Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

[Dementeleus]

We are not alone.

[DAR]

Love it, Spielberg at his most hopeful and optimistic.  So many iconic moments and one of Williams best scores.  A

[IndustriousAngel]

Today it looks a bit ridiculous but in its days this was a very powerful movie. Some very gripping images. And somehow Francois Truffaut appears on screen ...

 

It's funny, looking back, how in the late 60s and early 70s things like psi-powers, alien contacts and so on suddenly became completely mainstream and were even tackled by some scientists. Erich von Daeniken's Flying Gods, Berlitz' Bermuda Triangle - it's crazy how many people could fall for such silly and simple frauds. Well, to every generation its own prophets and those were at least comparatively harmless ...

[Dementeleus]

So many beautifully-composed widescreen shots:

 

[baumer]

Today it looks a bit ridiculous but in its days this was a very powerful movie. Some very gripping images. And somehow Francois Truffaut appears on screen ...

 

It's funny, looking back, how in the late 60s and early 70s things like psi-powers, alien contacts and so on suddenly became completely mainstream and were even tackled by some scientists. Erich von Daeniken's Flying Gods, Berlitz' Bermuda Triangle - it's crazy how many people could fall for such silly and simple frauds. Well, to every generation its own prophets and those were at least comparatively harmless ...

 

How exactly does it look ridiculous today?  The effects in this film are fantastic and don't look dated at all.

[baumer]

Suddenly I feel like having mashed potatoes.

 

9/10

[baumer]

Just because CGI has advanced, doesn't mean what they did in the 70's on films like this one and Star Wars and so on, is dated.  That's just a really narrow way of looking at things.  

[DAR]

For as good as CGI can look, it can also look worse than anything from years ago

[IndustriousAngel]

How exactly does it look ridiculous today?  The effects in this film are fantastic and don't look dated at all.

Sorry, was talking strictly about the plot here - the effects and cinematography as a whole look absolutely gorgeous!

[Water Bottle]

As much as I try to like this movie, I can't help but be bored by it.

 

C+

[The Stingray]

As much as I try to like this movie, I can't help but be bored by it.

 

C+

 

I wouldn't go so far as to call it boring, but I do think it is a tad overrated.

 

B

[CaptainJackSparrow]

Agreed, it is overrated. 3/5 for me.

[Blankments]

Enjoyable. The first two-thirds are what makes Spielberg Spielberg and I loved it. The ending was so disappointing though. I would've been pissed at it back in 1977. A

Edited June 30, 2014 by Blankments

[Dementeleus]

I'm curious, Blanks, what aspect of the ending did you find disappointing and what would you have liked to see happen?

[Kvikk Lunsj]

Bland an boring and petty silly

2.5/5

[Dark 33Legend of the Sith]

I would dare say it's underrated as it lives in the shadows of Spielberg's other behemoths.A- and a classic

Edited July 1, 2014 by 33Legend

[tommycruise]

Only movie I've never been able to sit through, too boring for me. Before you say this is because I hate older movies I absolutely love Jaws, Rocky and back to the future. Maybe I'll give this movie another chance one day

[John Marston]

personally I never liked this movie that much. The plot is kind of thin and un involving. Also. I also find it kind of weird the aliens are portrayed as peaceful in the end. Wait a minute. These aliens kidnapped human beings against their will and did God knows what to them aboard their ship. They also kept them against their will for decades and returned them into a completely different time when their families were all dead and never found out what happened to them. They even kidnapped a child. These aliens seem cruel as hell to me/ 

 

 

 

best thing about this movie by far is the score. It is magnificent. 

Edited July 1, 2014 by John Marston

[CaptainJackSparrow]

I always thought I was the only one who thought this was boring!!

[BadAtGender]

The movie feels a little weird, nowadays. While there is some action, it's mostly done. The climax scenes of the film are oddly sedate and really gear up the wonder of first contact rather than the excitement. Despite that, it's pretty great. The visual composition is outstanding and Douglas Trumbull knocks it out of the park with the visual effects. Considering the technology available, they are outstanding here. It's rather like looking at the animation in Pinocchio and trying to figure out how they did it, because they hold up so well.