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Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Page 6

post #151 of 182
7/26/07 at 7:17am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Nice!

Although I do wonder myself if it will be the true 1977 cut or the slightly tinkered with version that appeared on the Criterion LD. I would like to see it as it originally appeared in theaters, but it's great that we'll finally be getting all three cuts.

So three discs (according to The Bits and the MSRP suggests this as well). I'm guessing that the documentary from the current DVD will be ported over. Probably not much need for deleted scenes on the new release. Probably the trailers and hopefully the art gallery from the LD that never made it to the DVD. I wonder what else will occupy the other two discs.
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post #152 of 182
7/26/07 at 7:18am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Felix Martinez
When CE3K finally shows up on Blu-ray, I might have to dive into the format wars...

Take your dive into the Blu
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post #153 of 182
7/26/07 at 7:24am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I was already committed to Blue-Ray anyways, but if I hadn't, this would seal the deal for me. I'll have a Blue-Ray player before November now.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is one of my favorite (if not my favorite) films of all time. I hope we get the "true" theatrical cut. With three discs, I would hope they have the breathing room to give us the "original, original" theatrical version, by retaining the different versions of the scenes, etc.

Wow. I cannot wait for this. Somehow I missed any buzz about this possibility (if there was any), an I was floored to see the news over at The 'Bits.

Is it November 13 yet?
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post #154 of 182
7/26/07 at 7:51am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This...

Quote:
Through a process known as "seamless branching," the Blu-ray version contains all three films on a single disc. The process identifies the differences between each version of the film, segments the footage and then arranges it into three unique playlists so that footage used in all three films is only included on the disc once -- minimizing space requirements.

makes it sound like only the BD will have the 3 versions via SB.
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post #155 of 182
7/26/07 at 7:51am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by WillG
Nice!

Although I do wonder myself if it will be the true 1977 cut or the slightly tinkered with version that appeared on the Criterion LD. I would like to see it as it originally appeared in theaters, but it's great that we'll finally be getting all three cuts.

How was it "tinkered"?
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post #156 of 182
7/26/07 at 9:06am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Supposedly on the LD Criterion (I've never seen it) the 1977 theatrical version retains the UFO shadow flyover of Roy's truck from the 1980 Cut. A couple of other shots were altered on the 1977 version at Spielberg's request. The link I provided some posts back provide more detail

Quote:
makes it sound like only the BD will have the 3 versions via SB.

I wonder why three discs for the BD version (I'm assuming that because of the $50 MSRP) Three cuts on one disc. Then, even with a feature length doc and other featurettes in 1080 you would that would only require one extra disc. Three discs make sense for SD if it is true that the Seamless Branching will only be used on BD. One cut per disc, but that doesn't leave room for much else. I guess we'll see


Quote:
Take your dive into the Blu

I'm seriously considering picking up a PS3 at this point for the BD functionality. Too many good releases coming that I don't want to have to buy again when I eventually go Hi-Def
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post #157 of 182
7/26/07 at 9:45am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Sorry, but I had a 1977 mono print of CE3K and that shadow was in there. The film was Kodak dated as 1977 stock.

And also, that scene was intact on the film, no splices at all.

I no longer have it, but it was definitely there.
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post #158 of 182
7/26/07 at 11:13am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I hope the regular dvd includes all three versions as well. Maybe splitting the film over two discs might be required.
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post #159 of 182
7/26/07 at 12:07pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I had read that the Criterion LD set replaced a few effects shots with newer versions -- Mike, in your '77 print, during the end sequence where the probe flies over the group and the guy reaches up to touch it, is it just a tiny blob of light, or is it the fancy probe that we've seen in all subsequent versions?
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post #160 of 182
7/26/07 at 12:39pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Ooh, that I don't remember. There was a difference? I used to know all the differences in the film and I don't remember that one. I know exactly the scene you're talking about, but I don't remember seeing a difference there.

The print's long gone. I sold it only 2 or 3 years after I got it, like 10 or so years ago. Once DVD started making headway I sold most of my 35mm print collection.
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post #161 of 182
7/26/07 at 12:54pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

From the press release:
Quote:
Available only with the Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition high definition Blu-ray Disc, are additional bonus features including all-new “Storyboard-to-Scene Comparisons,” the original 1977 “Watch The Skies” featurette and an original theatrical preview.
While it's exciting to finally be getting all three versions of the film, it's a bit disheartening that seemingly most of the features from the old two-disc edition are now "Blu-Ray exclusives"...even the trailer! And what's happening to the deleted scenes from the prior release?
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post #162 of 182
7/26/07 at 1:27pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
And what's happening to the deleted scenes from the prior release?

