The Close Encounters Of The Third Kind BD review thread

[ryoohki]

Grain this, Grain That, anyone know what Speilberg is so i hope there won't be any stupid there's too much grain in my Speilberg movie.. seriously. If you don't like grain, don't ever buy a Speilberg Movie..... EVER...

[owa]

Lucky dog, I can't wait to get this. How is the SQ? For me, in this movie, the SQ is probably as important as the PQ. I love the sound effects/soundtrack in this movie.

[rjg]

No surprise this looks as good as he says. I remember hearing a lot of work went into this title, its good to know Spielberg definitly likes Blu-Ray.
I MUST buy for me next week




http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1022...ncounters.html

[Neo65]

It's a serious scifi that belongs in any collector's shelves. But it's not a heavy action laden blockbuster that will please most people. I predict that serious movie collectors (how ever many or few there are of us) will find this one irresistible.

[Seretur]

Actually, I found this to be one of Bracke's very best reviews so far, regardless of the star grading.

[ryoohki]

It should be in the collection of any serious Sci Fi buff or Movie lovers. IMHO... of course The pace in the 70 was different that today, this is very realistic look at the alien phenomenon...

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by ryoohki

It should be in the collection of any serious Sci Fi buff or Movie lovers. IMHO... of course The pace in the 70 was different that today, this is very realistic look at the alien phenomenon...

I don't really care about the pace as much as making movie that are intelligent. CEotTK is a smart film as is 2001 and that's why both are sci-fi classics that any collector should own.

[desmond]

can't wait for this one! hopefully amazon gets it to me before thanksgiving.

[Digital Filmmaker]

I cant imagine any serious Blu-ray Disc collector not wanting a copy of CE3K.

[BluStar88]

I just got a notification that CE3K is shipping from best buy already. I'm glad I'm getting it early but worried it will count in this weeks numbers.

anybody else getting the same news from other vendors?

[gumpaholic]

I got my email from BB too yesterday (Thurs.) ! I'm so excited, i'm gonna crap my pants !

[Go Blu]

No news yet from Amazon yet about CE3K.

[doctorsteve]

I'm sure it looks as good as it ever will... But why is Ben Williams having such an orgasm over the wonderful, stupendous, gorgeous swirling GRAIN of this movie. I've seen 300. 300 is a close personal friend of mine. Close Encounters is no 300. Yes, this flick is old and has grain, I'm sure. But GRAIN is rarely a selling point and only detracts from this review. He seems to be trying to shut up the nay sayers before they have their nay say. 300 was MEANT to be grainy - you won't convince me the same should be said for CE. Sorry, Charlie.

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

I'm sure it looks as good as it ever will... But why is Ben Williams having such an orgasm over the wonderful, stupendous, gorgeous swirling GRAIN of this movie. I've seen 300. 300 is a close personal friend of mine. Close Encounters is no 300. Yes, this flick is old and has grain, I'm sure. But GRAIN is rarely a selling point and only detracts from this review. He seems to be trying to shut up the nay sayers before they have their nay say. 300 was MEANT to be grainy - you won't convince me the same should be said for CE. Sorry, Charlie.

The problem is that the electromagnetic propulsion drives of Unidentified Flying Saucers interfere with the electronic systems of movie cameras. Hense the grain.

[Banjo]

Geez, what bitterness.

It's a known fact that Spielberg prefer to use film due to the graininess. Though the movie is 30 years old. So naturally, you will notice more grain than you would with newer movies. Especially during shots where optical effects are displayed.

The reason why people are having orgasms is because it has never looked this good. Not to mention that it's a great movie.

[doctorsteve]

Quotes:
"This is a film that is very much of its time, with an abundance of film grain and exceptional contrast and color."

"Make no mistake, this film is full of glorious, living grain. It swirls around the frame and comes to life in almost every scene of the film. This is how Close Encounters of the Third Kind is supposed to look. It would be a complete travesty if this film had been smoothed out and homogenized for the Blu-ray release."

