Reviewing Fanhome’s ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Build-Up’ Subscription, Stages 86-90

In the 1980s, an adorable alien captivated moviegoers and became an icon for an entire generation. Now he’s back, and in my bar. It’s been nearly two years since I received my very first box from Fanhome for my E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial Build Up subscription*. Now, with ninety build stages down, I only have four more packages before this weird little Asogian botanist is complete. 

When completed, the 26” model will move, talk, blink, and light up. Zrek has lights in his right forefinger and chest, an extendable and retractable neck, and moving arms, face, eyes, and mouth. Some actions can be controlled through touchless sensors on ET’s chest, shoulders, and head, and there is an infrared remote control that can control individual movements or set off a sequence of coordinated gestures and phrases from the film. 

Let’s get into this month’s build stages.

Build Stage 86

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial was such a hit that movie and TV studios couldn’t help but try to cash in on Steven Spielberg’s formula. This stage’s magazine has an article that talks about the film’s parodies and blatant imitators. There was even a film that so closely copied E.T.’s major plot points (Mac and Me) that Spielberg was asked why he didn’t sue the rival creators. His response was that he didn’t want to be responsible for moviegoers viewing the knockoff, if even just to compare it to the original work. 

This build stage included four ribs for E.T.’s left back. Not a terribly complicated stage, except for routing the left shoulder touchless sensor wiring through clips attached to the inside of each rib.

Build Stage 87

The magazine included with this build stage has articles on E.T. and television, the early days of internet, and an article that is apparently mislabeled on the cover about Carlo Rambaldi’s enduring legacy of inspiring new generations (the cover lists this article as “The Great Wall,” which doesn’t seem to track, unless I’m missing something).

This build stage is for the right front ribs, which also serve as the wiring clips that tuck away and protect the wiring for the model’s chest light and right forefinger light.

Build Stage 88

Most folks who grew up with E.T. are already familiar with the story of the Mars candy company passing on the opportunity to have their M&Ms candies featured in the film. This stage’s magazine explores the explosion in Reese’s Pieces sales after the product’s prominent placement in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in an article that discusses the film’s food.

There’s also a piece on the transition of GPS from a military tool to an app on devices in every civilian pocket and a piece on conservation of nature. 

Build Stage 88 contains … wait for it … ribs! These are the back right ribs, which also serve as retention clips for the right shoulder touchless sensor.

Build Stage 89

An article in this magazine focuses on the rest of the world learning about American households and culture through the film. The very first scene features a group of kids sitting around playing Dungeons & Dragons while one of them orders pizza. Food delivery was very new in the US, and was unheard of elsewhere in the world. School buses, trick-or-treating, and other strange US customs were being viewed for the very first time worldwide.

There’s another piece on the restoration of one of the E.T. animatronics. If you remember the recent discovery and attempted restoration of Labyrinth’s Hoggle animatronic, you probably already know this is a monumental task. Hoggle’s restoration did not end so well. 

No more ribs! This build stage is for E.T.’s left thigh. One of the interesting things about this build: there are several stages where a retention clip or a part is installed temporarily that will have to be removed and reinstalled later. This thigh piece requires removal of a previous part, screwing that part to the thigh, and reinstallation. I will have to remove this part again in a couple months to assemble and install the model’s skin.

Build Stage 90

The history, lore, game mechanics, and cultural significance of D&D are discussed in this magazine, along with more details on the restoration of the original film stock and the E.T. puppet.

This build stage is the same as stage 89, but mirrored for the right thigh.

*Fanhome provides this subscription to me free of charge for the purposes of review.