Rating: 
Summary: The Birth of Legend
Review: This is actually the third edition of Close Encounters, and could be considered the director’s cut. For the special edition, Spielberg had to make some promises to Columbia about showing the “inside of the ship” before they would give him the money to “finish” a film he had to rush into the can because of the studio’s budgetary problems in 1977 (watch the included documentary). The result is breath taking. It will ruin you for all the ...expensive film currently washing through theatres in the U.S. (no names – I’m sure by now everyone has their favorite stinker for this year, even though it’s only June).This was not a cheap movie. Many effects, including Spielberg’s trademark use of “cloud tank” skies were perfected for this film. Not everything worked the first or fourth time they tried it. Columbia ran low on money while Spielberg was polishing off the second edit, replete with footage added. I argue that he just did not want to stop touching his movie until he was forced to. My proof is that there are currently three versions of this film, two of which have additional footage that was added by Spielberg after BOTH 1st and second unit were wrapped up. This is not Spielberg’s magnum opus: I believe that is in the future. As a director he is growing and changing and building on all those glorious films he has given to the world, rushing towards a pinnacle that will change film forever. Not all of them worked. This one did. The result is what our parents used to experience in a dark theatre years ago when people’s lives changed based on what flickered before them on a silver screen. Magic. And for just shy of three hours, this magic will be yours again, in your homes, with your families, for as long as your VCR or DVD functions. A truly great artist understands that people want to dream, and be lifted into worlds away from those familiar, if only for a little while. Spielberg is a truly great artist. This was his third film.
Rating: 
Summary: Almost, but not quite perfect
Review: As someone who lists this as one of his all-time favorite movies, I couldn't get this DVD fast enough. However, I was quite dissapointed with the first disc. The digital remastering was fantastic, but I can't understand why the Special Edition wasn't the feature. The Special Edition, especially with the inside-the-ship scenes, far outweighs the original. Also, there are other scenes which should have been left in instead of being shown on the Deleted Scenes on Disc 2. Roy Neary getting the assignment from the power plant and getting bad directions was critical to his first encounter. Also, the scene where he first sees the mound shape in the pillow is missing. My personal favorite, at the BBQ, when he gets everyone looking up has a fantastic dual meaning. He is looking up into the heavens and being worn out by the domestic boredom on Earth at the same time. Disc 2 saves this set. I have always wondered how Spielberg pulled this off. The Documentary is incredible. Over an hour and a half of inside info that makes viewing this movie even more enjoyable, if possible. I give it 4 stars, only because I believe that the Special Edition would have been worthy of five. Thank You.
Rating: 
Summary: A Landmark Film!
Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind is one of the best films ever. It is a film about an 'everyday joe' on a journey of obsession with a night he encounters UFO's. The movie follows his adventures, and in the end you get to see his search pay off (after he has lost many things that matter to him, he finds something new). This everyday joe is played masterfully by Richard Dreyfuss. Although he can get a little eccentric in his dialogue delivery in this film, it is a pretty effective performance. The idea of aliens coming down, not for world domination is actually a pretty big rarity on the big screen. Speilburg's "Close Encounters" was revolutionary in special effects for its time, and is still pretty good (If you don't believe me, go to the deleted scenes inside the space ship, that was good stuff) was one of his best efforts, and is basically his "2001 Space Odyssey." The mysterious aura that Speilburg gives is quite unique and excellent. If you like science fiction, or movies about growth and personal journey, don't miss Close Encounters! The DVD is excellent. It comes with two discs, where one is filled with an excellent transfer and DTS soundtrack with the movie, the other is for special extras (filmographies, trailers, which were quite weird for their time, a 100 minute documentary, a watching the skies documentary, and ten deleted scenes where you can tell why they were taken out). Overall it's an excellent DVD. Now, you are wondering why I gave this three stars. The Close Encounters DVD case is the worst DVD case I've ever laid my hands on. The case is terrible, and after taking the DVD's out twice it already looks worn out. It is kind of like the X-Men DVD case but both sides are open sided. The art is pretty great though. The case is so bad, I took off two stars. Still though, let this not be a reason not to buy Close Encounters, because a re-release will probably never come around with it's excellent transfer (maybe a re-press with a MiB type case would be nice). Overall, this is the best re-stored DVD I've seen to come out so far!
