Close Encounters of the Third Time reviewed and decoded in 3 minutes!

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film by director Steven Spielberg about ordinary people who are drawn to a remote desert location to witness the landing of an extra-terrestrial mothership. Steven Spielberg also wrote the script for the film which stars Richard Dreyfus, Teri Garr, Francois Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, and Lance Henricksen.

On the outside, Close Encounters is a film about man coming in contact with Extra Terrestrials. But on a down-to-earth level, Close Encounters is about many things, one of which is how each 1 of us are important in the grand scheme. Take for instance, blue collar worker Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) who works as an electric line worker. Late one night, he experiences a life-changing event. Now, compare this to French scientist Claude Lacombe (Francois Truffaut) and other scientists in the film who get 2nd hand accounts of UFOs from ordinary people who get to see them 1st hand. And also, a small boy (Cary Guffey) not only sees the Aliens and learns their 5-note musical language, but he is also abducted by the Aliens.

Matthew 11:25

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."

Another theme in this film is faith. Roy Neary sees a vision and becomes so obsessed with it that he literally drives his family away. Barry Guiler's mother Jillian (Melinda Dillon) has the identical vision. This shared vision brings them both together at the butte in northeastern Wyoming called Devil’s Tower. Even though Roy already had a family, he was really meant to be with Jillian who shares his vision.

Close Encounters is a great film that entertains on every level. Spielberg said that the song from Pinocchio "When you wish upon a Star" influenced his writing style on the script and watching this film you feel like you are actually reliving your childhood. The film's visual effects were done by Douglas Trumbull who also went on to do the special effects on the original Blade Runner film. Still, one of the most iconic scenes in all of film is the massive mother-ship descending on Devil's Tower, a scene that still gives me goosebumps every time I see it. As great as the film is on DVD, blu ray does it the justice that it rightfully deserves.