Rating: 
Summary: A Great Film ... But Be Careful Which Edition You Get!
Review: Essentially, this is a 1950s space invasion movie magnificently re-envisioned as a blissful brush with eternity. It's tempting now to look at this movie as Spielberg's warmup for the more popular "E.T.," but the film stands on its own, offering its own delights and is perhaps even cosmically grander. Certainly, I think, it has held up better over time than "E.T." has. Among its special blessings have to be counted the exceptionally warm, humane performance by the great French director Francois Traffaut as a scientist long on the trail of aliens, little Cary Guffey as a tot first captivated and later captured by space visitors, the dazzling special effects of Douglas Trumbell (who worked on "2001" and "Blade Runner"), the stunning Oscar-winning photography of Vilmos Zsigmond and John Williams' powerful and brilliantly integrated score. The film, which focuses on mankind's first official meeting with alien visitors, is sci-fi marked by top-notch effects, rare humor and a feeling of joy and hope. Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillon play everday people frantically and irresistibly drawn to the landing of a gigantic mothership in rural Wyoming. The anguished "second act" of the film is sluggish and somewhat repititious (especially in the 1977 version), but the first half hour and last 40 minutes certainly make up for it. The film remains a tribute to Spielberg's enthusiasm and skill as a youthful filmmaker (unmarred by the strained seriousness of too much of his later work), and the movie belongs in every film lover's collector. But beware! There are several different versions of this film floating around out there on video -- and, alas, no DVD edition yet. The standard format video is usually the "Special Edition" -- Spielberg's 132-minute 1980 revision of the film, with additional footage inside the mothership. The first video released in widescreen format -- labeled "The Collector's Edition" -- offers the film in its original 137-minute 1977 version, plus a short about the making of the film (offering some fascinating outtakes) and interviews with principle contributors (note Spielberg on the set of "Saving Private Ryan"). What the latest "Director's Cut" is I have no idea, perhaps the version authorized for network TV broadcast that included all footage from the 1977 and 1980 versions. Check the running time for clues.
Rating:
Summary: Speilberg's Masterpiece
Review: Richard Dreyfuss and Melinda Dillion star as Roy Neary and Gillian Guyer who together with her son, Barry encounter space ships from another world and then go to great lengths to be a part of the first meeting between humans and aliens which takes place at Devil's Tower in Wyoming. First filmed in 1977, then re-edited for a "Special Edition" in 1980, and more recently as a special "Director's Cut" edition. Most likely will be re-edited again in the future.Written and Directed by Steven Spielberg. Music by John Williams. Visual Effects by Douglas Trumbull.
Rating:
Summary: The standard by which all other Sci-Fi movies are judged
Review: Spielberg before his genius was realized and Dreyfuss before he was legendary. A story of two people among thousands touched by a vison they don't understand after encountering visitors from outer space. A vison that drives them in different ways for answers to questions they did not know they were asking. Overcoming obstacles placed in front of them by a government trying to keep the secret the two separately seek answers to the questions that could very well kill them. One leaving his unbelieving wife and family and the other looking for her recently abducted son they find each other in their trek to Devil's Tower Wyoming to witness contact with an alien species. With Academy Award winning Cinematography and sound effects combined with amazing visual special effects and an truly moving score by John Williams this is a movie that takes you out of your seat and into the world of movies like no other before it. A must have for anyone who dreams.
Rating:
Summary: UFO's.
Review: Spielberg's early films seem to have themes or messages in them more so than his later films. Close Encounters has a message to it, and it's one of the only alien films in which the aliens are benign, they come in peace. It's still an exhilirating ride, with great special effects and suspense. This film makes you feel good, that we are not alone, and that there is purpose for our exsistence. It's a great film. A must have for any film collector.
Rating: 
Summary: A pretty good flic
Review: An intriguing story of a man's quest for answers after he gets buzzed by UFOs late one night. The movie progresses quickly and rarely lingers, and comes off as one of the more believable close encounter movies around. It's more than just a sci-fi film, it's a look at what happens when a person can't explain what's driving them forward. Highly recommended except for one flaw; the director's cut removes a few minutes of brilliant footage of a man going nuts to stick on some fancy special effects.
Rating:
Summary: "I saw something last night, that I can't explain. . "
Review: We've all seen the horror thrillers, aliens attacking the earth and killing everyone for no paticular reason. Sure the effects look great, but the stories are lacking and they're not brilliant works of art. Close Encounters fascinated me from the very first scene, and the five notes send chills up my spine. Truly a magnificant film created by the greatest of directors Steven Spielberg. A classic to watch again and again, at least that's what I do.
Rating:
Summary: SPECTACULAR AND AWE-INSPIRING
Review: Steven Spielberg topped himself with this movie, which arrived two years after JAWS, the movie that blew the movie industry -- and the rest of us -- away. The first movie to explore aliens from the vantage point of someone who could be your neighbor, or YOU, is fascinating and utlimately surprisingly moving. The visual wonder of this movie is so palpable you can almost touch it with your hand, and the performances are so in synch that you become friends with these people by the time the Mother Ship arrives -- especially Melinda Dillon and Richard Dreyfuss; Teri Garr is as usual excellent, and Francois Truffaut is the perfect man to embody a sympathetic scientist, filled with wonder. When communication between humans and aliens begins to explode, I found tears welling up in my eyes, so complete was Spielberg's magic spell. The fact that this movie essentially features no real villian is remarkable; it manages to be profoundly funny, sentimental, interesting and magical without any real violence and no real character conflict/battle. John Williams once again provides a score of majesty and power; the creative collective genius who concocted an alien encounter entirely through music, whether it was Williams, Spielberg, the writers, or a combo, deserve(s) special mention, and Williams' theme evokes precisely the right emotional chords to transport you to the galaxies above, or at least to heaven.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Spielberg
Review: One of Spielberg's best films, his next blockbuster as the follow-up to Jaws. Close Encounters, about a man (Dreyfuss) and a few others all have a calling to meet at Devil's Mountain where they will meet extra-terrestrials. Some of the best scenes full of intesity made whole with John Williams awesome score. The final scenes are some of the most memorable, and the best special effects you will see in modern cinema (comparatively so with CGI). Spielberg also wrote the script, along with a cameo of famed French director Francois Truffaut.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing movie.
Review: This is one of the most amazing movies you will ever see. It's one spectaculer movie. Just to say, STEVEN SPEILBERG is my hero, my favorite director, and the best director. I am his biggest fan. Just to say, I would recommend this movie to anyone. They will love it.Famly Apeal: 10 Music: 10 Special Affects: 10 Sound: 10 Overall: 10
Rating:
Summary: Probably Spielberg's best
Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind was probably the best movie Spielberg has directed. I liked Poltergeist more, but Spielberg didn't exactly direct it. But, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is my favorite movie of the 70s. It is interesting, entertaining, and even somewhat funny. It gives you the feel of an Area 51 type place at the end, and the mother ship is spectacular. Dreyfuss does a good job as an actor, and this is a movie you must see. I have liked it since the first time I saw it, when I was 5.
|
