Close Encounters of the Third Kind [PG]

Over the years unexplained things have happened: planes have gone missing, ships have gone missing, and people have gone missing. But now these strange happenings are occurring more frequently and it’s becoming harder and harder for the Government and the authorities to keep the truth quiet: we are not alone. After a UFO encounter, Roy Neary becomes obsessed with finding out what his experience means. He sees the shape of a natural landmark and has an in-depth knowledge of it though he’s never been there. Alienated by his frightened family, Roy’s search for meaning leads him to Jillian, a woman who’s had a similar experience and is searching for her taken son. Their quest leads them to the best-kept secret on earth. 

Coming out the same time as his friend George Lucas’ Star Wars, Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a wondrous and iconic science fiction mystery that may not be as sleek and as much of a romp as Star Wars, but holds more joy for those in the audience who are partial to intimate stories and well-written cinema. I myself would choose Star Wars over this movie (I can hear the gasps from science fiction nerds at my blasphemy), but only because I love the characters, the humour, and the fact that I don’t have to wait for over 40 minutes for something of interest to happen. This movie is a joy, but it’s a joy to those who wait. 

Over the years unexplained things have happened: planes have gone missing, ships have gone missing, and people have gone missing. But now these strange happenings are occurring more frequently and it’s becoming harder and harder for the Government and the authorities to keep the truth quiet: we are not alone. After a UFO encounter, Roy Neary becomes obsessed with finding out what his experience means. He sees the shape of a natural landmark and has an in-depth knowledge of it though he’s never been there. Alienated by his frightened family, Roy’s search for meaning leads him to Jillian, a woman who’s had a similar experience and is searching for her taken son. Their quest leads them to the best-kept secret on earth. 

I won’t lie, I found this movie really hard to get into at first. As I mentioned earlier, nothing all that spectacular happens for the first half of the movie. I’ll admit that the screenplay’s scientific jargon and people all talking over each other at one time is a very clever ploy because it piques the audience’s curiosity. This of course goes hand in hand with the film’s lack of one-to-one with the audience, in which one character takes the time to verbalise in the simplest terms what’s actually going on. Because of our primal need to understand everything, audiences are kept in their seat until they are rewarded with the odd little epiphany and then a most beautiful and climactic ending. The movie’s only spot of adorable humour comes into play within the last 20 minutes as contact and communication is made with the UFOs through John William’s cute and very clever little score. 

I wish to also too point out the film’s ability to stand the test of time. There are minimal special effects in this movie: all the major, mind-blowing scenes are the achievement of people in the art and models department as well as the lighting crew. Let’s give all them a round of applause shall we. 

Starring Richard Dreyfuss, Francois Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon, Bob Balaban, J. Patrick McNamara, Warren J. Kemmerling, Roberts Blossom, Phillip Dodds, Carey Guffrey, Shawn Bishop, Adrienne Campbell, Justin Dreyfuss, Lance Henriksen, and Merrill Connally, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a wondrous little movie that’s filled with mystery, drama, quests, and comedy. I enjoyed it very much.