Close Encounters of third kind question

[Lerk718]

I just bought the ultimate edition and it comes with 3 versions(original theatrical, special edition , and final cut. I never saw this movie before so which version would be the best to watch?

[Bruce Morrison]

Originally Posted by Lerk718

I just bought the ultimate edition and it comes with 3 versions(original theatrical, special edition , and final cut. I never saw this movie before so which version would be the best to watch?

I prefer the final cut - it has some of the extra scenes that Spielberg added in the Special Edition but thankfully not the final one showing the interior of the mother ship, which was a waste of time. Spielberg shot that one only because Columbia insisted on it as part of the deal when they gave him the money to shoot the other extra scenes he wanted to add for the SE.

I would rank them in this order:

Final Cut
Original Theatrical Edition
Special Edition

[JamesKurtovich]

Nice thread. I've never seen Close Encounters and was also confused as to which version to watch first.

[Dotpattern]

The only thing I've ever liked about the Special Edition is the different cue used during the end credits. I prefer how it segues into a final passage of "When You Wish Upon a Star."

[Bluzilla]

I would watch the Final cut. It is very good !

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The OP needs to consider one thing. Will you be watching only once for the sake of wathing it? Or will you watch it with a critical eye in order to better understand its evolution through the years?

If you don't care about the development, watch the final cut first. If you are curious about the growth and development, watch each version in chronological order. And, if you DO decide to watch them in chronological order, try to do so in a short frame of time in order to really appreciate the differences. Watching all 3 over the course of a month won't offer as much of an understanding as watching all 3 over the course of a week.

[SpaceMind]

Final Cut for sure.

My order of preference:

Final Cut
Theatrical Version
Special Edition


But like someone stated above, if you want to see the evolution of the film, watch them in release order.

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by SpaceMind

Final Cut for sure.

My order of preference:
Final Cut
Theatrical Version
Special Edition

Agree with the above, but:

Like Petra mentioned, you could do the chronological thing, but the things that are missing in the final cut (and there are only a couple) were either pointless, or was something to make the studio happy, that really didn't even deliver on what it promised - and Spielburg completely regretted doing it.

Just watch the final... you truly won't be missing anything good.

[Heart&Soul]

Final Cut.

[Judgmentday2007]

Without a doubt the final cut is the better version then the original in second the other one dont bother with

[SpaceMind]

Also... To clarify, as I am watching it right now, it's The 1998 Director's Cut. Just to save any confusion on which version we are all referring to.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Dotpattern

The only thing I've ever liked about the Special Edition is the different cue used during the end credits. I prefer how it segues into a final passage of "When You Wish Upon a Star."

When You Wish Upon a Star appears in the original cut as well -- you'l hear it as Roy is walking up the gangplank into the Mother Ship, as he turns and takes a final look back.

The inclusion of this, the Pinocchio debate earlier in the film, and the Pinocchio maquette by Roy's miniature train set, have led to a line of belief that Roy himself is transformed into an alien at the end of the film. The Special Edition is particularly overt along these lines, the original cut and the revised cut are not as overt. But the Special Edition? I don't know how else you can read it...he walks in to the ship, the ceiling lifts off, When You Wish Upon a Star is blaring away on the soundtrack, and then fairy dust rains down on Roy. What's the next thing you see? The alien walking out of the space craft. It's Roy. Transformed, just as Pinocchio was physically transformed.

I personally prefer the Special Edition...although I once made my own cut of the movie utilizing ALL of the footage from the various versions, and this is the cut I prefer.

[Beast]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

When You Wish Upon a Star appears in the original cut as well -- you'l hear it as Roy is walking up the gangplank into the Mother Ship, as he turns and takes a final look back.

The inclusion of this, the Pinocchio debate earlier in the film, and the Pinocchio maquette by Roy's miniature train set, have led to a line of belief that Roy himself is transformed into an alien at the end of the film. The Special Edition is particularly overt along these lines, the original cut and the revised cut are not as overt. But the Special Edition? I don't know how else you can read it...he walks in to the ship, the ceiling lifts off, When You Wish Upon a Star is blaring away on the soundtrack, and then fairy dust rains down on Roy. What's the next thing you see? The alien walking out of the space craft. It's Roy. Transformed, just as Pinocchio was physically transformed.

I personally prefer the Special Edition...although I once made my own cut of the movie utilizing ALL of the footage from the various versions, and this is the cut I prefer.

Yeah, that's always how I took it as well.

I always assumed that the human body isn't made to handle spaceflight. So the Aliens transform those they abduct, or in the case of Roy... the 'Human Ambassador' into a similar form to themselves in order for them to survive the flight. It was just Roy coming back out to say goodbye one last time to his family.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Beast

Yeah, that's always how I took it as well.

I always assumed that the human body isn't made to handle spaceflight. So the Aliens transform those they abduct, or in the case of Roy... the 'Human Ambassador' into a similar form to themselves in order for them to survive the flight. It was just Roy coming back out to say goodbye one last time to his family.

Well, not his family...I think Spielberg would be more forgiving of the SE if that were the case. It's more a goodbye to all he was and embracing a new tomorrow.