"This extreme level of detail is what allows the grain structure of Close Encounters of the Third Kind to be so perfectly rendered in this Blu-ray edition. I have never seen high definition video look as much like actual film as this Blu-ray does. Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a sterling example of how an older film can shine on Blu-ray."

As I said before - I'm sure it looks it's best ever. But to wave the flag and shout from the tree tops: "Hey kids, LOOK! It's grainy!!! Isn't that GREAT?!?!? Oh GAWD I need a cigarette! " Yeah... just something off about it IMO.

And - Yes, this is one of my favorites too - just watched it last week on DVD and just lent the DVD to someone else so they could watch it with their kid - so- SOLD, yeah - a great movie!! And I hear the Bly-Ray version has some great GRAIN in it!!! (cheeky)

[darkpoet25]

I will be looking forward to watching one of my all time favorite movies in full 1080p glory. Having seen this at least literally a hundred times, I will probably watch all three versions the night I get this. Sure it has grain but I won't let that deter or detract from me watching this. I mean come on IT'S 30 YEARS OLD!! This is the way that Spielberg wanted Sony to release this film. If it becomes that big of a deal, don't get it simple as that. Thank you Ben for solidifying a great release with your review.

[doctorsteve]

You guys have totally missed my point.

I know there will be grain
I know WHY there is grain.
I know that this movie is only five years younger than me, and I'm a little grainy myself.

Now I am in danger of doing what Ben did and that was give the grain too much importance and weight. Only I didn't do it in a review that people look to for guidance.

To paraphrase Brando in Apocalypse Now...

..."the grain. The GRAIN!"

I'm not saying I wish the grain were gone or "smoothed out". But telling people it great because of the grain doesn't quite fly... I'm no J6P, but grain has never positively contributed to picture quality as far as I can tell... so why feign erotic auto-asphyxiation and say it does. Is it true to the print it was taken from? Fine. Leave it at that. But if you're telling me you can see every errant piece of lint and scratch taken from the master print and tell me it makes the quality better? Don't take this the wrong way - but Go Fish.

[richard lichtenfelt]

I don't care if this one has more grain than Kansas, I'm getting it.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

You guys have totally missed my point.

I know there will be grain
I know WHY there is grain.
I know that this movie is only five years younger than me, and I'm a little grainy myself.

Now I am in danger of doing what Ben did and that was give the grain too much importance and weight. Only I didn't do it in a review that people look to for guidance.

To paraphrase Brando in Apocalypse Now...

..."the grain. The GRAIN!"

I'm not saying I wish the grain were gone or "smoothed out". But telling people it great because of the grain doesn't quite fly... I'm no J6P, but grain has never positively contributed to picture quality as far as I can tell... so why feign erotic auto-asphyxiation and say it does. Is it true to the print it was taken from? Fine. Leave it at that. But if you're telling me you can see every errant piece of lint and scratch taken from the master print and tell me it makes the quality better? Don't take this the wrong way - but Go Fish.

Originally Posted by Viiincent

i was thinking the exact same thing... why in the WORLD would he be so ecstatic about the grain.. like it was a proof of great picture quality.

But, surely, it is, it is. I'll say it again: The image is formed by the grain. the grain in FILM is not an addition added to the image, the image is FORMED by the grain particles. It RAISES from it. A photon hits the silver particle on the negative, it changes it, the chemicals in developing help the silver particle grow and become visible (that's why it's called the developer), and then the silver particle clumped together with other silver particles next to it form a line, a point, a shape when seen together. If you don't see the grain; minimize it, smooth it or shave it off, you're not seeing to the bottom ultimate resolution of detail of the image; you minimize it, smooth it, or shave it off.

I'll paraphrase doctorsteve:

"But you're telling me if you can see every errant piece of grain and silver taken from the master print you tell me it makes the quality better?"

Yes.


__________________
I'll say it again, God is a concept by which we measure our grain - Jon Lennnono