On Blu-ray 1 are three versions
of the film 'seamlessly branched':
• Original Theatrical Version (1977)
• Special Edition (1980)
• Director's Cut (1998)
Special Features (Disc 2):
• New 2007 interview with Spielberg talking about the versions (in
hi-def)
• Steven Spielberg 30-years of Close Encounters (21:21)
• Making of Documentary (1:41:41)
• Watch the Skies (5:54)
• Deleted Scenes (18:23)
• Storyboard Comparisons (22:10)
• Photo galleries
• Special Edition Trailer (6:01)
UltraViolet
Product Description:
In the night skies near his Muncie, Indiana, home, power
repairman Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) experiences
something out of this world. His close encounter sets
into action an amazing chain of events that leads to
contact with benevolent aliens and their Mothership!
The Film:
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.
Video:
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
captures were taken directly from the
Blu-ray
disc.
I admit that I was anticipating more, visually, from this
Spielberg's classic on Blu-ray. I don't think there is any
question that this new 1080P dual-layered transfer excels above any of the SD versions
in circulation... and it truthfully reports the
grain present in the original theatrical presentation. To me
this looks very strong and
I only had one issue; in only a couple of instances, I could see
a very strange sheen of digital noise in the black, star filled
skies. It may be a clunky rendition of the grain - it's hard to
be sure. It appeared like a flattened blanket being slowly immersed
in water. Other than that - colors, detail and
contrast look very good - exceptional at times. I also had my eye
peeled for digital noise in other sequences (bright blue skies,
or such large monochromatic patches) but I saw none (in all
three versions of the film). I expect this, quite handily, is
the most faithful representation of Close Encounters for
home theatre use.
Firstly, this is advertised as "Close Encounters of the Third
Kind is presented with an all-new 4K restoration, fully
restored from the 35mm original camera negative, thereby
utilizing in 4K the full resolution, detail and color depth
inherent in the film. 4K Blu-ray brings the full power of this
restoration into the home, featuring four times the resolution
of high definition, high dynamic range (HDR)--which produces
brilliant highlights, vibrant colors and greater contrast on
compatible displays. The
Blu-ray
will also utilize this new restoration at HD resolution. Both 4K
Blu-ray and
Blu-ray
versions will feature all three versions of the movie and the
original restored 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio."
T
his
4K -restored
Blu-ray
has the same three versions of the film (1977 Theatrical, 1980
Special Edition, and 1997 Director's Cut) seamlessly branched -
and, therefore, the quality is the same for each version. We
presume the, simultaneously released, 4K UHD to use this as
well, although through that process will look superior. We are
reviewing the 2-disc
Blu-ray.
I don't remember what Close Encounters looked like
theatrically - I remember my sister taking me to it. I'm
surprised that the new 40th Anniversary 1080P image is so,
dramatically, different from the one a decade earlier. It is in
the 2.39:1 aspect ratio where the older release was 2.35:1. The
new transfer is darker, thicker,, yellowish and gains
information - mostly on the right edge. Despite that the
technical stats are essentially the same (bitrate, feature file
sizes), personally it looks heavier/softer, saturated, has less
depth and one of the two has slight distortion - either the new
releases is marginally vertically squeezed or the original was
horizontally stretched. I lean to the former. I could see this
most obviously with the ship in the desert capture below (toggle
between the larger captures.) Colors in the 40th Anniversary
edition are richer and deeper (reds). In all honesty, I think I
prefer the original
Blu-ray
image but, as I stated, this new transfer may actually be
the most theatrically accurate. The more I watch it, the more I
am warming to it.
CLICK EACH
BLU-RAY
CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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More 2007 Blu-ray Captures
Audio:
Comes in two 'original language' flavors - English: DTS-HD 'Lossless"
Master Audio 5.1 (a first for Sony I believe), and an English Dolby
TrueHD 5.1 track. There are also 2 optional DUBs: in French: Dolby
TrueHD 5.1, and Spanish: Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Sound was very good (DTS) -
possibly even a notch better than the image. Either/or - it still sounds
wonderful. No complaints whatsoever.
