Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Page 3

The Big Reel. I don't know if it's still around, but it was a mag dedicated to the buying/selling of film.

How does it compare? Well, to be honest, I sold the film before DVD was released. Here's what I remember: scratches, not so many splices, the detail and color was extraordinary compared to LD, but I'd have a hard time deciding which is better-a heavy, bulky 35mm print or a 2 oz. remastered DVD, both shown on a 9 ft. screen. I'd bet the DVD would give the print a run for its money. It's been way too long to say which is better, but I do know that storing several hundred DVDs is better than several hundred 35mm prints.

I don't know if it's truly psychological, but there's this old-school feeling about watching a 35mm print of a film like that. Even if you watched a film on the same screen as the same movie on DVD, the film would make you "feel" like you were in whatever your favorite theater was at the time. It's almost like the defects give it the feeling like you're watching it in a theater. Like vinyl albums.

A side note about film - it's hit or miss. My 1977 35mm print of Star Wars is fading, except for reel 5 which was printed on Fuji stock (but with the same date mark). I loved collecting film, but it was terribly inconvenient. Temperature control alone is a big problem. When we were married and alone, we had room but now we have two kids and no room. I still have a projector and a half, but no room for the projector anymore so it's in the garage (Simplex E7).

Mike

Mike,

How much do older 35mm films ('77 Star Wars, C3K, etc.) of this nature typically cost? Not that I'm interested, but I know little about it and I find it intriguing. It's got to be a great experience for reasons you mentioned.

That depends on the film, its condition, what film stock it was printed on, and if they're desperate to get rid if it.

My BTTF was $150 (I sold it for exactly the same price to a friend of mine). That's dirt cheap. CE3K was $125, but mono. Star Wars was $600, but overpriced considering its condition (and it's starting to smell of vinegar now). A pristine 1977 35mm tech print of Star Wars can go for $5000.

I don't have much film left anymore. I actually have more trailers than movies, but again, back then DVDs weren't out and trailers were hard to find. Now they're on almost every DVD. Some of my trailers are in better shape than what you get on some DVDs.

Mike

Just a heads up. The japanese superbit DVD is a noticeable improvement over the R1.

Dave,

Is Japanese Region free?

don't know if anybody brough this up,but when they
did the columbia dvd,they didn't included the fine
Photo gallery of the laser set,maybe at some piont they
will do another version with this back in

isn't there also a superbit version in japan?

There is. Do a Google search and you'll find a few reviews.

Hi Dave, the japanese version is region 2. If you do see one say on Ebay, that is region free, it is a bootleg.
The Japanese SB is actually split over 2 discs for just the film!!!!

All I know is this thread has made me want to watch C3K again. I have a completely new (much improved) set-up since I last watched it a few years ago. It should be fun.

I don't think we'll ever see the true 1977 version released on any format. Even the Criterion laserdisc was compromised (one shot replaced with a shot from the 1980 SE, and two other scenes trimmed). Speilberg just won't allow it.

-Lyle J.P.

Dave Mack,

Any chance of any comparative screengrabs? Thanks.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

It's the film's 30th anniversary next year - something I imagine Sony, with their obsessive re-releasing of popular catalogue titles, will not have failed to notice. There's the vast stills collection featured on the laserdisc that didn't make it over to the original DVD, plus the other missing snippets people have mentioned on this thread for an expanded outtakes section. A third disc with both the 1977 and 1980 versions available via seamless branching would also be most welcome. Any other ideas?

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

As a deleted scene, I truly love the 'Inside The Mothership' scene. No CGI has that effect on me.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Spielberg hates that scene. He never wanted to show the inside of the ship and he only stuck it in to get money from the studio to finish some scenes.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I don't like the scene either - I think it's truly unnecessary and anti-climactic...

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Spielberg has a right to hate that spaceship interior sequence... it's a failure of imagination.

Now if only Sony will finally give his final cut a proper, clean transfer with really, really good re-mastered sound. I watched the current DVD the other day and I was asking myself, "is this the best they could do??"

Dan

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

A restriction, maybe, but hardly a failure. I, like Alex, have always been riveted by the special effects in that final scene, but feel the movie isn't harmed substantially by either its includion or deletion...

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I should stress that I indeed love the scene of the mothership interior, but only as an extra, and not in the film. It's the kind of SFX I respond to, emotionally as well as physically.

