Review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Matthew P — 13 Mar 2013
It may have lost a certain amount of impact over the past 36 years but CEOTTK is still a remarkable film. The sense of wonder is very strong and the attention to detail is superb whether it's Air Force personnel frantically talking over the top of each other as they track mysterious UFOs or Roy Neary's (Richard Dreyfuss) young son noisily grasping for attention in the background.
It makes everything feel very real. The characters, atmosphere and special effects are wonderful and everything works together beautifully, like a well-oiled machine. It's quite a slow, plodding experience though and I'm not quite sure what to make out of the unpleasant fragmentation of Roy's family.
Does it have a point outside of giving him a flimsy excuse to leave? Regardless, CEOTTK is a magical experience. It may have lost the "wow-factor" it once had but it's not hard to imagine all the minds being collectively blown back in 1977!
This review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) was written by Matthew P on 13 Mar 2013.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind has generally received very positive reviews.
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