Close Encounters: 2-Disc Special Edition Worth It?

[JakeLipson]

2-disc or not 2-disc. That is the question.

I've never seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but am considering a blind purchase. I'm wondering, with the single-disc reissue due out 8/27, and it being $8 cheaper than the double-disc version, are the extras worth it, or should I just pick up the single disc version?

I read somewhere that the 2-disc version is going out of print upon the release of the single disc, and I could buy the double-disc, but it would set me back considerably on my rest of the year budget (meaning, among other things, no Lord of the Rings or Schoolhouse Rock! DVDs). Also, is there any truth to it going OOP? DVDFile reported, for example, that the exsisting releases of The Grinch will remain on the market after the release of the 2-disc Deluexe Edition this fall. Is this simmilar to CE3K, and s the extra disc worth $8 and no Lord of the Rings?

[airjosh]

The Close Encounters disc is pretty good. Whether or not it is worth a blind purchase over LOTR, a completely different matter. As a blind purchase it looks a little harder to roll a seven. I really like CE, but I know people who can't stand it. I found the disc to be a great purchase and I could watch the film as well as the supplements disc many times. That being said if it was down to that or LOTR...I think I would have to side with the hobbits, particularly if you are holding out for the 4 disc set.

[Monterey Jack]

It's only one of the greatest films of all time, and the documentary on the two-disc set is superb. Buy it immediately.

[UserNameUndecided]

Two colliding opinions. This thread probably hasn't been much help so far.


I'll throw in my 2 cents and say that I think that you should hold out on Close Encounters if it means not being able to buy LOTR. If you like the movie so much after buying the one disc release, you can invest some more cash in it later on for the documentary and deleted scenes.
I just don't think a blind purchase should get in the way of releases you are already looking forward to -- no matter what movie it is. Just because it's hailed as one of the best movies of all time doesn't neccassarily mean that you will enjoy the hell out of it. And don't get me wrong, I think the movie is great. I just think you need to keep in mind that opinions differ, and skipping out on releases that you already know you want to buy probably isn't worth an extra disc with a documentary and deleted scenes you may or may not care to see after watching the movie for the first time.

[JakeLipson]

Well LOTR would've been a blind purchase too, believe it or not. So now it's which blind buy do I want?

[BsK]

Close Encounters 2 disc is definitely going OOP, so if you want that version....LOTR will be around for a while.

[Rogue]

Guys, whatever happend to RENTING a damn disk? Jake, what I would suggest is that you stop by your local Blockbuster and rent Close Encounters. On Aug. 6, rent LOTR. After you watch both movies, you will know what to do with your money.
Also, keep in mind that when the 1 disc version of Close Encounters is released, the 2 disc will go out of production but not out of circulation. You should be able to find it for a while until stores run out of their inventory.
And in case you were wondering, I think Close Encounters is a wonderful film and would be pissed if I missed out on the 2-disc collector's edtion. But that's just me.

[aintnosin]

The two disc version is the only way on DVD to see the footage that was cut from the 1977 version. It also includes a lot of other alternate scenes including a different scene where Lacombe (Francois Truffaut) meets his interpreter (Balaban). It's at an airport (presumably takes place after the air traffic control scene that's still in the movie). Traffauts tests Balabans ability to keep cool by making him translate from a sexy french novel.

The extra scenes alone are worth the extra cost of the 2-disc version. Add to that a first rate "Making-of" documentary and I think the 2-disc version is a no-brainer.

[airjosh]

without seeing EITHER film, I would go with CE as the disc is about to be EOL. It is a quality disc and the extras really enhance the film experience.

...but, there is no shame in renting a DVD and since you haven't seen either one, at least you would know what you are getting into.

[JakeLipson]

Do you think Close Encounters double-disc will be around in February next year? I have a whole bootload of essential must-buys till the end of the year, *coughBeautyandtheBeast/ET/StarWarsII/BTTF/MonstersInccough* and I still need $40 in January for the rumored Lilo & Stitch 2-disc set

[Flash Ahhh]

Jake,

8 bucks will "but it would set me back considerably on my rest of the year budget" ?

8 bucks isn't a lot. I'd go for the two disk set based upon the cost difference of the two sets alone.

Now for example if the 1 disk set was 12.99 and the 2 disk set 39.99, then the 1 disk set makes more sense if it is a blind purchase. When the costs are so close, I'd say grab the extra features and get the 2 disk set.

