Close Encounters of the Third Kind...Which version is better?

[GORT]

Originally Posted by lgans316

D.C but IMO the movie sucked. Poor acting and slow pace killed my viewing experience. Could have been a great movie in the past but it looks too silly now. War of the Worlds and Minority Report rocks.

Ya you are right some laser fights and attacking aliens eating peoples brains would have made it much better

[syncguy]

Is the theatrical release as well as the directors cut of this movie available on blu-ray? Is it technically feasible to use "branching" to have both versions on a single disk?

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by syncguy

Is the theatrical release as well as the directors cut of this movie available on blu-ray? Is it technically feasible to use "branching" to have both versions on a single disk?

All three versions on the same Blu Ray and do in fact use seamless branching. You can also watch the movie with a 'fact' track. When watching one version of the film, it will show what was added and what was removed. It includes a nice booklet as well. I love all three versions of the film, as I grew up with the movie. This was also the first time I was able to see the 'Original' theatrical version. The second disc has deleted scenes, the original making of from 1978 and the making of documentary included on the 2-Disc Director's Cut dvd. All around a worthwhile purchase for any fan of the film and Spielberg's fans.

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by darkpoet25

All three versions on the same Blu Ray and do in fact use seamless branching. You can also watch the movie with a 'fact' track. When watching one version of the film, it will show what was added and what was removed. It includes a nice booklet as well. I love all three versions of the film, as I grew up with the movie. This was also the first time I was able to see the 'Original' theatrical version. The second disc has deleted scenes, the original making of from 1978 and the making of documentary included on the 2-Disc Director's Cut dvd. All around a worthwhile purchase for any fan of the film and Spielberg's fans.

Thanks. This is definitely a bonus to get this movie on blu-ray.

[Kirsty_Mc]

The Directors cut IMO is the best to watch.

Warning Spoilers:-

The Original Theatrical cut was much better IMO than the Special Edition, as the Special Edition

[Show spoiler]cut much from the part where Roy builds a replica of Devils Tower in his living room from stuff out of the garden

. Also the ending

[Show spoiler] showing the inside of the alien craft was unnecessary, and IMO not done well at all

.

The Special Edition did I believe introduce

[Show spoiler]the ship in the desert scenes, which was quite nicely done and a good addition to the movie

, this was retained in the Directors Cut.

The Directors cut appears to include more footage of

[Show spoiler]Roy stuffing his house with garden shrubs etc. with which to build his replica devils Tower

as well as bit and pieces of other footage.

[wallendo]

The differences between the Theatrical Version and the Director's Cut are not significant. I would watch the Theatrical Cut (the one many of us saw in the theatre) and then watch the Director's Cut. I was never a fan of the Special Edition.

[owa]

Some don't like any non-standard packaging but I love the packaging with this one. IMO, it's really nice.

Originally Posted by FEP3108

Ya you are right some laser fights and attacking aliens eating peoples brains would have made it much better

Don't forget explosions!

[Strannix136]

Originally Posted by owa

Some don't like any non-standard packaging but I love the packaging with this one. IMO, it's really nice.

The packaging was pretty close to the original theatrical posters. It showed the road with the mysterious glow over the hill. That's all it should be.

[blackhawktraffic]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Personally, I hate the very IDEA of director's cuts. I think the audience deserves a single version of films. If a director's version of the film is so good, then that should be the version released in theatres -- period. [/end rant]

BUT... for this particular film... go with the Director's Cut -- it's definitely the best version. There are a few films (like CE3K and Brazil) where the director's cut is definitely better (and different enough to justify a separate release) than the original studio cut of the film,so I completely understand the additional release.

That just makes you sound stupid, the Directors Cut is almost always the best cut out there. You might be getting confused with so called unrated cuts which are all for the sake of making an extra dollar or two by the studio. With many big budget titles the director does not have the final say on the cut, that is often left up to the studio, producers etc. To say that the DC should have been the cut seen in theaters instead of the Theatrical cut is one thing, but since some Directors Cut change the movie drastically and god forbid an American movie not have a happy ending for the sad sobs that go see most of the mainstream trash is another thing.

But Yes Directors Cut

[syncguy]

How about the PQ and AQ of 3 versions of the movie. Are they same or different? If “branching” is used, I expect the PQ and AQ are same.

[UKTruBlu]

you could just watch all 3 versions and make up your own mind. You shouldn't rely on other people too much as they may have a different opinion than you.

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by syncguy

How about the PQ and AQ of 3 versions of the movie. Are they same or different? If “branching” is used, I expect the PQ and AQ are same.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=529

[Kirsty_Mc]

Originally Posted by syncguy

How about the PQ and AQ of 3 versions of the movie. Are they same or different? If “branching” is used, I expect the PQ and AQ are same.

Seamless Branching is indeed used, PQ & AQ is seamless between the versions. Also I find the packaging very satisfactory indeed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Why the hell did I bother

Originally Posted by Strannix136

I definitely prefer the Director's Cut.

[Show spoiler]I didn't like the internal shots of the mothership

. I saw the theatrical release at the theater three times as a kid, then we saw the special edition at the drive-in.

[Show spoiler]I totally forgot that the ship-in-the-desert-scene was not in the original release. I looked for it in version 1 and couldn't find it

.

EDITED BY ME TO REMOVE THE SPOILERS

Something makes me think that this looks suspiciously deliberate... picking up on the points that I was careful to hide with spoiler tabs. There will be many who haven't seen this older movie!!! Please prove me wrong.

Complete !!!

[guitarist155]

i say directors cut, or original. the special leaves out some of the best scenes in the movie imo and adds one that never should have been there

[Strannix136]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

Something makes me think that this looks suspiciously deliberate... picking up on the points that I was careful to hide with spoiler tabs. There will be many who haven't seen this older movie!!! Please prove me wrong.

Complete !!!

I'm sorry. I was just trying to have a little fun talking about one of my favorite films. Please don't hurt me.

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

Seamless Branching is indeed used, PQ & AQ is seamless between the versions. Also I find the packaging very satisfactory indeed.

Thanks.

[Kirsty_Mc]

Originally Posted by Strannix136

I'm sorry. I was just trying to have a little fun talking about one of my favorite films. Please don't hurt me.

Baseball bat back under the bed

[Strannix136]

Originally Posted by Kirsty_Mc

Baseball bat back under the bed

Thanks.

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by lgans316

IMO the movie sucked. Poor acting and slow pace killed my viewing experience.

Poor acting? Sorry - I saw a good portrayal of a late 70's family with three annoying kids who's dad (who never grew up - hence the "when you wish upon a star" thematic element to the theme music) find himself drawn into an obsessive adventure.

The doggy door scene is classic, and it's because of this movie that visiting the Tower is a livelong dream.

As for pace... yeah - the film builds. I'm not sure what your problem is with that. We've all become too accustomed to cut-to-the-chase film making. I think the pace is perfect to the development of the story. The guy doesn't just go off half-cocked. He's puzzled, he resists, he gives in... that takes time.

[hostelmovies]

I like the Special Edition for all of the extra visuals that it offers but I liked the Director's Cut more for the performances.