CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND Returning To Theaters

[PoopaPapaPalps]

Caught it earlier today with a friend who'd never seen it. The movie got me weepy eyed like it always does but my friend wasn't impressed. Eh, different strokes for different folks, I guess (though he always did have questionable taste to start).

 

[Treadwell]

So the theaters have their own proper "print" (i.e. a DCP file)... as in, it's not one of those compressed satellite feed deals like the Phantom events?

 

[Clutch]

I can't get my kids interested in going. I've got it on blu-ray so I guess I'm not gonna see it.

 

[CessnaDriver]

I can't get my kids interested in going. I've got it on blu-ray so I guess I'm not gonna see it.

Funny.
Neary had the same problem.

 

[Bones_68]

I caught a matinee yesterday. I thought for sure a lot of people would be there with their kids — it's better than Goofy golf! — but there were only 4 of us at a 12:30 pm show.

Overall, it was great seeing it on the big screen again for the first time since 1977. The only thing that struck me as odd was that the image quality didn't seem very good for a restoration. It was often dark and murky, especially the interiors and night shots, almost as if I were watching an old print from 1977. I was mainly surprised because I half expected them to go overboard with brighter colors and boosted contrast. Nope — it looked pretty much the way I remembered it. I'd be curious to hear if any of you had a similar reaction.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

I thought something similar. It actually looked like an old film print, which I don't mind at all. I just thought what was missing was the clacking of the projector.

 

[Bones_68]

I thought something similar. It actually looked like an old film print, which I don't mind at all. I just thought what was missing was the clacking of the projector.

That's good to hear, I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination. Like you said, it didn't necessarily look bad, just not what you might expect from a restoration. In layman's terms, it almost looked like there wasn't enough light pumping through the images. Still, totally worth seeing it on the big screen.

 

[Treadwell]

It was shot on the same stock as Star Wars, which we know, from stories about the restoration for the SW Special Edition, was an unstable stock that goes "pink". I wouldn't be surprised if the CE3K negative has similarly suffered, and has had to be rebuilt using other sources a generation or two removed. Just a guess though.

 

[JD]

I just got back from it and one of the newer, higher end theaters in the area (a movie theater with big, reclining seats... it might be worth the extra $2). I thought it looked incredible - very clean and crisp, far as I could tell it could have easily passed as being filmed recently. Maybe it was a bit oversaturated.

It had been a very long time since I did all at once viewing of CE3K and it was worth the price admission. Brilliant, beautiful movie.

 

[jhazard]

Saw it at an RPX cinema Friday. Sounded great, looked grainy, probably how it did in '77. Certainly didn't look like it was shot in the last 10 years - and I loved it. Loved picking out the little details of 70's life too, including the Star Trek models.

Sent from my SM-J727V using Tapatalk

 

[Birdie]

Anyone ever read the original Paul Schrader script?

The Beard described it thus: “One of the most embarrassing screenplays ever professionaly turned in to a major film studio or director.”

A little harsh, but man, we wouldn't be looking at a 2017 revival if it had gone ahead...

 

[bwize]

Saw it yesterday afternoon in my local theaters Dolby theater (power reclining seats, vibrating seats, etc) and was expecting a better picture quality with the reported 4K restoration. Some scenes fared better than others. But it was totally worth it to see on the big screen. Sound was great and loved seeing the star trek ships and R2 on the mother ship which I had never noticed before.

Sadly, I think I can get better picture quality out of the 1080p bluray on my 40" Samsung but still cool to see all the splendor and filmography on the big screen.

 

[somerset fox]

There is something special about Doug Trumbull lighting FX. Feel the same about Star Trek TMP and Blade Runner. Lens flare these days just doesn't cut it.

 

[CessnaDriver]

40 years later that glance back one last time still resonates.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

It really is the incredible music that ties the whole piece together. Especially that moment. It's funny how often I compare ET and CE3K together but they're essentially the same film but on opposite ends of the spectrum and, like ET, it all builds up for the emotional crescendo of the resolution and the music always sells it.

 

[Gary Weaver II]

I always saw it this way...

CET3K - Dating

E.T. - Marriage and Honeymoon

War of the Worlds - The Divorce

 

[Treadwell]

It really is the incredible music that ties the whole piece together. Especially that moment. It's funny how often I compare ET and CE3K together but they're essentially the same film but on opposite ends of the spectrum and, like ET, it all builds up for the emotional crescendo of the resolution and the music always sells it.

That last scene of ET is just exquisite. I saw it with a live orchestra a couple of years ago, and.... wow.

 

[CessnaDriver]

A few things I noticed. The airplane noises in the background in a few scenes.
The small aircraft in the air during the blackout. Farrah Fawcett poster in the background when Truffaut is
tapping on the keyboard. The Mayflower "pilgrims" at the conference auditorium sitting by themselves.
For some reason I never registered that was them, the blonde woman's hair-do finally hit me I guess.
There are some errors that I've always sort of noticed, a shot of the mothership where half the ship would probably be inside
Devil's Tower to show that particular part of the ship in frame like they did.
This is not the original theatrical version from 77 of course so I notice those missing and added things.
And for some reason I just noticed the ****** on the cross symbolism,
arms outstretched as the little aliens guide Neary and escort him to the boarding ramp.
He is ascending from our world.


These days with the dazzling LEDs available that color shift. A small ship like the trio on the runway they first converse with
could be done nicely as a pre-made model product. It's a simple design, it's all in the lights.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

That last scene of ET is just exquisite. I saw it with a live orchestra a couple of years ago, and.... wow.

I've yet to see a live performance with the maestro Williams himself conducting. I hope to before he passes.

 

[PoopaPapaPalps]

CET3K - Dating

E.T. - Marriage and Honeymoon

War of the Worlds - The Divorce

Interesting, I think it more appropriate like this:


CE - Alienation (Roy is a complete alien to everyone around him, before and after the cosmic call)

ET - Divorce (An underlying thematic element that starts with the divorce Elliott's parents go through and then what Elliott mirrors with ET)

WotW - Stalking (aliens from Mars watch us and envy our planet until they finally do something drastic)