Which version of Close Encounters is your favorite? - Blu-ray Forum

johnnyblackout22 · 11-15-2008, 06:21 PM

Just picked this up last night. Just curious which version people prefer since there are 3 versions on the disc

nycomet · 11-15-2008, 06:44 PM

Personally, I saw the original theatrical version AND the Special Edition in 70mm when it came out way back in the 70s. I prefer these two versions. The extended edition just drags on too long. I mean there's even a long scene in the ext. ed. in which some hicks claims that he saw Big Foot once. Can you say "Filler?"

TheForce8686 · 11-15-2008, 07:36 PM

I like the version that I sold on Ebay and will never watch again. That movie was a tough one to sit through. I just kept wanting it to end.

Jokerboy649 · 11-15-2008, 07:39 PM

The director's cut. It gives you the best of all the cuts.

Mobe1969 · 11-15-2008, 08:41 PM

Directors.

I've yet to watch the theatrical though (haven't seen it since the 80s).

The extended version is good, and the ending they made Spielberg shoot very well done, but the missed a lot of the major scenes in it of the descent to madness.

pjasonOH · 11-15-2008, 09:48 PM

The Director's Cut is mine.I love the theatrical too,but the DC has the scene from the special edition featuring the ship in the middle of the desert-that scene has always been a favorite of mine.

Midnightsailor · 11-15-2008, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nycomet

Personally, I saw the original theatrical version AND the Special Edition in 70mm when it came out way back in the 70s. I prefer these two versions. The extended edition just drags on too long. I mean there's even a long scene in the ext. ed. in which some hicks claims that he saw Big Foot once. Can you say "Filler?"

I thought this was in all versions.

pjasonOH · 11-15-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnightsailor

I thought this was in all versions.

I believe that scene is in the theatrical and director's cut only-that entire scene involving the Air Force meeting with the people was left out of the special edition.

Old Bones · 11-15-2008, 10:10 PM

I agree with TheForce8686 , I think to some extent most people go GAAGAA over anything that Spielberg puts out without question.
This one is a bit weak , I was never afraid or in awe of the Alien presents , (boring) my dvd will suffice , no double dip for this one

reginaroadie · 11-15-2008, 10:31 PM

I only ever saw the official director's cut of the film, so that version is my favorite, since it includes the stuff that Spielberg wanted to put in there the first time around but couldn't, but gets rid of the studio mandated ending. I agree with him in that the inside of the ship should have been left to the imagination.

Maybe one day I'll look at the first two cuts, but for the time being, the third and final cut is my fave.

Blu-Ron · 11-15-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyblackout22

Just picked this up last night. Just curious which version people prefer since there are 3 versions on the disc

Theatrical version. Other versions were forced on Spielberg from the studio cause he owed them a favor. Who the heck wants to see the inside of the mothership. LAME! Leave it to the imagination.

Yeha-Noha · 11-15-2008, 11:37 PM

I have the 30th Ann Ed. on BD and during the past few months I have watched all three versions a few times. My preference in descending order is:

Director's cut

Extended Special Edition

Theatrical

flyboy66 · 11-15-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-Ron

Theatrical version. Other versions were forced on Spielberg from the studio cause he owed them a favor. Who the heck wants to see the inside of the mothership. LAME! Leave it to the imagination.

Bravo!! i concur Blu Ron! I saw this in 1977 as a 12 year old and loved it! The inside of the mother ship was terrible!

Blu-Ron · 11-16-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyboy66

Bravo!! i concur Blu Ron! I saw this in 1977 as a 12 year old and loved it! The inside of the mother ship was terrible!

Saw it when I was 12 also.

pjasonOH · 11-16-2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blu-Ron

Theatrical version. Other versions were forced on Spielberg from the studio cause he owed them a favor. Who the heck wants to see the inside of the mothership. LAME! Leave it to the imagination.

Not entirely true.....Spielberg wanted to do the director's cut thing after the movie became a huge hit,and the studio let him on the condition that he show the inside of the mothership,hence the special edition.Even with the extra footage,all the cuts made to this version made it three minutes shorter than the theatrical.

I agree with you that the inside of the mothership was totally unnecessary....shows how dumb studios can be.

Yeha-Noha · 11-16-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobe1969

Directors.

I've yet to watch the theatrical though (haven't seen it since the 80s).

The extended version is good, and the ending they made Spielberg shoot very well done, but the missed a lot of the major scenes in it of the descent to madness.

I didn't really care for those madness scenes anyway. It was an overkill where

[Show spoiler]

I think the scenes where

[Show spoiler]

are good enough for me.

The Director's Cut and Special Edition are both better than the Theatrcial.

P@t_Mtl · 11-16-2008, 01:15 AM

Director's cut

wnicholas76 · 11-16-2008, 01:55 AM

Liked both the Director's Cut and the Special Edition.

u_nick · 11-16-2008, 02:28 AM

Whatever one netflix sent me a month or two ago... I need to figure out which one that was, since my copy should be arriving soon...

edit: it was disc 1... whatever version is on there...

GORT · 11-16-2008, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyblackout22

Just picked this up last night. Just curious which version people prefer since there are 3 versions on the disc

Why not watch all three and decide for yourself

11-15-2008, 06:21 PM	#1
johnnyblackout22 Active Member Member since:Jul 2008 Blu-ray collection:331 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews:2	Which version of Close Encounters is your favorite? Just picked this up last night. Just curious which version people prefer since there are 3 versions on the disc

11-15-2008, 11:37 PM	#12
Yeha-Noha Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray reviews: 43	I have the 30th Ann Ed. on BD and during the past few months I have watched all three versions a few times. My preference in descending order is: Director's cut Extended Special Edition Theatrical Last edited by Yeha-Noha; 11-15-2008 at 11:49 PM.

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11-15-2008, 06:44 PM	#2
nycomet Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Long Island, NY, USA ; I enjoy watching 3D blu-rays; 41 Blufans steels so far Home Theater Gallery:11 Blu-ray collection:1344 DVD collection:55 Digital collection:246 Blu-ray reviews:40 Trading Score:343	Personally, I saw the original theatrical version AND the Special Edition in 70mm when it came out way back in the 70s. I prefer these two versions. The extended edition just drags on too long. I mean there's even a long scene in the ext. ed. in which some hicks claims that he saw Big Foot once. Can you say "Filler?"

11-15-2008, 07:36 PM	#3
TheForce8686 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Nov 2006 Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray collection:992 Trading Score:79	I like the version that I sold on Ebay and will never watch again. That movie was a tough one to sit through. I just kept wanting it to end.

11-15-2008, 07:39 PM	#4
Jokerboy649 Senior Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Detroit Blu-ray collection:262 Blu-ray reviews:8	The director's cut. It gives you the best of all the cuts.

11-15-2008, 08:41 PM	#5
Mobe1969 Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Brisbane, Australia 4K collection:980 Blu-ray collection:1610	Directors. I've yet to watch the theatrical though (haven't seen it since the 80s). The extended version is good, and the ending they made Spielberg shoot very well done, but the missed a lot of the major scenes in it of the descent to madness.

11-15-2008, 09:48 PM	#6
pjasonOH Active Member Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Ohio	The Director's Cut is mine.I love the theatrical too,but the DC has the scene from the special edition featuring the ship in the middle of the desert-that scene has always been a favorite of mine.

11-15-2008, 10:10 PM	#9
Old Bones Power Member Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Port Coquitlam B.C. Canada Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:1	I agree with TheForce8686 , I think to some extent most people go GAAGAA over anything that Spielberg puts out without question. This one is a bit weak , I was never afraid or in awe of the Alien presents , (boring) my dvd will suffice , no double dip for this one

11-15-2008, 10:31 PM	#10
reginaroadie Senior Member Member since:Dec 2007 4K collection:172 Blu-ray collection:601 DVD collection:75	I only ever saw the official director's cut of the film, so that version is my favorite, since it includes the stuff that Spielberg wanted to put in there the first time around but couldn't, but gets rid of the studio mandated ending. I agree with him in that the inside of the ship should have been left to the imagination. Maybe one day I'll look at the first two cuts, but for the time being, the third and final cut is my fave.

11-16-2008, 01:15 AM	#17
P@t_Mtl Blu-ray Duke Member since:Sep 2008 Location:Montreal Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:452 DVD collection:513 Trading Score:3	Director's cut

11-16-2008, 01:55 AM	#18
wnicholas76 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Memphis, TN (for now...) Home Theater Gallery:188 4K collection:496 Blu-ray collection:1069 Blu-ray reviews: 24 Trading Score:12	Liked both the Director's Cut and the Special Edition.

11-16-2008, 02:28 AM	#19
u_nick Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jan 2007 Location:CT, US Trading Score:27	Whatever one netflix sent me a month or two ago... I need to figure out which one that was, since my copy should be arriving soon... edit: it was disc 1... whatever version is on there...

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