Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) DVD Credits:

Region: 1

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) DVD Release Date: 13th November 2007

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Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) DVD Review:

This is in many ways a quantity-over-quality package, but this is not to say that the quality is bad. There is just such an emphasis on the quantity with three different versions of the one film in this set that it overshadows the impressive new package. Some box sets are impressive enough to warrant a shelf of their own, either from the awkwardly large shape or impressive artwork, and the 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition has both working for it. This packaging seems slightly overindulgent, but as you flip the top up and begin peeling back the layers of editing map and collector book just to reach the films, the artwork easily justifies the large package.

On the actual discs once you arrive to find them beneath the special perks are three different versions of the film. The first disc has the original theatrical version of Close Encounters and the second disc has the version of the film that was released on the special edition DVD, most notable for adding an extra sequence at the end allowing us to see inside the spaceship. The third disc contains a definitive director’s cut, which again removes many of the additions to the film from the special edition including the added spaceship ending. The three versions of the film are not dramatically different aside from slight changes and the aforementioned ending, but there is still something satisfying about possessing all of the many obsessive versions of the film.

The true irony of this obsession with changing and re-changing the film that Steven Spielberg seems to have is that the film itself is a movie more about obsession and drive more than aliens in many ways. Richard Dreyfus gives an incredibly subtle performance as Roy Neary, a cable worker who is unable to shake his encounter with a U.F.O one night. Like several others he becomes obsessed and passionately driven with a mountain-like structure that keeps appearing to him. Seemingly a character study about vision and artistry for a majority of the film, and a spectacular blockbuster with incredible visual effects whenever the alien presence is seen, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is one of Spielberg’s early masterpieces.

When choosing which version to watch there is a helpful map included in the set which lays out what differences there are in the editing. On the flip-side of the map is a replicate poster. There is also a wonderful Collector’s Book, which has biographies of for all of the key players in the film interspersed with dozens of great behind-the scenes photography from the shoot. The special features on the discs include a featurette with Spielberg talking about his thirty year passion with the film, a making-of documentary and a vintage featurette from 1977.

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Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay