Review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Eric M — 14 Apr 2015

It all gets rather trippy and somewhat pointless by the end, but the journey there is engaging, exciting, suspenseful and visually stunning. A truly unique cinematic experience that will have you questioning your sanity by the halfway point.

Addendum: I get it. I get it now. This is Spielberg's beautiful and powerful metaphor for religious revelation and enlightenment. Once that is grasped, the stunning visual technique and insightful observations on the human experience, crackling with Spielberg's wit and charm, come to their full power. With enchanting music from John Williams, excellent performances, stunning cinematography and effects work, this is classic Spielberg. Thrilling, engaging, emotional and intelligent. A work rightly imitated and homaged as recently as "Interstellar", "Close Encounters" is worthy of its iconic sci-fi classic status.