Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Director's Cut)

1977 • 137 minutes
4.5
582 reviews
94%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

Richard Dreyfuss stars as cable worker Roy Neary, who along with several other stunned bystanders experience a close encounter of the first kind - witnessing UFOs soaring across the sky. After this life-changing event, the inexplicable vision of a strange, mountain-like formation haunts him. He becomes obsessed with discovering what it represents, much to the dismay of his wife and family. Meanwhile, bizarre occurrences are happening around the world. Government agents have close encounters of the second kind - discovering physical evidence of extraterrestrial visitors in the form of a lost fighter aircraft from World War II and a stranded military ship that disappeared decades earlier only to suddenly reappear in unusual places. Roy continues to chase his vision to a remote area where he and the agents follow the clues that have drawn them to reach a site where they will have a close encounter of the third kind - contact.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

4.5
582 reviews
Kyle Vansteelandt
January 26, 2022
This is what happens when we analyze how Steven Spielberg (director/writer) approach's towards filmmaking; "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is superbly-staged with suspenseful elements that are gripping and mysterious; starting with an uneasy opening scene. The movie has effective timing that is well-paced enough to grab my attention thoroughly. I have no idea what was going to happen next, nor did I know what is happening but it convinced me enough to keep me watching. The script of the whole movie has a lot of turns to keep me interested, and to have an effect on me. Roy Neary (Richard Dryfuss) has an obsession with the cone-shaped rock, by trying to figure out what it means, while Claude Lacombe (Francois Tuffaut) and David Laughlin (Bob Balaban) pick up the recording sounds and the hand signals of the mysterious extraterrestrials. I was worried when Barry (Cary Guffrey) is hypnotized and follows the lights of the UFOs. Then, the second half of the film gave me one of the most unique light shows I have ever seen in my life as it captures an overwhelming sense of awe and wonder, especially for the fact that I couldn't believe that the humans and the aliens communicated with each other with music and hand gestures. When the UFOs approach, the filmmakers made every single inanimate object without their hands, which makes me wonder "how on earth did they do that?" From the flashing lights to the UFOs, the visual effects are astonishing. The breathtaking cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond offers an awe-inspiring sense of wonder (I just can't help but saying it twice because it's true). The sounds grabbed the attention of my ear drums aggressively. The score by John Williams is well-utilized; it is used minimally for the most appropriate elements, there are times where the score sounds eerie, and some times where the score sounds emotionally grand. Thanks to Steven Spielberg, his direction and writing makes the characters believable with vivid drama. The film offers some of the most important storytelling I've ever experience, and the story is a coherent parable. It tells us that if we become so overwhelmed by something that we need to know, and if we keep finding the answer too long, this leads to obsession. Obsession can lead to strange insanity. Then, the uplifting latter inspires us not to fear the unknown, and that is absolutely rare. It was like a breath of fresh air, and it made me feel a little younger again. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a wonderful masterpiece on so many levels: it is an imposing piece of art when it comes to filmmaking, it tells one of the greatest stories ever told, and it is an original movie that not only offers successful entertainment, but also offers brilliant ideas that are innovative. Suitable for ages twelve and up. Highly Recommended!
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Russo Glassplinter (Blue Blazer Russ W)
December 10, 2017
It really tells you something when a mere five musical notes completely permeates our culture for decades to come. Close Encounters of the Third Kind isn't just an iconic sci-fi film, it's a genius film about man's first(as far as I know) encounter with alien life. We see this from the point of view of an ordinary man named Roy Neary who after an encounter with an alien spaceship quickly becomes obsessed with the aliens. Meanwhile, the government is rapidly making progress with contacting the aliens in person. Eventually our every man Roy Neary makes his way to Devil's Tower and sneaks in with his neighbor friend Gillian Guiler whose son was taken by the aliens, in the hopes of getting him back. From beginning until the end, Close encounters of the third kind is a gripping classic science fiction film that in every way holds up, even to this very day. It's a truly awe-inspiring cinematic masterpiece.
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MR REBEL
October 9, 2016
a bit drawn out, but strong actors with roles that fit their acting abilities. remember seeing this at the theater. and the lead scientist is based on j.allen hynek. who consulted on the film while in charge of project blue book. so, maybe some truth mixed in with the movie.
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