I would think that having all three cuts will make the inclusion of deleted scenes pretty redundant. A featurette about the differences between the three cuts would be welcome though.

Quote:
that seemingly most of the features from the old two-disc edition are now "Blu-Ray exclusives"...

Yeah, I can agree that it's not ideal, but the "Watch the Skies" featurette was pretty brief IIRC. The storyboard to film thing does not seem too substantial to me either.
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post #163 of 182
7/26/07 at 1:57pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

While the old release did have a number of scenes from the first two versions compiled as deleted scenes, there were also a number of trims and alternates that never appeared in any version. Hopefully they'll show up somewhere on this release.

I agree that a featurette on all the changes would be great. Hopefully there are more specs that haven't been announced yet.
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post #164 of 182
7/26/07 at 2:16pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_G
Ooh, that I don't remember. There was a difference? I used to know all the differences in the film and I don't remember that one. I know exactly the scene you're talking about, but I don't remember seeing a difference there.

I read once that it was different -- but it was on the internet, so take that with however many grains of salt you like. I remember that the description said that the original effect was lower because it was a smaller object and that it grazed the person's hands.

Could be just like the "I swear I saw the Biggs scene in the theatre".
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post #165 of 182
7/26/07 at 2:31pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This just might push me to the blu-ray side... Like others, I love this movie for some reason.......

Now if we can get the other movies from spielberg I would be a happy camper!
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post #166 of 182
7/26/07 at 2:59pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick H.
And what's happening to the deleted scenes from the prior release?

Quote:
Originally Posted by WillG
I would think that having all three cuts will make the inclusion of deleted scenes pretty redundant. A featurette about the differences between the three cuts would be welcome though.
I think the only deleted scene not included in any cut was the alternate Lacombe introduction at the airport. The rest were cuts from the 77 version plus the inside the mothership scene from the Special Edition.

Personally, I'd rather just have the '77 cut and the Collector's Edition cut on separate discs.
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post #167 of 182
7/26/07 at 3:01pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_P.
Take your dive into the Blu
Swallow the Blu pill?
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post #168 of 182
7/26/07 at 4:54pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul McElligott
I think the only deleted scene not included in any cut was the alternate Lacombe introduction at the airport. The rest were cuts from the 77 version plus the inside the mothership scene from the Special Edition.
The scene at the gas station isn't in any cut either.
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post #169 of 182
7/26/07 at 6:03pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Can't wait for the three disc DVD, glad we're getting the various cuts now.
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post #170 of 182
7/26/07 at 9:41pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Reynolds

Could be just like the "I swear I saw the Biggs scene in the theatre".
No, no, the Biggs scenes were in the first network television broadcast.

The press release does say "the set incorporates all three versions of the film, including the first-ever home video release of the 1977 Original Theatrical edition", so I'm optimistic.
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post #171 of 182
7/27/07 at 2:08am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I saw a print of the original 1977 version a few months ago at a theater in Seal Beach (don't know how they got hold of it); it included the extra bit of Days of Our Lives, the shot of Roy, Jillian, and Larry actually breaking out of the chopper, and there was no giant shadow over Roy's truck (just the tiny-dot-in-the-sky shot. Sorry to contradict you, Mike, but it just wasn't there.

Also, if I remember correctly, Lacombe never touched the ship; it was the same distance from him as in the other versions.

I'm really glad they're finally releasing all 3 versions, though.
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post #172 of 182
7/31/07 at 2:14am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan Tuck
I saw a print of the original 1977 version a few months ago at a theater in Seal Beach (don't know how they got hold of it); it included the extra bit of Days of Our Lives, the shot of Roy, Jillian, and Larry actually breaking out of the chopper, and there was no giant shadow over Roy's truck (just the tiny-dot-in-the-sky shot. Sorry to contradict you, Mike, but it just wasn't there.

Bryan is right, Mike... the shadow of the UFO passing over Neary's truck was done for the 1980 Special Edition. It didn't exist in 1977.

Bryan, tell me, was this shot in the version you saw in Seal Beach: It's in the scene where the men in the warehouse enter an office and pop the globe off its axis. In the 1977 version, I remember that the camera tracked behind them as they rolled the globe down the hallway. In every home video edition, the shot cuts to the warehouse as they begin to roll the globe up the hall.

