
It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s… Jesus
Short Script Gods 