Alex

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I bought the 2 disc collectors edition when it was released in 2001. I watched it like crazy when I first bought it, and watched it last night for the first time in over 5 years. I blame this partly on the fact that I buy so many dvd's, it's hard for me to get back to those that I really love.

I'm going to watch this film annualy from here on out. It's hard to describe how much I love this movie, because it is just so epic, thought provoking, and great. When it comes to Spielberg, many will say Jaws is his crowning achievment. IMO, Jaws is a great film, but Close Encounters is purely magical, and much better. Not only did Spielberg make a masterpiece, he also wrote the novel(which I have read, and is also very good) so he really proved himself an incredible talent.

I regret not watching Close Encounters at my local cineplex, but then again I was only 6 years old at the time. I wonder if there is a full screen edition available on dvd. I always prefer Widescreen dvd's, but full screen is how I watched it for the first time on the ABC Sunday night movie when I was in sixth grade. My feelings for movies in general more than tripled after I watched it, and I am that much of nut about this movie.

If a new release happens next year, I will be more than happy.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I watched this again just recently too- maybe two weeks back.

I had remembered being very disappointed in the transfer when I first saw it, but for some reason, I thought it looked fine this last viewing- with the possible exception of the first few scenes in the desert where there is some nasty, noticeable ringing. Otherwise I think I can ride out a Bd release, if the players are still tagged at $1K or more.

a 30th anniversary re-release is likely- especially since they will be able to exploit a Bd version along with it.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Bryan do you have a death wish! FOOL screen!?! indeed!
Remember this sin come Sunday!

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I didn't see Close Encounters in widescreen until I bought the DVD. I'm a sucker for childhood nostalgia, but we all had to leave diapers for the commode eventually. Not that I want to soil the reputation of diapers by comparing them to pan & scan...

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

To me this movie is as perfect as they come. For years when asked which movie is my favourite this is the one I always name and that hasn't changed since the year it was released. I also would be all over a new dvd release.
I don't mind the Mothership scene but as a deleted scene and not incorporated into the movie. I prefer the movie the way it was released back in 1978.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

I remember seeing it in the theater. It must have been 1978 or '79, because I was in college, but home on break waiting tables in the local pizza joint. We went across the street to the theater in the shopping center. For some reason, I vividly remember the title on their lighted sign next to the highway.

Anyway, I haven't watched the DVD since I first got it, either, so now you've got me interested in watching it again.

Regards,
Doug

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Just a note from someone who saw the original release in a theater some 20 times when it came out ... I can't enjoy watching the revised versions as the changes stick out like a sore thumb and create a jarring effect that takes me totally out of the move. It might not be a big deal to someone who has only seen the movie since the (many) changes have been made, and maybe some newer version is "better", but it would be nice if Spielberg and Columbia could acknowledge the fans who watched and loved the original could present it in that form. Otherwise, I won't watch any revised version again ... my memories of the original are stong enough that I can live without it.

I hope at some point that someone can save the original versions of the films of Coppola, Spielberg, and Lucas from their creators.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Well, in all fairness to Spielberg, the director's cut of CE3K was done very shortly after the original film and he was pretty much the same filmmaker he was when he made the original.

I think there's a difference between finishing a film later because he ran out of money the first time and a much older filmmaker tinkering with an earlier work because it no longer suits his sensibilities (a la Lucas) or sticking deleted footage back in when it should have stayed deleted (like Coppola).

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

You've heard of a little Spielberg film called E.T. haven't you?

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

E.T. is not CE3K and vice versa. Again, to Spielberg's credit, I have the original version of E.T. on DVD.

I still wish I could say that about CE3K, though. Win some, lose some.

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

While I have never seen the theatrical cut (because I was not born when it hit theaters), I absolutely love CE3K. It is one of my very favorite films. I ALWAYS believe the theatrical cut of any film should be available though. I applaud Spielberg for his decision with E.T. While his updated one is interesting, the original version is the disc I watch! Hopefully, he will see the value of making the theatrical version of Close Encounters available as well. And then, maybe he could give his buddy George Lucas a call!

Re: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Is the latest version (1997 was it?) missing anything from the original, other than the power plant scene, and Carl Weathers telling Roy about looters? Because it feels very close to the original to me.