Close Encounters of the Third Kind - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (Gift Set)

The year 1977 marked a turning point for science fiction in US cinema. Although the genre had long been dominated by C-grade schlock, the arrival of two blockbuster films changed all that -- George Lucas' Star Wars and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

But while Lucas' nostalgic space opera was certainly the bigger hit at the time (and went on to become the most influential cinematic phenomenon of the late twentieth century), today Spielberg's more benevolent tale of first contact with extra-terrestrials is widely perceived as the superior film of the two. Indeed, thirty years later, while Lucas' original trilogy has suffered something of a backlash due to its poorly received prequels, Close Encounters is now regarded as a genuine epic as influential, awe-inspiring and revolutionary as Metropolis, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Blade Runner.

At the time of its release, Spielberg's masterpiece flew in the face of all that audiences expected out of mainstream science fiction. It married a Disney-like sense of enchantment and idealism with a metaphysical exploration of faith and religion. It was the first new-age movie, re-imagining spiritual transcendence as extra-terrestrial contact. The quintessential Spielberg protagonist, blue-collar suburbanite Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) is an ordinary man who finds himselfr in extraordinary circumstances. Like many classic religious figures, he becomes a pariah and an outcast, alienated from his family, friends and co-workers, finding redemption only after connecting with fellow "disciples," all of whom share a common vision and spiritual quest.

The legendary film critic Pauline Kael wrote of Close Encounters, "this isn't nuts-and-bolts, Popular Mechanics science fiction, it is beatific technology -- machines from outer space deified." When the film climaxes at Devil's Tower as first contact is made (in one of the film's many visually-breathtaking sequences), our hero sacrifices his life and his earthy responsibilities -- man, husband, father -- to ascend to a new level of consciousness. This unconventional ending has, over the years, caused much consternation, perhaps most of all from Spielberg himself, who has since re-evaluated the film's place in his body of work. ("It's the film that dates me the most," he says on this Blu-ray's supplements.) But even Spielberg's own ambivalence can do little to diminish the film's status as one of the most intelligent, ornate and visionary science fiction epics ever made.

Of course, as has become common with so many sci-fi landmarks (including Star Wars and Blade Runner), there are so many versions of Close Encounters floating around that it's hard to know which one to pick if you've never been introduced to the film. So here's a quick overview. Close Encounters opened on December 17, 1977, with a runtime of 135 minutes, and was an immediate sensation. Still, Spielberg remained dissatisfied with the final product; an accelerated post-production schedule, enforced by the studio to capitalize on the lucrative holiday box office season, led him to dub the theatrical cut a "work in progress."

Three years later, in 1980, Columbia granted Spielberg the then unheard-of opportunity to revisit his epic and craft what would become known as 'The Special Edition.' Shortened to 132 minutes, he removed entire scenes, trimmed and reshaped others, and completed several "dream shots" -- all at a cost of over $1 million. But there was a concession; Columbia forced Spielberg to shoot an extended finale taking us inside the mothership, a sequence that, while expertly executed, did not advance the narrative and that Spielberg has publicly decried in the three decades since. Despite all the changes, 'The Special Edition' eventually proved to be just another rough cut.

Finally, in 1997, Spielberg returned to his unfinished masterpiece for the third -- and presumably final -- time, creating what he now calls his definitive Director's Cut. Scenes were again added and reshaped and the extraneous "inside the mothership" climax excised. The result is easily the darkest and best version of the film (it's certainly my favorite), and with it, the book on Close Encounters at last seems to be closed.

But whichever version of the film you personally prefer, this first-ever Blu-ray version is sure to please, as it contains all three versions of the film, each remastered and accessible from the same disc via seamless branching. Spielberg's masterpiece -- in any form -- is a must-see for any sci-fi fan, so if you've never seen the film, you no longer have any excuses.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a three-disc 40th Anniversary Limited Edition giftset with a code for an UltraViolet Digital Copy. 

Inside a black, eco-vortex case with a glossy slipcover, two BD50 discs sit comfortably on opposing panels while a dual-layered UHD66 disc with all three versions of the film sits on a center spindle. The package comes inside an attractive hardcover box that lifts from the top and features a lenticular center that lights up when pressing a button on the right side while playing the iconic five-tone theme. Also included is a 64-page book with rare production photos titled "Visual History."

At startup, the disc goes straight to a menu screen with full-motion clips and music playing in the background.