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Plot: Several civilian people are drawn to a remote corner of the United States where aliens land in their spaceship and parley with U.S. officials.
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind Recent Reviews
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:April 20, 2008pretty silly.
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MCT:April 6, 2008Pretty interesting at first, and a bit scary when all their stuff turns on and the kid gets abducted. Then it was neat when Dreyfuss builds a giant sculpture in his kitchen. Once they get to the mountain and the aliens come, it becomes more of a "look what we can do with our special effects" and I fell asleep. But I still liked the movie as a whole.
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MCT:January 8, 2008Roy Neary: I know this sounds crazy, but ever since yesterday on the road, I've been seeing this shape. Shaving cream, pillows... Dammit! I know this. I know what this is! This means something. This is important.
A great accomplishment by Spielberg, capturing the child-like innocence of what it is to have visions of alien life, themes of obsession, and a good-natured spirit from all involved opposed to the more war obsessed version of other films depicting aliens.
The story is mainly split into three plots. One involves a group of scientists finding strange happenings around the world, including a lost squadron of WWII planes. Another involves a woman, Melinda Dillon, and her son experiencing a UFO sighting, eventually resulting in the abduction of the son. The final thread involves family man Roy Neary, Richard Dreyfuss, who experiences the same UFO sighting and becomes obsessed with a vision of a shape that he and all others who witnessed the sighting desire to understand.
This is a movie done with almost no big action, besides cars driving fast at some points and a trek up a mountain, no computer effects (all models, lights, and optical effects), and no alien showdowns against humans. Instead, the movie is made up of people going through different lengths to understand this phenomenon.
Dreyfuss is great as a man who seems to lose his insanity due to newfound obsession, so much so that his family eventually leaves him. Dillon is equally good as a women experiencing both the encounter and the loss of her son with hopes for answers. When you have Dillon and Dreyfuss spend much time together late in the film, by the time they kiss, it is not a thing of romance but of understanding, and that is seen through the conviction they both have to discover what they have seen.
Then you have Francois Truffaut as one of the scientists who is equally curious and confounded by the other world life and jealous in a way of those first chosen to be a part of this alien encounter.
And what can't be said about John Williams music in this movie. Along with the entertaining themes that move along with the characters, you have the signature musical notes communicated by the aliens with the people. Works great.
The effects that Spielberg uses are so simple but able to draw you in as well. With lighting and miniatures, alien life is created in the form of spaceships that seem so magical to look at. From the first glimpses in the sky, to the shadows, the eerie lights, and to the final act, where we see all of the ships, including the gigantic mother ship, it is a very entertaining experience.
And opposed to other movies, this one boils down to two species trying to make a connection between each other in terms of kindness and curiosity, and no attempts at violence or taking over the planet. Its not about discovering why the aliens are here, its the idea that they have arrived and want to connect with humans.
A great, very entertaining movie.
Claude Lacombe: Mr. Neary, what do you want?
Roy Neary: I just want to know that it's really happening. -
MCT:January 4, 2008
A sci-fi legend of exterrestial proportions. Epic on a scale ahead of its time. Reminiscent of the Abyss.
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MCT:July 7, 2007A powerful movie about aliens visiting Earth to make contact with humans. There's a message, unspoken, as a group of people are all called psychically to the anticipated landing site of the alien Mothership over Devil's Tower mountain in Wyoming. Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, and many others are having the same calling, and make a hazardous journey to the site. Meanwhile, scientists are tracking the signals and trying to keep the determined individuals from reaching their rendevous. The ending night scene at the landing site is truly special. Aliens make contact with the humans. There's a great scene when the researchers communicate with the aliens using a 5-note musical sequence. There's a frightening scene when Melinda's little boy is abducted by the aliens. Spielberg's directing trademark scenes of family life versus authorities comes out nicely. I felt the movie was a bit too long. The special effects of the aliens and their spaceships was brilliant. The musical score by John Williams was top-notch.
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MCT:December 2, 2008For me, this is one of the Berg's finest hours. The simplicity with which he has created this wonderful story never ceases to amaze me.
Whilst the events are grand, the tale itself is very personal and that is the main reason why I love this film. Following Roy after his encounter and the struggles that he deals with trying to understand what he has seen and the obsession that this breeds in him, it's a thing of beauty to watch. I love Dreyfuss as Roy. He gives this guy a real centre and you can't help but root for him. One of the most underrated characters in the Speilberg world as far as I'm concerned.
As far as the effects work is concerned, the use of models, light, shadows and sound are put to use so effectively, it puts CGI to shame. The sequences with the mothership are truly spectacular even now. As for the initial encounters and the abduction of little Barry, they are scary yet strangely hypnotic.
Ultimately, for all of the effects work and granduer, it would mean nothing if the story and the characters were weak. Thankfully the story is intelligent, the characters are great and the closing scenes with Roy beginning his journey, are perfectly judged. Excellent stuff.
Comments
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Aritosgoldposted 415 days ago -
IMDb says 16 May 1976 - February 1977; not sure how accurate that is, of course.
posted 428 days ago -
Does anyone know the exact shoot dates for this film? I know it was about a 5 months shoot...
posted 555 days ago
