( EW.com ) -- For many , `` E.T . : The Extra-Terrestrial '' remains Steven Spielberg 's most indelible film , holding a special spot in moviegoers ' hearts . ( I know it does for me . ) But when the movie was re-released in theaters in 2002 to celebrate its 20th anniversary , Spielberg tried to fix something that was not broken and `` updated '' the movie 's visual effects . He gave E.T . 's face a CG makeover , added back in a couple deleted scenes , and -- most controversially -- switched out the rifles held by police officers chasing down Elliott and his bicycle buddies with walkie-talkies . Fans cried foul . `` South Park '' mocked the decision . Last year , Spielberg himself even admitted he regretted making the changes , vowing that the Blu-ray release would just be the 1982 theatrical version of the film . And by gum , it 's exactly that . As you 'll see in the trailer for the 30th-anniversary Blu-ray edition of the film , out this October , those walkie-talkies are no more . While the Blu-ray wo n't have walkie-talkies , it will have two new bonus featurettes , one chronicling the day-to-day events of making the movie , the other a new interview with Spielberg reminiscing about the movie . Those two deleted scenes will be available separately from the cut of the film , and many of the bonus features from the previous DVD release of `` E.T . '' will be available on the Blu-ray as well . See the full story at EW.com . CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved .
In the DVD re - release of ` ` E.T . '' , Spielberg switched out the rifles held by the soldiers with walkie - radios . Spielberg himself even admitted he regretted making the changes . In the 30th - anniversary Blu - ray edition of the film , those walkie - talkies are no more .