Question: Why did Elliot let all the frogs out? And why was he asking one if it could talk? I realise he was drunk (or ET was), but this doesn't explain such behaviour.
kayelbe
28th Aug 2014
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Chosen answer: Elliot, through a psychic connection to ET, is experiencing the effects of the beer that ET is drinking. It has impaired Elliott's judgment and unleashes his inhibitions. He frees the frogs because he doesn't want them to be killed and dissected in class. Talking to one is just a side-effect of being intoxicated and he may be identifying it as a sentient being like E.T.
Answer: I always interpreted freeing the frogs as Elliot seeing a similarity with them and ET. ET (who in a weird way kind of looks like a frog), also is captive, and would risk being dissected if captured by the government. This is reflected at the end of the film as he helps ET escape from the government.
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Answer: Those are interesting takes, but I always viewed it as ET was physically (Elliot gets drunk when ET drinks) and telepathically linked. I felt ET was seeing and acting through Elliot, almost like he was possessed.
kayelbe