Close Encounters

[aberkowitz]

Just watched this movie for the first time- I did a blind buy on BD.... all I can say is WOW!!! The PQ was outstanding, particularly for a movie released in 1977, and the AQ (DTS MA) just blew me away. What a classic... one of Spielberg's best ever!

 

[skizzerflake]

Just watched this movie for the first time- I did a blind buy on BD.... all I can say is WOW!!! The PQ was outstanding, particularly for a movie released in 1977, and the AQ (DTS MA) just blew me away. What a classic... one of Spielberg's best ever!

This is a long time favorite of mine. That was an excellent period for FX and the golden age of Industrial Light and Magic, prior to digital FX, the peak of models. I just keep wishing the movie were true...I want to be there when the aliens come.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...I want to be there when the aliens come.

Which ones, the good ones or the bad ones?
Will we know in time? Will it matter?

 

[jostenmeat]

Which ones, the good ones or the bad ones?

Amazon women from the moon!

Just watched this movie for the first time- I did a blind buy on BD.... all I can say is WOW!!! The PQ was outstanding, particularly for a movie released in 1977, and the AQ (DTS MA) just blew me away. What a classic... one of Spielberg's best ever!

Thanks. Hey, curiously, any good deals on it yet? I've thought about this title before, but the pricing always made me hesitant. I'm sure its worth it at a higher premium... I just need some coaxing.

 

[aberkowitz]

Thanks. Hey, curiously, any good deals on it yet? I've thought about this title before, but the pricing always made me hesitant. I'm sure its worth it at a higher premium... I just need some coaxing.

It's definitely on the pricey side (amazon has it around $30+), but part of that is for the sheer volume of material you get. The first disc contains all three official releases of the movie- the original theater release, the "special edition" that Spielberg rereleased in the 80s, and the final directors cut that was released in the late 90s that made some corrections to the special edition. All three of these releases come with DTS MA and True HD tracks- something that would not be possible on a standard DVD or even HD DVD. The second disc contains a large amount of extras- most of which seem really interesting considering the movie's subject matter.

I did get it as a birthday present from my mother inlaw, but I definitely would buy it myself. Worth every penny.

 

[skizzerflake]

Which ones, the good ones or the bad ones?
Will we know in time? Will it matter?

Doesn't matter....if it's ET or the aliens in CE then I'm good; I'll just get great ride around the universe. If it's X Files, War of the Worlds or Signs aliens, them I might as well be the first to be digested and avoid all that running and screaming.

 

[Adam]

If it's X Files, War of the Worlds or Signs aliens, them I might as well be the first to be digested and avoid all that running and screaming.

Oh, come on. If you can just resolve yourself to the fact that you're going to be digested eventually, then you can get down to business. After all, who would want to miss the opportunity to stalk some pain-in-the-a aliens with a 50 cal?

 

[allargon]

the AQ (DTS MA) just blew me away.

Thanks for the recommendation! This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Is there any particular reason you felt the DTS rather than the PCM, or the Dolby TrueHD track blew you away or was that the only one you selected?

 

[j_garcia]

How can you not have seen this movie?!?!? I have a couple of versions of this and the BD is definitely the best looking version so far. Blade Runner's remaster is excellent also.

 

[astrodon]

I agree, this BluRay release of Close Encounters of the Third Kind is well worth the price for both the quality and getting all 3 versions of the movie with the extras. Thanks for the good idea of what to watch tonight.

 

[aberkowitz]

Thanks for the recommendation! This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Is there any particular reason you felt the DTS rather than the PCM, or the Dolby TrueHD track blew you away or was that the only one you selected?

That was the only one that I tried. When it comes to TrueHD or MA I generally go with the MA track... I've always preferred DTS to DD, so I just continue that trend with HD audio. I cannot imagine there's much of a difference between any of the lossless tracks.

 

[jostenmeat]

It's definitely on the pricey side (amazon has it around $30+), but part of that is for the sheer volume of material you get. The first disc contains all three official releases of the movie- the original theater release, the "special edition" that Spielberg rereleased in the 80s, and the final directors cut that was released in the late 90s that made some corrections to the special edition. All three of these releases come with DTS MA and True HD tracks- something that would not be possible on a standard DVD or even HD DVD. The second disc contains a large amount of extras- most of which seem really interesting considering the movie's subject matter.

I did get it as a birthday present from my mother inlaw, but I definitely would buy it myself. Worth every penny.

Well, aberkowitz, its on its way. I saw that the price actually fell below $20 for brand new at Amazon (different vendor though).

Thanks for the thread and recommendation.

 

[croseiv]

I have the SD DVD version of this movie. I'll have to give it a look. It's a good movie. There are scenes in it reminiscent of WOTW and vice versa.

 

[jostenmeat]

Well, aberkowitz, its on its way. I saw that the price actually fell below $20 for brand new at Amazon (different vendor though).

Thanks for the thread and recommendation.

So I watched this movie for the first time ever. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Neat to see Dreyfuss as so young. I watched the director's cut, and selected DTS-MA, just because.

This might be the best PQ of an older movie that I've seen on BD. Ok, Blade Runner is pretty damn good, nm. I wonder if The Thing will look as good on BD as it does on HD-DVD. Darkman is up there for me too, at times a bit softer, but closeups could be the best I've ever seen as far as sharpness.

Spoiler

The whole music thing was a bit interesting. The universal language, eh? The aliens' musical responses just sounded too human for me though. Kodaly used sign language to teach music? That I've gotta look into.

I also visited Devil's Tower for the first time last year. I believe I was there during the month of the year that climbers are not allowed for the sake of Native American beliefs. WY is one hell of a beautiful state. I wouldn't care for the winters, but its just so gorgeous.

 

[dobyblue]

There isn't a PCM track on this one, but I select the dts-ma track also.
I notice NO difference at all between this and the TrueHD track, but the only reason Sony included the dts-ma track, their only dts-ma track to date, is because of Spielberg's wishes...and he was very happy with the results.

I figure if that's the way he wanted the audio presented, that's the way I'll listen to it.



Well worth the price of admission.

 

[jostenmeat]

Hey, I didn't know that, thanks for the tidbit.

 

[j_garcia]

Probably wanted it included because they spent so much time doing the dts remaster for the 30th anniversary (and likely for this on eas well) that he didn't want it to get left out.