Spielberg's sentiment reflects the growing concern that the "woke" movement has gone too far, leading to an excessive focus on political correctness and sensitivity at the expense of artistic integrity and authenticity. Many critics argue that the push for "woke" culture has created a climate of censorship and self-censorship, where people are afraid to express their true opinions or create works of art that might be deemed controversial or offensive.
Daily Mail reports that Legendary director Steven Spielberg said he regretted editing scenes, including one showing government agents with guns, out of his classic film E.T. and adding that he opposes similar forms of censorship now.
Spielberg took a scene from the 1982 theatrical cut that included the agents chasing children with guns from the 20th anniversary re-release.
He instead chose to replace the guns with walkie talkies in the new version that came out in 2002.
Speaking at the Time 100 Summit in what was termed a 'master class' interview and amid a climate where many old works of art are facing similar edits, Spielberg said he was wrong for doing that.
'That was a mistake,' Spielberg said. 'I never should have done that. 'E.T.' is a product of its era. No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.'
Spielberg previously admitted he regretted the choice in 2011 but now doubled down and said that other forms of art shouldn't do what he did back then.
'I should have never messed with the archives of my own work, and I don't recommend anyone do that. All our movies are a kind of a signpost of where we were when we made them, what the world was like and what the world was receiving when we got those stories out there. So I really regret having that out there.'
Steven made his bed and now he’s sleeping in it. The bad news is, people like him, even though they’re regretful about “edits” have ruined it for the rest of us.
