|
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
The first Steven Spielberg film to arrive on a high definition format, there’s something fittingly comprehensive about the Blu-ray release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind that befits such a strong, high-profile disc.
The reason for that is that three different cuts of Close Encounters are presented in this terrific set; there’s the original cinematic version that debuted in 1977, the different cut that surfaced in the 80s, and Spielberg’s final take on the film from the late 90s. It’s arguable that each of the three has its highs and lows, and there’s something fascinating about comparing the trio too.
As for the film itself? Close Encounters is the terrific tale of Richard Dreyfuss’ Roy Neary, who discovers a UFO in the middle of the night. Co-starring Teri Garr, Francois Truffaut and Melinda Dillon, the film then follows the attempt to bring the aliens to Earth, and--coupled with terrific special effects, particularly for the era--Close Encounters is rightly regarded as a deserved classic.
The Blu-ray release is also spectacular, partly for the comprehensive nature of the package, but also down to the gleaming audio and picture quality. It may not be the highest profile Spielberg movie, and there’s certainly a deep back catalogue calling out for the high-definition treatment. But don’t let that blind you: Close Encounters is an absolute treat, and this is the best way outside of a cinema to enjoy it. --Jon Foster
Product Description
Richard Dreyfuss, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Francois TruffautDirector: Steven Spielberg
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Aside from the contents, the presentation of this set is awsome in its own right. The box is opened by lifting the lid upwards which is held shut by a small magnetic strip. Once opened there is a ribbon which when pulled raises the contents for your perusal..... The 64 page book is full of photos and info of the production crew and cast and is a nice little read in itself.... the poster is double sided with the original cinema poster on one side and a comparitive timeline of all three versions of the movie on the other. This essentially explains the major differences and when they occur in each version......
All in all I feel this is one of the best box set issues I have ever bought...
All in all I feel this is one of the best box set issues I have ever bought...
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I can still remember getting excited watching this for the first time.
It's still a great movie, classic Speilberg (loads of subtle domestic detail) and interesting to think how much of recent popular culture has its roots in this movie. Without this would we have had X Files, a new Dr Who or any number of non-combat, alien contact movies and TV series? Probably not.
Presented in a nice, but unfussy box, the three discs come with a booklet and fold out timelines so you can see what is different about the three versions without having to sit and watch them all with a stopwatch.
In fact, the new cut is the best - more build up, but less (in fact, none) of inside the mothership. Speilberg admits it was a mistake to put that in the Special Edition.
On a good 5.1 system with the volume turned up the musical "chat" between the synth guy and the mothership is even more schoolboy-exciting than I remember it being 30 years ago.
It's still a great movie, classic Speilberg (loads of subtle domestic detail) and interesting to think how much of recent popular culture has its roots in this movie. Without this would we have had X Files, a new Dr Who or any number of non-combat, alien contact movies and TV series? Probably not.
Presented in a nice, but unfussy box, the three discs come with a booklet and fold out timelines so you can see what is different about the three versions without having to sit and watch them all with a stopwatch.
In fact, the new cut is the best - more build up, but less (in fact, none) of inside the mothership. Speilberg admits it was a mistake to put that in the Special Edition.
On a good 5.1 system with the volume turned up the musical "chat" between the synth guy and the mothership is even more schoolboy-exciting than I remember it being 30 years ago.
58 of 61 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
I had never seen 'Close Encounters' before, so my purchase of the Blu-Ray release was something of a blind buy except, other than a positive review I glanced through on highdefdigest. I don't even know anyone that has seen it, so was getting curious because of the revenrential terms in which the film is described. Having just finished watching it about 15 minutes ago, however, let me just say wow. If you haven't seen the film it's very intense and has aged incredibly well. The special effects don't break the immersion (as happens sometimes with older effects-laden films) and the acting is great. I was totally sucked into the scenario... I read in the supplementary material included that Spielberg believed at the time that UFO contact had really happened in the 20th century, which makes sense since there is an amazing sense of realism to it. This is definitely not the recent 'War of the Worlds' film or 'Independence Day'. Basically, if you have not seen the film before you will not be disappointed by it; you can afford to blind buy this one.
For people who have already seen 'close encounters', I should mention that this includes three versions of the film, all three of which are in 1080p... the theatrical version, special edition, and director's cut. There is lots of printed material (a booklet and a small timeline poster) showing what the differences are between the various cuts. For £14, you get more than you do with a lot of Blu-Rays costing £25.
Picture quality is a huge pleasure to behold. The film is definitely nicer in high def. I was really impressed at how good it looks for its age. While not every scene is a showcase of what 'high definition' is, anyone could see the difference between this and standard def DVD. 100% recommended on picture quality.
Basically, I went from knowing almost nothing about this film to prizing this bluray as one of the best in my collection. A wholehearted recommendation which, at this low price, deserves to be on everyone's shelf.
For people who have already seen 'close encounters', I should mention that this includes three versions of the film, all three of which are in 1080p... the theatrical version, special edition, and director's cut. There is lots of printed material (a booklet and a small timeline poster) showing what the differences are between the various cuts. For £14, you get more than you do with a lot of Blu-Rays costing £25.
Picture quality is a huge pleasure to behold. The film is definitely nicer in high def. I was really impressed at how good it looks for its age. While not every scene is a showcase of what 'high definition' is, anyone could see the difference between this and standard def DVD. 100% recommended on picture quality.
Basically, I went from knowing almost nothing about this film to prizing this bluray as one of the best in my collection. A wholehearted recommendation which, at this low price, deserves to be on everyone's shelf.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Favourite Film
I have seen this film several times and I find it equally good to watch again. I believe that we are not the only intelligent creatures in the universe and this film gives a good... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Raz
Disappointing.
The disc is fine and the various editions included useful, but as with so many Spielberg films his "over the top" style - particularly when demonstrating the leading man's... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Adrian Drew
Great
This was and still is a sci-fi classic. I loved it and the effect despite being from decades ago, didn't seem dated at all. Excellent! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Broadie
Terrific
I have loved this movie for so long. Modern films simply cannot compete with this; a testament to the creative genius of Spielberg, and one of the greatest motion pictures in... Read more
Published 3 months ago by MikeyJ
Awful Blu-Ray Transfer !
I Love Close Encounters. Its one of my favourite films. I was really looking forward to it coming out on blu-ray, but this Blu-Ray Transfer is absolutely appaling. Read more
Published 4 months ago by cragrat
Great on blu ray
A classic film i havent seen for a while. Superb on blu ray mostly for the sound effects especially the climax on the mountain where the mother ship blasts the notes out. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Taylors1960
Conversations with 'them'...
Forgive me as I slap on the sentimental hat, because watching this glorious film on Blu-ray with a full high definition experience... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tom Cat
Modern (ish) Classic
Good to own the blu-ray if you don't have the DVD but I am not sure it's worth upgrading any movie from DVD to blu-ray. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Taylors1960
My favorite movie...
I just loved this movie in 1977. How many movies today can you go back and watch again, and again. Just the opening part when the music builds and then the cinema is bathed in... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mike47
Spielberg Mesmerising.
If you have any sense of wonder and/or any interest at all in UFO's or the unknown then this film is for you. Read more
Published 11 months ago by L. Thompson
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
