Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1978)

[Mysterion]

Recently picked-up the 40th anniversary blu-ray of this. Today, with a day off from work, I sat down and watched the "Director's cut" version of the film (this disc also contains the theatrical and "special edition" versions as well).

It's been a few years since I really sat down and just watched this move, and let me tell you this one holds up really well, IMO. The past 41 years have been good to this move. It grabs you right off with the scene in the Mexican desert, and does not let go until the finale at Devil's Tower. The moves has a good pace, and does a good job of steadily building toward it's climax.

The cinematography is just simply beautiful - note to J.J. Abrams: THIS is how you use lens flare! Spielberg's direction is spot-on - really like some of the small touches like how the shot where we pan up and see Roy's tabletop model of Devil's Tower echoed with the same shot where Roy and Jillian first see Devil's Tower in person. Also the editing in the air traffic control scene near the beginning where, as the camera pulls back the dialogue is paced so that each new controller comes into frame his voice is added to the soundtrack creating a wonderful overlapping chorus of voices that emphasize the urgency and confusion of the scene.

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And this film has some of John William's best work, IMO. Especially considering he actually gets to write some of the dialogue in this one.


Also appreciate the Directors' Cut keeps scenes intact from the theatrical release (i.e. the air force briefing), and some good stuff from the special edition version (the Gobi desert sequence), but ditches the tacked-on "inside the mothership" ending from the SE.

Can't say objectively that this is Spielberg's best movie, but it's probably my favorite.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

What’s the difference (in content) between the 30th and 40th anniversary blurays?

 

[JD]

One little fact I heard a while back I thought was interesting, is that Speilberg made the movie before he was a parent, and that if he had made it after he was, he would never have had Roy leave his family. Kind of makes me wonder where he would take things if he were to do a new version today.

 

[feek61]

Funny, I just watched this two weeks ago and REALLY enjoyed it also. One thing I didn't remember is how bad a mom Jillian really was, lol. Example, after Barry almost gets hit by Roys truck, Jillian just lets him go; very strange!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ For Roy's part, he seemed horrified enough when he nearly hit Barry. Jillian probably picked up on that - she could tell that Roy was as scared as they were, he obviously wasn't dangerous or drunk or anything like that. It's not his fault that Barry just darted out into the street - even the best driver in the world would be at risk of a collision in circumstances like that.

 

[Admiral2]

I try to watch this every time it comes on television, and it's gotten to the point where I can recite half the dialogue verbatim. I find this interesting because the very first time I saw it, as a kid, it scared me so bad I didn't sleep for a couple of days

 

[Relayer1]

I rather belatedly realised that I dislike much of Spielberg's output, and I think it started here. Duel and Jaws were great and still hold up. CE3K (which I saw on release in the cinema) really doesn't. It's a spectacle but that's about it. By the time he got to drivel like E.T. and The Goonies, I was done.

In fairness, I like the Indy films and Jurassic Park, but he doesn't do a lot for me.

 

[Professor Zoom]

I rather belatedly realised that I dislike much of Spielberg's output, and I think it started here. Duel and Jaws were great and still hold up. CE3K (which I saw on release in the cinema) really doesn't. It's a spectacle but that's about it. By the time he got to drivel like E.T. and The Goonies, I was done.

In fairness, I like the Indy films and Jurassic Park, but he doesn't do a lot for me.

[pedantic] Richard Donner directed Goonies. Spielberg only executive produced. [/pedantic]

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Spielberg's best film, if not tied with Jaws. He was in full flight at the time, and barely getting his feet wet with the kind of "tells" that would appear too often in the movie to come. He played this as a serious, non-sentimental sci-fi drama, and it worked to wonderful degrees. He's never had a sci-fi moment like that since.

 

[Maurice]

Funnily enough, the topic of this film and "revisions" came up when I had lunch with @Rick Sternbach today, and he reminded me of a line which got whacked after the theatrical release.

As to Roy's decision and Spielberg's saying he wouldn't have done that once he had kids, well, any work of creation is as much about when it was made as who made it, and Spielberg then was a different guy in many ways. Besides, I never thought Roy's decision was anything other than selfish, and for him to have acted differently seems like a different character.

