Close Encounters of the Third Kind - Director's Cut

I came to this film not knowing what to expect, having never seen it nor read any information about its content. I guessed that at over 2 hours long there would be some padding and possibly some slow parts to the film, but dear God was I let down at just how sloooooow and boring this film is.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of classic films and television, prefering much of it to the dross that we get rammed down our throats these days; I love creaky special effects, dodgy acting and disorganised incidential music as long as the story and characters are believable and likeable. I can handle the slower pace storytelling that many today can't seem to handle. But 'Close Encounters' is just dull!

Nothing really happens to justify the long, drawn-out film; we get an alien sighting, the reaction to that sighting from your everyday American, and the landing of a spaceship in which some sort of exchange takes place. It takes 2 hours before we actually see any aliens, and by then I had pretty much lost interest because everything before it was inconsequential. Yes, you are driven to wonder what the aliens are up to and what the American forces already know about them, but its not enough to keep you gripped and interested in proceedings.

The special effects are good for the time, especailly the shots of the large mothership at the end of the film, but these are not enough to save what is in my opinion a fairly poor film.

A quick word about the blu-ray version of the film; unspectacular really. Quality of film varies and at times it looked like a standard DVD. I know in several instances grain is an intentional effect on the film, but it really did spoil picture quality for me. If you're renting, then try the blu-ray version, but if buying (though why would you buy this drivel?!) save money and get the DVD.

I know this is a popular film and I am in the minority by not liking it, but I just cannot see why it is so well liked!