Review of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) by Steph O — 31 Aug 2010

Oh MAN I love this movie. How could you not? I'm not a huge fan of sci-fi movies in general, but even people who hate movies about aliens and such couldn't deny that "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a good movie. And no matter the genre, a good movie is a good movie. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is a staple of the genre, and one of those films that set the standard for so many movies to come. Although none of them have done the aliens-on-earth thing quite as well as this movie did.

As I always say, I LOVE Richard Dreyfuss. In "Close Encounters" he plays Roy - one of the first people to see the strange objects in the sky. He spends most of the movie trying to convince the authorities and his annoying wife that he DID see what he thinks he saw - and that the image that's been stuck in his head since the incident actually means something. "Something important". He's practically driven mental trying to figure out what's going on. In the process he bonds with a woman who has also been obsessing over the same image, and who also had a "close encounter" with something strange.

The effects may not be up to the standard we're used to now (obviously), but they aren't shoddy. They aren't bad at all. Considering this movie was made in 1977 - they're pretty effing amazing. The score is unforgettable. Literally. The famous melody from "Close Encounters" gets stuck in my head for weeks whenever I watch this movie. There are some pretty creepy moments too, but of course they all lead up to the absolutely epic finale, when the spaceships finally land. So goddamn awesome. The finale of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" reminds me why I love movies so much.