Movie Review: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

This could be the one millionth DVD version of Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but it sure is the definitive one to own. Here you get not one, but three different versions of the film! For those who have never had the chance to enjoy this science fiction classic, now is your chance. This is storytelling at its absolute best.

While E.T. is still my favorite Spielberg film dealing with alien life, Close Encounters is certainly right next to it. The film is ostensibly about a man's obsession. This man is Roy and his fixation is with seeing the aliens again. He is first visited as he is driving his truck to fix a power outage. An alien saucer flies overhead and strikes a beam down upon Roy and his truck. After this encounter, Roy does whatever he can to recreate an image of The Devil's Tower, a land form he visualizes. Roy's family notices his strange behavior as Roy creates pillow and mashed potato replicas of the Devil's Tower. However, once he ends up creating a real model with plants and wire from outside, his wife and kids leave him. Roy does not let this stop him from trying to find his purpose. The other side story is of a young boy, Barry, who hears the familiar song the aliens play. In one memorable scene, Barry's house comes to life and a red beam takes him up to the space ship. While the audience is never shown what Barry sees, it is an interesting subplot that bodes well for the narrative.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind holds up enormously well for its age. Even the effects are still pretty dazzling to see, mainly because Spielberg does not go overboard in showing the aliens. The neon colors flood the screen in a vibrant way that teases the eyes.

What truly holds the film together is the character of Roy. He is an everyman that just wants to fulfill his journey. Roy can keep himself together until he starts to think about the encounter with the aliens and then he suddenly turns into more of a child. He has this look of awe and amazement once he sees the space ships again. Even when his family leaves him, Roy is able to overcome it all by continuing to look for the alien life.

If there is one slight weakness in this story it is that Roy's family could have used a little more development. While the story is not about them, it would have made the impact of them leaving a little more real. Making the objective Roy must reach, even more fascinating.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a cinematic experience not to be missed.

- Brandon Hill (www.MoviePulse.net)