Optional subtitles support the audio in your choice of English (CC),
English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, or Thai.
My
Oppo
has identified
it as being a region FREE disc playable on
Blu-ray
machines worldwide.
This is a downgrade, imo. The new 40th
Anniversary audio transfer is via a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround at 1981
kbps (only 16-bit). It is significantly less technically robust and, to
my ears, doesn't have the depth of the many, excellent, effects in the
film as heard through the original
Blu-ray audio. The
score sounds strong but not at the level of the BD from 10-years ago.
Surprising indeed. It has multiple subtitle options on the Region FREE
Blu-ray discs.
Extras:
Sony offers some very competent
supplements (for both the
Blu-ray and the SD 2-disc editions
simultaneously released). Disc one - on top of the three branched version of the
film (Original Theatrical Version (1977) - Special Edition
(1980) and Director's Cut from 1998) you get an option to receive
onscreen cues to distinguish the, often subtle, alternations between the
three versions. I suspect only real zealots might utilize it but the
option distinguishes the thoroughness of the extras. On disc 2 the
"Encounters" button gives you the option of three different
documentaries (all from different eras). "Watch the Skies" is a
six minute featurette - kinda cute and nostalgic and the perfect short
length. "The Making of Close Encounters" is the 1.5 hour
documentary with plenty of talking heads and input from many sources
discussing conceptual ideas for the film and beyond. I believe it was
made in 1997 by Laurent Bouzereau. This was also found on the last SD
edition. New for this (and the SD 'Ultimate') release is "Steven
Spielberg: 30 Years of 'Close Encounters'". It is given to us in
1080i and lasts about 20+ minutes of Spielberg talking about the film
and its importance to his career. Under a new heading there are also 7
deleted scenes (about 10 minutes in total) - probably not entertaining
excepting for the die-hard fans. Also included is a very nice 64-page
Collectible Book and a small poster with a flow chart on the back. Well
- it seems we have everything but a commentary although the film seems
not to require that collaboration with all the supplement material
provided. Sony went to town and fans will appreciate.
There are repeat supplements (all on a second
Blu-ray) but also
new. We get Three Kinds of Close Encounters running about
22-minutes - it has input from Spielberg, JJ Abrahms and Denis
Villeneuve about the film's legacy, impact and the three versions. Kinda
cute is the 5-minutes of Steven's Home Video and Outtakes shot
during the production and includes many of the behind-the-scenes
workers. It is new and described as "Rare never-before-seen home
movies & gags from the set of Close Encounters." Steven Spielberg
30-years of Close Encounters is, obviously a repeat from the last BD
and DVD set - as is the extensive 1-hour 40-minute Making of
Documentary, the Watch the Skies piece, 18-minutes of deleted
scenes, storyboard comparisons, photo galleries and a lengthy 'Special
Edition' Trailer. This has the 'UltraViolet' ability for those who
utilize - with a code for digital download.
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Blu-ray 2 - Sony (2017) 40th Anniversary - Region 'FREE -
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BOTTOM LINE:
There is a lot to say in favor of Close Encounters
which still looms large in Spielberg's impressive collection of
blockbusters. The
Blu-ray
has many positives including the 3 seamlessly branched versions to
choose from although they differ by less than 5 minutes - serious fans
will still make note. I recall seeing this in
the theatre with my older sister when I was about 14 and I thought it
was the greatest film ever for about a 3 years after. So
it also holds some real nostalgic value for many as well. I wouldn't ask
more from the package even if my atmospheric expectations for image
weren't quite met. Fans should get this one - no question. Still very
watchable after more than 30-years and almost an essential
Blu-ray.
I have to admit to be somewhat underwhelmed by the new 40th Anniversary
Blu-ray
package. As I say, I am starting to appreciate the visuals more upon
repetition but the audio is a letdown. I continue to adore this film -
perhaps because of my age - I was 14-years old when it came out. It
impacted me heavily and still does so today. Brilliant storytelling... and, as
we say, it is always nice to have choices for your home theater
preferences.