Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Film

Science fiction

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<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says

Close Encounters takes the favoured dream of every UFO enthusiast (that the US government has been operating a cover-up) and turns it into a majestic and finally unprecedented adventure story. As early references to The Ten Commandments and Chuck Jones's Warner cartoons show, the film seems less concerned with science fiction than with recapturing the wonder of a child's first experience of the cinema, and the surprising thing is that Spielberg moves into this territory so effectively. There are some awkward touches (Truffaut never ceases to be Truffaut, while some of the comedy scenes are a little overplayed), but they're small price to pay for the first film in years to give its audiences a tingle of shocked emotion that is not entirely based either on fear or on suspense.

Author: DP

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Release details

UK release:

1977

Duration:

135 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Cast:

Bob Balaban, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, François Truffaut, Richard Dreyfuss, Warren Kemmerling

Music:

John Williams

Production Designer:

Joe Alves

Editor:

Michael Kahn

Cinematography:

Vilmos Zsigmond

Screenwriter:

Steven Spielberg

Producer:

Michael Phillips, Julia Phillips

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (4 ratings)

  • Just plain superb movie making.

    Dennis Jaeger About 3 days ago
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • No, the Emperor really isn't wearing anything. Close Encounters just another boring, overhyped movie that only pretentious people will claim to 'like.'

    ari-free Mon Jan 2 2012
    Rated as: 1/5
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  • I can't even begin to say what is wrong with Roy's review. Did you watch the same film that I did? This film is a classic in every way. It brilliantly builds tension and expectation, whilst offering a totally believable take on what could have been a completely unbelievable story. The acting is uniformly superb and compliments the sense of wonder generated by Spielberg's excellent direction. However, I can understand that the film may seem long to a generation used to MTV-style editing, often used to cover up failings in plotting, directing and pace. Fortunately, we have this wonderful movie to remind us of how films can touch and move the viewers without telling them how they should be feeling at every moment. A great film in every way, and one that Spielberg is still striving to better.

    Derek Sun Oct 17 2010
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • A dreadful over long boring film

    Roy Llowarch Sun Feb 28 2010
    Rated as: 1/5
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