Rating:
Summary: A great movie and a great DVD
Review: LISTEN to this DVD. The music of John Williams is incredible. From the opening menu sequence you'll be blown away with the sound....go ahead and turn it up LOUD...who cares about the neighbors. Then you'll see the picture. It's sharp and clear - it looks like it was shot last week, not 25 years ago. There's lots of extras on the 2nd DVD, too - deleted scenes and a "making of" that's about an hour long. It's got interviews with just about everyone in the movie and people who worked on the movie, as well. The colors of the spaceships are very bright...it's a very colorful movie. Just a great movie and a great DVD.
Rating:
Summary: DVD Release is stunning---yet it could have been even better
Review: I have recieved my new copy of the CE3K DVD, and am very pleased. As far as my review, it has been my favorite movie of all time, beginning with the first time I saw it on cable in the early eighties, at the age of 10. Star Wars and all stole my heart, but this one stole my mind. I like Amazon's reviewers comment that the movie is more about the drive of artistic expression than science-fiction, and generally I was more interested in the "real-world vs the extraordinary" story line than anything regarding UFOs. The most impressive DVD addition are the deleted scenes, most of which I had never seen. What is so interesting is that they reveal answers to so many unseen questions and results regarding the sightings in the movie! Did you wonder what ever happened after the "AirEast 31" landed? How about what was going on in Tolono? What the cops really thought about the UFO chase? What did Roy's neighbors think about his sighting? How did Roy and Jillian, while running from the Feds, "get some gas and get down in there?" These scenes, while not altogether vital, wouldve added even more interest to the fabric of the film. As deleted scenes, they are gems. Among the scenes are several from the original release but not in the special edition or the collectors edition. These include the first part of Roy in the Power Plant and the scene in Wyoming with "Appolo Creed" Carl Weathers telling Roy that the Army shoots looters...The Mother Ship interior is also a deleted item. There is even a hilarious outtake with Truffaut and Balaban that certainly didnt make the first cut, and definitely shows Truffaut's humor! The fabulous documentary (an edited version is on the VHS tape) also includes outtakes, and hilarious production stories. However, my only complaints were that there are even MORE deleted scenes that were not included: The alternate intro to seeing Roys family with the Pinocchio figurine; The scene where the farmer on the road says "We're years ahead of 'em on the highway'; Where Roy sees Devils Tower in the pillowcase; and Lacombe's standing ovation. There possibly were more, but that's from memory. These are minor, but are needed to complete the extras. Also, to make this edition complete, a Music Score only track would have enhanced the role of John William's music, and of course, a commentary from Spielberg himself, but we all know he doesn't do that sort of thing. Maybe for the next "Collector's Special Ultimate Edition"!
Rating:
Summary: Close Encounters FINALLY restored to us!!!
Review: The new 2 disc DVD release (Close Encounters of the Third Kind - The Collector's Edition) FINALLY restores scenes lost in the so-called "Special Edition", and those 'sense-of-wonder-stealing' scenes added with Richard Dreyfuss entering the mothership. This scene is now among the 11 "deleted scenes" found on disc 2! What's been restored/removed: 1) When Neary is followed by the UFO from his first encounter, the large "shadow" moving over him was removed - it was night-time afterall... 2) The "shower scene" restored for the 'Special Edition' is retained. 3) Roy gathering 'supplies' for his family room sculpture project is restored - including his encounter with the hairdryer wielding Mrs. Harris (Mary Gaffney). 4) When Ronnie Neary leaves for good, the roof-top platform is not seen - (1 of the deleted scenes on disc 2 involves this observatory 'deck') 5) At the end, when Roy Neary walks to his destiny, almost immediately the 'head alien' has her conversation with Francios Truffaut [eliminating the theory that Neary was 'changed into' an alien in preparation for space travel] But the BEST feature in this DVD for me is the 1997 "Making Of" documentary filmed with Steven Spielberg on the set of "Saving Private Ryan". Interviews with cast, and crew reliving the making of CE3K make this a must-see! I'm glad the original story has been restored in time for me to share the DVD for the first time with my own family.
