While a lot more time must go by before "E.T." -- opening Friday in a well-timed Universal re-release with enhancements and a few additional scenes -- proves to be as durable a work of American popular storytelling as Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," Spielberg's movie is intelligent, passionate, wildly entertaining and the mightily talented filmmaker's most personal work. Much will be said about the 20th anniversary version of "E.T." sporting a more finely realized title character, who hops when he runs and has better control of his facial features. The Fellowship of the Ring wins the Academy Award for best picture on Sunday, it will be the first time a sci-fi/fantasy adventure film has taken Hollywood's top honor.

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