Now, just talking about the movie tiself, not the costs, are the extra features worth it? Yes. The interview with S.S. is done on the set of Saving Private Ryan, and is a very good interview, plus all the extra features mentioned above. Also, it's is going out of print. I tend to lean towards the OOP versions myself.

Hope that helps,

-Flash

I'm suprised no one mentioned the different versions of the film & which is 'best'!


The SE dvd itself..is worth buying,especially since it's going OOP,but note-not all of the cut footage from the 1977 version is included! In fact i don't think all the 1980 SE footage was included either as i remember seeing more scenes that showed up in the Di$ney channel's showing of the "1980 SE"..this was my first time seeing that version & i hated it!


Out of the 3 versions of the film......1980 SE is the worst!

I've always preffered the original 1977 version myself & will just stick with my nearly original Criterion laserdisc set which i got for free


The newest cut is closer to the original,but still has some of the 1980 SE scenes..the best being the Mogolian desert sequence,i never cared for the other added scenes. It is still missing some great scenes that were in the original version like Roy at the power plant...note-a much longer workprint version is included on the dvd extras! Also i miss the great evacuation sequence as shown in the extra's section.


So the new cut is not perfect..but it's probably the only version that we'll ever see again!



The film is great btw..always been a all time favorite of mine..but i just never liked the changes made to the previous two versions since some great stuff is cut out!

[JakeLipson]

To my understanding, the DVD is the definitive cut that Speilburg wanted to make in 1977, and the only version he is happy with. Therefore, I won't see it any other way.

And yeah, $8 wil push me back considerably; I get $10/week and mapped out my specific plan on how to survive this fall/winter's DVD releases. If I don't stick to it, I don't get all of the essentials.

[redshifter]

a warning to new viewrs of ce3k. on my 2 disc set the animated menus show a BIG spoiler--essentially the money shot at the end of the film. you may want to try to skip the animation until you see the whole thing.

**** ce3k spoiler ****
also, on my dvd the last scene where the mothership floats above devil's mountain, the picture wobbles and shimmers. i was very let down by this. does anyone else notice this? (equipment: panasonic rv80 --> component --> sony kv27fs12 wega in 16:9 mode).

while i like ce3k very much, i find the scenes where roy is screaming at his family unpleasent to watch.

[Rogue]

Jake,

You ever consider the Columbia House DVD club? I just picked up Glory SE, Seven(2-disc), Alien, The Terminator SE, and Die Hard 5 star for $20.
It's good to fill out your collection with titles you always wanted but never got around to buying. I just need to get ripped off on two other titles but these five more than made up for that. And sometimes they have a buy one get one at half off thing that you can take advantage of.

[chiprocks1]

BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!! If you dont like it, then I'll re-imburse you the price of the dvd. Um....don't hold me to that, ok

You know...you can just take it back and get a full refund. Yeah....that'll work!!!!!

Peace out

[DVDog]

Buy it before Columbia issues that crappy 1 disc version [if they haven't already]. There's a great documentary & there aren't many better films on the market - especially in that glorious DVD visual quality.
CEotTK is truly a work of art from a time when Speilberg wasn't afraid to take chances as a director or artist. He's still has moments of brilliance in his films, but overall, I believe the man who made that film is gone forever.

I strongly suggest you buy it. Chances are, you won't regret it.

[daehkcid]

Originally posted by DVDog
Buy it before Columbia issues that crappy 1 disc version [if they haven't already]. There's a great documentary & there aren't many better films on the market - especially in that glorious DVD visual quality.
CEotTK is truly a work of art from a time when Speilberg wasn't afraid to take chances as a director or artist. He's still has moments of brilliance in his films, but overall, I believe the man who made that film is gone forever.

Yeah, but the new S.S. has altered the cut. So the new cut is not the same as the one from good old S.S.

[Nexus 6]

Rogue has a point; it might be better to just rent both of them if you can, and then make a decision.

As for me, I would want both of them, because I think they're both fantastic films. And as for the new cut of CE (which was made in '97, by the way), I'm happy with it, because it is a true "director's cut" and not a gimmicky new "improved" version. It simply incorporates the best scenes from both previous versions, and I think it is the best version. But I guess it would have been nice to have all three on the disc via seamless branching.

At any rate, there it is. Hope we haven't made this more confusing.

[daehkcid]

How much did you see it for? There are like 50 copies for 40$/2copies = 20$/copie.

CANDIAN DOLLARS = 14$US