Rating:
Summary: a clarification
Review: Just a comment on the previous post: Allegedly, Spielberg never wanted the "inside the mothership" ending, but the studio asked him to add it when they let him add all the extra "special edition" footage in 1980. The version of the film on this DVD does not have the extra stuff at the end, although it is part of the deleted scenes section. From what I've heard.
Rating:
Summary: DVD Spectacular
Review: Having waited a longtime for this DVD,I was richly rewarded with this edition of the film. I have seen many DVD editions of old favorites of mine. Planet of the Apes, The Wrath of Khan, etc. I've found these releases to be marginally dissapointing. It seems to me that they just used the original elements of the films audio. Spielberg has done Close Encounters justice with this edition. I found the print to be spectaclar, with absolutely no grain or artifacs as well as exceptional tonal quality and clarity. But it's the sound that really blew me away. I viewed this DVD in DTS and found the soundstage remarkably transparent and dynamic throughout. Speilberg really pulled the bottom out and greatly expanded the LFE. I thought I was going to burst a water pipe, the room rattled so much. The DVD makes extensive use of all channels. The effects are everywhere. He must have also bumped up John Williams' score. It's sweeping and sounds like the very best sound recording that you'd find in any of today's top reference quality DVD's. If this is what we can expect from Speilberg, then hold on to your shoes for the release of Raiders.
Rating:
Summary: Close Encounters of WHICH kind ?
Review: 3 stars for this version but 5 star for the original 1977 version. I'm baffled by all these special or collector's additions. The original movie was excellent, don't see the need of any re-editing. I believe it's about money as Steven Spielberg's most movies are. Close Encounters was his last film as a director with innocent creativity that brought great movies like Duel, Sugarland Express, Jaws and Close Encounters. From my point of view, the new ending did hurt the movie. The original one was very satisfying, presented just enough and left much more for our imagination. Obviously Spielberg wanted to re-done this movie in his in "cheesed up, at times childish, big bang Hollywood style" which is evident in duds like ET (artistically), Hook (financially).Just leave Close Encounters alone, perhaps make another ET (hope not)if he feels the need for more alien, sci-fi flicks.
Rating:
Summary: Discover our distant lovers from outspace
Review: Steven Spielberg uses the concept of urban paranoia to dismantle it, to expose it and to denounce it. The intervention of extraterrestrials in our society starts a real panic among many people, and at the same type mesmerizes some who are invited in a way for the grand coming that is announced by this open show of power and benevolence. Then the film analyzes the reaction of authorities. Military authorities are obsessed by limiting the contact of these ETs with the population, hence they evacuate the area where the meeting is supposed to take place, they establish a whole fear and even fright process to convince the population that they must go away or stay away,and they constantly think of danger, instead of thinking of potential opening. On the other side the scientists, strangely dominated by a Frenchman, are jumping on the occasion to open their minds, to seize the day, the night and the new vistas that open up to them. The capture of a child gives a tremendous sentimental and affective dimension to these contacts, because he does not know fear and only sees what it is for him : a contact with a new toyland, with new playmates. The whole deal is to surrender all the men the ETs have captured over the previous decades, and the equipment with which they had been captured, such as planes and boats, in exchange for a new batch of volunteers to go with them for exhanges and a visit to this extraterrestrial world. The suspense in the film is created by a man who was visited a couple of nights before on the road and who manages to go through all barriers and to impose himself on the trip, with the complicity of the Frenchman. What is admirable in this film is that the ETs are shown as absolutely mature and our society, at a scientific level, as being ready to experiment, to take risks, to engulf in an adventure. It is a very positive approach to the problem and this is refreshing. Steven Spielberg manages to literally mesmerize us by organizing a real ballet of light and colors and music as the way these ETs can communicate with us (music and colored lights) and can demonstrate they power as well as their total un-agressiveness (the ballet of lights and beautiful movements in the sky). He also evades the necessity to show the ETs by blurring their rather childish forms in a nearly blinding light. They are only shadows in this light, and this keeps some kind of mystery in the encounters. This film is refreshing, optimistic and the perfect counterbalancing vision as opposed to the totally urban paranoid approach of many authors, the latest book on the subject being Steven King's Dreamcatcher. Here we understand we must not be afraid of them or their coming, because, and definitely more than us, they want to know, to exchange, to build together with us rather than destroy and annihilate. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, Paris Universities II and IX.
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