They're showing the film at The Egyptian on Hollywood Blvd. this Sunday with the production designer in attendance, so I might go see that as I'm in LA at the moment. Haven't seen it on the big screen since 1978.

 

[Mysterion]

Funnily enough, the topic of this film and "revisions" came up when I had lunch with @Rick Sternbach today, and he reminded me of a line which got whacked after the theatrical release.

Ok, I'm officially curious - which line?

Also, jealous of your chance to see it again on big screen.

 

[Maurice]

Ok, I'm officially curious - which line?

Also, jealous of your chance to see it again on big screen.

If I'm recalling correctly, it was something about someone saying to Roy that the government will have to tell his family he's dead and his "sure, whatevs" reply.

 

[Mysterion]

If I'm recalling correctly, it was something about someone saying to Roy that the government will have to tell his family he's dead and his "sure, whatevs" reply.

Hmmm. Thinking that's from somewhere toward the end when he's being prepped to go onto the Mothership? Will need to go take a look and see if it's one of the three cuts on the Blu-ray. Thanks.

FWIW, there is a passage in the novelization (page 247) where they have Roy sign a document:

Inside Neary's cubicle, the M.C was still going on. This last document is merely a formality. You see, we have a possible problem in the area of canon and common jurisprudence outside the parameters of our astronomy. The case could be made that are, in effect, technically speaking... dead. This paper just certifies that if such a judgement be rendered, that you will accept it. It's merely a formality."
Roy didn't know what the ell the guy was talking about of what papers he found himself signing.

So, in the novel at least, he's just caught up in events and not paying too much attention to the matter.

 

[JD]

Funnily enough, the topic of this film and "revisions" came up when I had lunch with @Rick Sternbach today, and he reminded me of a line which got whacked after the theatrical release.

As to Roy's decision and Spielberg's saying he wouldn't have done that once he had kids, well, any work of creation is as much about when it was made as who made it, and Spielberg then was a different guy in many ways. Besides, I never thought Roy's decision was anything other than selfish, and for him to have acted differently seems like a different character.

That's why I'd be curious to see how Spielberg would handle it now, if Roy stayed with his family, that would make it a totally different movie from that point on.

 

[Turtletrekker]

Maybe Roy could have taken his family with him on the ship.

 

[Maurice]

That's why I'd be curious to see how Spielberg would handle it now, if Roy stayed with his family, that would make it a totally different movie from that point on.

Maybe Roy could have taken his family with him on the ship.

That's a completely different movie.

 

[XCV330]

One little fact I heard a while back I thought was interesting, is that Speilberg made the movie before he was a parent, and that if he had made it after he was, he would never have had Roy leave his family. Kind of makes me wonder where he would take things if he were to do a new version today.

I have thought a movie where he returns after a long time, maybe longer on earth than his own aging, he has to confront the decision he made decades earlier.

Was it all his choice? Maybe he was compelled to. His life was falling apart. On the other hand he dumped Terri Garr, so he couldn't have been in his right mind.

I also wondered bout the ones who got close but did not quite make it. Jillian and Barry witnessed the visitation but did not go. The other guy on the mountain got gassed and did not make it, but he may not have been recovered and may also have witnessed the events. What happened to everyone that got compelled to come and did not end up going?

 

[Mysterion]

If I'm recalling correctly, it was something about someone saying to Roy that the government will have to tell his family he's dead and his "sure, whatevs" reply.

So I looked at all three cuts of the movie and didn't see it, nor is it in the Deleted Scenes features. The only place I find it is in the novelization (see my last post). *shrug*

 

[Maurice]

So I looked at all three cuts of the movie and didn't see it, nor is it in the Deleted Scenes features. The only place I find it is in the novelization (see my last post). *shrug*

Well, remember that Star Wars had different audio mixes and some of the lines were different. It's possible this is one of those things. Or a mandala effect. Let me hop in my Delorean and check.

 

[JD]

So I looked at all three cuts of the movie and didn't see it, nor is it in the Deleted Scenes features. The only place I find it is in the novelization (see my last post). *shrug*

Could it have been something the author came up with on their own?