5. E.T. - 20th Anniversary Edition
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6vz19Onffw And now we come to Steven Spielberg's own unsavoury screwing around with a beloved classic, as he sanitises the fantastic family masterpiece E.T. for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Apparently concerned about how the film's tone would be perceived by a modern audience, Spielberg altered the scene in which the shotgun-totting agents threaten Elliot and his buddies as they make their escape, giving the agents walkie talkies instead so that the scene doesn't seem quite so confrontational. The move was widely criticised - some citing it as an encroachment upon free speech and an exercise in overt political correctness above all else - causing Spielberg himself to eventually come out and admit that it was a terrible idea. The director has also insisted that, in light of the backlash, he will no longer digitally alter his films post-release.
Shaun Munro
Contributor
Frequently sleep-deprived film addict and video game obsessive who spends more time than is healthy in darkened London screening rooms. Follow his twitter on @ShaunMunroFilm or e-mail him at shaneo632 [at] gmail.com.
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