Review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Drew O — 05 Jul 2012

Steven Spielberg is the master of taking big budgets and transforming them into masterful pieces of cinema. Only he is able to push all the right emotional buttons and still create incredible entertainment and awe. Some of his films are perfect dramatic pieces (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan), some are prime entertainment (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Catch Me if You Can, Jurassic Park), and some are both (Jaws, Minority Report). Close Encounters is one of of the films that fall into the "dramatic" catergory more so than the "entertainment", but it has the same awe and spectacle that Spielberg is known for.

Close Encounters is a little boring at points. The ending drags on a big longer than it should have, but there's no ignoring the feeling of amazement you get when the aliens exchange the musical notes, or when Lacombe interacts with the alien using the hand signals. It's an image that will stick in your head and forever change your view of what might happen if extraterrestrials ever do visit us one day.

I also dislike having Roy (was that Dreyfuss's name, or I am getting this confused with Blade Runner?) going with the aliens on the mothership. I mean, so much of the first half of the film is spent on Dreyfuss trying to keep his family's trust while he's having these images in his mind and in the end he just...leaves. I just feel that it wastes all the effort he put into keeping his family together.

Nonetheless, Close Encounters is a breathtaking film. Featuring beatiful and iconic images and a touching message, this will forever be remembered for picturing aliens not as the lifeless, killing machines as other films do but as friendly and curious visitors. I also have never looked at mashed potatoes in the same way.