Maybe I'm crazy. But I remember it getting a laugh in the theater. Was this in the Seal Beach showing?
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post #173 of 182
7/31/07 at 11:11am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Did the '77 cut also feature Roy seeing the Devil's Tower shape in...a schlumpy pillow on his bed, possibly after he was fired? I think it was a daytime scene, but took place in the bedroom. I've been seeing that pillow everywhere since my original seventies' screening (but never again in any available cut on home video). And you know, I think that pillow means something.

And I have a question that's been bugging me all these years, which a fellow Close Encounters fan might help me with: What exactly was Spielberg suggesting occurred with the refrigerator in the Guiler home that had little Barry so amused? Oh, I understand that the food sloppage is what we were meant to understand gave him the giggles (I guess), but in terms of what hoovered all those goodies onto the floor and out the door, err...was it an Alien Dyson--which didn't lose suction--like the model that later abducted Barry, or an indication that an E.T. friendly had actually rummaged in the crisper for some baby carrots?

Thanks for your help.



--Jack
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post #174 of 182
7/31/07 at 11:57am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Yes, the '77 print had the pillow.

From what I understood of the film after all these years is that the aliens were "mischievous". They were just rummaging around the kitchen.

What I want to know after all these years, is what the hell happened to the tall alien? He's there, he's gone. That made NO sense, even after all this time.
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post #175 of 182
7/31/07 at 12:22pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave_P.
Take your dive into the Blu

Man, when I heard the news, I knew...time for Blu...
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post #176 of 182
7/31/07 at 1:39pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike_G
Yes, the '77 print had the pillow.

From what I understood of the film after all these years is that the aliens were "mischievous". They were just rummaging around the kitchen.

What I want to know after all these years, is what the hell happened to the tall alien? He's there, he's gone. That made NO sense, even after all this time.




Cool. I've had a deep yearning to see that pillow again. With the Special Edition supplanting the original cut in theaters so quickly--and then again on home video (where the theatrical was never released)--if you missed it in the initial theatrical run you were out of luck. Alas, this new release will deliver the cushion.

So, aliens in the kitchen, it seems. Yes, incredible. The only time Spielberg suggests they left their craft, apart from the Mother Ship finale.

As for the tall Alien, teleporting him into thin air was probably easier than shooting a dude in a suit or trying to walk him back to the ship by way of stop motion animation. So there's an abrupt cut in there. Maybe the feeling was he was too mystical/ethereal to lens in any way that would seem "in-elegant".



--Jack
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post #177 of 182
8/3/07 at 2:37am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Bryan, tell me, was this shot in the version you saw in Seal Beach: It's in the scene where the men in the warehouse enter an office and pop the globe off its axis. In the 1977 version, I remember that the camera tracked behind them as they rolled the globe down the hallway. In every home video edition, the shot cuts to the warehouse as they begin to roll the globe up the hall.

Mike, I actually don't remember for sure. It was back in February, and I wasn't specifically looking for that one. I know that the version that I know has them popping the globe off its mount. Then it cuts to the hallway, where the globe hits the railing and the guys come out behind it and start to roll it down the hall, but then it cuts after about 2 seconds to them passing it overhead. I think that's the version that I saw in Seal Beach, but again, I can't be 100% sure.

But the pillow was there.

I actually do think that the '98 cut is the best version (I would've liked for the power station scene to be in there, but I can understand the reason for cutting it), but as I said earlier, it really will be great to finally have all three versions on one disc, if nothing else, for historical reasons.
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post #178 of 182
8/3/07 at 9:39pm

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryan Tuck
and the guys come out behind it and start to roll it down the hall, but then it cuts after about 2 seconds to them passing it overhead.

Actually, it was Brian (me) who asked that. But if they acutally showed them rolling it DOWN the hall for a couple seconds, then I'm remembering correctly. In all home video versions, they cut away just as they start to roll it down the hall.
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post #179 of 182
8/4/07 at 2:31am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Quote:
Actually, it was Brian (me) who asked that.

Whoops; sorry.

Quote:
In all home video versions, they cut away just as they start to roll it down the hall.

That was the version I was trying to describe. Like I said, I can't quite remember if it was different in the version I saw in February. Sorry for the confusion.
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post #180 of 182
8/6/07 at 3:24am

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Has it been confirmed that this is a new transfer? I don't see it listed as such in the press release.
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