Region 2 DVD: pub: Sony Pictures CDR 26501UE. 3 DVDs 3 films (129m/127m/131m) plus extras. Price : £ 4.99 (UK) if you look around. stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Terri Garr, Melinda Dillon and Francois Truffaut.

check out websites: www.sphe.co.uk and http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/closeencountersofthethirdkind/

As I've been looking at various versions of films lately, seeing 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind' at such a cheap price seemed like a good idea. Even more so, as it's given me an idea for an article which should be up and running about the same time on the website.

Seeing the three versions of this 1977 film over successive weeks has made for some interesting viewing, even more so when you see how good the mechanical effects were compared to how it would have been done with CGI today which might have risked a daylight landing. Unlike other film cuts, Spielberg didn't tinker with different versions of the same scenes but replaced entire scenes or by filming more.

Like what it was like inside the alien mothership or adding the boat found in the desert and then taking out some scenes to keep the timing to around 90 minutes for cinema rather than home release and no over-indulging and ensuring everything was put in. The third version actually had the best bits from the previous two versions with Spielberg deciding that the inside of the mothership was not a good idea after all. With all three versions here, you can make up your own mind which is best.



For those not in the know, CE3K as the film was affectionately called on it's originally release, is a first contact story. Actually, it was more a comeback as these aliens had been here before taking specimens and whathaveyou were returning them and wanting to say hello to the people in charge before flying off with a more selective bunch which they were programming during the course of the film to go to Devil's Tower, Wyoming. From the 1970s perspective, it was more a demonstration of how a close encounter upsets family life and how the military perceived anyone infringing on their territory should be kept out. I don't think much has changed with the latter.

From a purely British perspective, one would have to wonder why these aliens would want average Americans with a creative bent but then we're never shown if they do any other abductions...excuse me, pick-ups from around the globe at the same time. From the extras on these DVDs, Spielberg goes some way to explain he wanted normality upset and recognisable to his audience.

Speaking of extras, if you've only ever read of some of these, then seeing the footage should be of some delight, especially the children acting as aliens. About the only things missing are the chief alien and seeing the true scale model mothership today but I suspect it would ruin the illusion to see just how big it really is.

As a SF film, it is singularly unique. It has no invading aliens wanting to decimate mankind. No aliens who can speak English come to that. There's a lot open to interpretation if you want to indulge yourself as to their purpose. If anything, the strongest thing is this is likely to be the scenario should we ever have a close encounter of the third kind with a hefty feel good factor. Now that would explain why no one has copied or desired to make a new version of CE3K. Something to consider when buying this DVD.

GF Willmetts