Blu-ray	DVD

If you are unfamiliar with the film ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ then you are either from a remote part of the globe or not from this planet we call Earth. If the first case applies you most likely do not have a computer or electricity and are not reading this account. If, on the other hand, the latter description fits then welcome back to our planet and local time space. CE3K, as it is affectionately referred to by the still growing legion of fans was one of those rare and wonderful films that appeared on the scene combining the right time and place with precisely the right innovative and creative mind. This movie quickly became a pivotal work both in the art of cinema and our popular culture; undeniably exerting a profound and lasting effect on both arenas. This movie altered how the public would view science fiction and turned five simple notes into an anthem for an entire generation. The movie has enjoyed popular home entertainment releases for many years and it is certain most people that collect movies has either the venerable old video tape or perhaps one of several DVD releases already in your collection. Well, make a little more room on your shelf even if you own a copy of this film already you are going to want to get the new ultimate Blu-ray edition. Many are going to ask a perfectly logical question; ‘why should I buy a film I already have?’ the simple answer is until you get this ultimate high definition edition you really have seen all this movie has to offer. Naturally there is nothing like the 1080pvideo clarity or the lossless Dolby True HD to bring out previously missed details but this 30^th anniversary releases make better use of the full capabilities if this new media an any release I have come across so far. This is the way a film like this deserves to be shown with all its major variations and a ton of addition information to keep even the most diehard fan happy.

This film help cement an already famous Steven Spielberg with international acclaim. He may have gotten his start directing episodic television like ‘Columbo’ and made for TV flicks such as ‘Duel’ but ‘Jaws truly put him on the map as the leading film maker of his generation. The infamous technical failures of the mechanical shark in ‘Jaws’ may have taught Spielberg a valuable lesson; special effects are nice as a tool but what matters most is telling a story. Spielberg has become the most influential story tellers of our age. Spielberg has pointed to an iconic scene for ‘Close Encounters as representative of his career. When the little boy, Barry, is going after the space ships he is framed in the doorway by the brilliant light. In a Spielberg movie children usually represents innocence while the doorway and light are interpreted as mankind entering a new age on understanding. This was a common enough theme for this master film maker, keeping the awe and wonder of a child but relating it through the mature medium of film. This film has elements that appeal perfectly to all members of the family.

This Blu-ray commemorative Blu-ray edition contains the three major cuts of the film; theatrical (1977/135 minutes), Special edition (1998/ 132 minutes) and the Director’s cut (2001/ 137 minutes). This release is a dream come true for the loyal fan and is geared towards those interested in the differences between the versions. First there is a glossy paper road map the details the comparison of the three versions call ‘View from Above’. This is just an ancillary aide to the main feature of the disc. You can activate ‘View from above mode before going to the version selection menu. It will display one of three icons during the viewing; a red dash for deleted material, a green cross for added material and blue rectangles for material unique the current version. When you play a specific version the icons are display with a little text box detailing the difference. In other multiple version presentations the differences are noted in a commentary but this method is far less invasive. What is fascinating for the devotee of the film is the progression made by the numerous changes. It provides some insight into the eternal battle between director and studio but also how a favorite project can rattle around in the mind of the film maker as he refines the vision he held for the project. This film also provides an interesting contrast to later films like ‘E.T.’ where once again the government and military play the bad guy against the friendship offered by the aliens.

While a lot of movies are currently available on Blu-ay few take advantage of the format the way this one does. The incredible 50 gig of storage allows all three versions to reside on the same disc. This makes the ‘View from Above’ feasible. It also uses a feature that has been part of the specs and under used since DVD; seamless branching, created for the dispel of multiple versions. The second disc presents the extras including a thirty year retrospective on the film and its influence that is a must see. The video is absolutely the best I have even seen for this film and that includes watching its initial run in the theater. While the picture is brighter and more detailed than ever I was a little disappointed in the True-HD audio. It just seemed a little flat and centered on the front speakers but otherwise good. Hopefully more films of this caliber will receive this truly special treatment.

Steven Spielberg: 30 Years of Close Encounters
Storyboard to Scene Comparisons
Extensive Photo Gallery
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Making of Documentary
1977 Featurette "Watch the Skies"
Deleted Scenes
Blu-ray Exclusive: In-Movie A View From Above (Editor's Fact Track)
A View From Above: Feature Comparison Poster

Posted 03/26/2010