Last Movie You Watched

[Cato]

Over the years, I'd forgotten the scene of Barry's abduction, which had to have been pretty frightening the first time I saw it.

One of the marveling scientists, on whom Spielberg's camera focuses in the finale, has a face much like the boy playing "Barry."

I always wondered if choosing that man's resemblance to the child was the reason for the zoom onto his face, or if it was just a coincidence.

Also of interest: the bearded scientist, who moves to the front of the crowd in the finale and places a pipe in his mouth, was Professor J. Allen Hynek, who advised the Air Force about U.F.O.'s for many years (See "Project Blue Book").

See:

https://www.history.com/news/j-allen-hynek-ufos-project-blue-book

[relm1]

Something amusing I hadn't observed is that the soap opera theme (I forget which show, though I heard it dozens of times, growing up) playing whileDreyfuss is sculpting [Do Mi Re Sol] connects well with the Alien Motif.

And let's not forget one damn fine score.  Composed the same year as Star Wars too!

[Karl Henning]

And let's not forget one damn fine score.  Composed the same year as Star Wars too!

I'm not sure how I grew disaffected with it. I saw it a second time in the movie house back when it was released. Maybe I just felt it was long that second time. At any rate, I was wrong and @LKB is right: an excellent movie. I don't think I remember the ship in the Gobi, was that cut from the theatrical release?

[LKB]

I'm not sure how I grew disaffected with it. I saw it a second time in the movie house back when it was released. Maybe I just felt it was long that second time. At any rate, I was wrong and @LKB is right: an excellent movie. I don't think I remember the ship in the Gobi, was that cut from the theatrical release?

There are actually three cuts of CE3K:

The director's cut, which is what Cassie watched.

The extended edition, which was the second release, includes the Gobi scenes and also shows what Neary experienced inside the mother ship. ( Spielberg has disavowed this edition, stating that Columbia insisted on the new ending as a condition of the film's re-release. Spielberg maintains that whatever happens once Neary enters the mother ship should remain exclusively in the imagination of the viewer. )

The theatrical cut has the same ending as the director's cut, without the Gobi scenes. So your memory is accurate, Karl. 

[Karl Henning]

There are actually three cuts of CE3K:

The director's cut, which is what Cassie watched.

The extended edition, which was the second release, includes the Gobi scenes and also shows what Neary experienced inside the mother ship. ( Spielberg has disavowed this edition, stating that Columbia insisted on the new ending as a condition of the film's re-release. Spielberg maintains that whatever happens once Neary enters the mother ship should remain exclusively in the imagination of the viewer. )

The theatrical cut has the same ending as the director's cut, without the Gobi scenes. So your memory is accurate, Karl. 

I don't recall seeing the extended edition, but you remind me that Neary inside the mother ship was involved. I agree with the director's call.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I don't recall seeing the extended edition, but you remind me that Neary inside the mother ship was involved. I agree with the director's call.

You know, I don't think that I've ever watched that movie; if so, it would have been many, many years ago [A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...].

PD

[Karl Henning]

You know, I don't think that I've ever watched that movie; if so, it would have been many, many years ago [A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...].

PD

Dreyfuss' scene with the mashed potatoes is iconic!

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Dreyfuss' scene with the mashed potatoes is iconic!

I'll add that to my mental list of movies to borrow! 

PD

[DavidW]

You know, I don't think that I've ever watched that movie; if so, it would have been many, many years ago [A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...].

PD

Oh you need to fix that...

[Cato]

I'm not sure how I grew disaffected with it. I saw it a second time in the movie house back when it was released. Maybe I just felt it was long that second time. At any rate, I was wrong and @LKB is right: an excellent movie. I don't think I remember the ship in the Gobi, was that cut from the theatrical release?

Yes, it was not there in the theatrical release.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Oh you need to fix that...

I'm conjuring my magical spells to fix that.  🧙

Thinking back regarding movies that I viewed earlier in life, I remembered watching Cocoon (and think that earlier on, I was conflating it with CE3K...which I still believe that I haven't seen).

PD

[LKB]

You know, I don't think that I've ever watched that movie; if so, it would have been many, many years ago [A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...].

PD

It's an amazing film to watch. Spielberg's unique gift for both using and depicting light and color are nowhere better on display, making the film breathtakingly beautiful in a number of scenes.

Also, John Williams' score is right on the money. Not only did he deliver the famous five-note " greeting " motif, but there's a Dies Irae reference which pops up at appropriate times, and in the final scene the music is about as luminous as anything you'll encounter in film.

Linking a review for the edition I'd consider the best purchasing value at the moment ( cheaper options are also available ):

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Close-Encounters-of-the-Third-Kind-4K-Blu-ray/183912/#Review

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It's an amazing film to watch. Spielberg's unique gift for both using and depicting light and color are nowhere better on display, making the film breathtakingly beautiful in a number of scenes.

Also, John Williams' score is right on the money. Not only did he deliver the famous five-note " greeting " motif, but there's a Dies Irae reference which pops up at appropriate times, and in the final scene the music is about as luminous as anything you'll encounter in film.

Linking a review for the edition I'd consider the best purchasing value at the moment ( cheaper options are also available ):

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Close-Encounters-of-the-Third-Kind-4K-Blu-ray/183912/#Review

Thanks.  I rarely by DVDs.  Also, I don't currently own a Blu-ray player, so it's not an option.   

PD

[relm1]

I don't recall seeing the extended edition, but you remind me that Neary inside the mother ship was involved. I agree with the director's call.

Did you know that Spielberg's next film will be another ufo movie?  That's a big deal since most of his ufo films are pretty good.  I'm not a big fan of War of the Worlds but CEOTTK and ET are iconic, even balletic.

[Karl Henning]

Did you know that Spielberg's next film will be another ufo movie?  That's a big deal since most of his ufo films are pretty good.  I'm not a big fan of War of the Worlds but CEOTTK and ET are iconic, even balletic.

I'd entirely forgotten about War of the Worlds.

[SonicMan46]

King Solomon's Mines (1950) - story and cast below; much of the filming done on location in Africa - nominated for 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and winner for Cinematography (Color) and Film Editing - love these Africa on location films from that era.

Scaramouche (1952) - plot and cast below - lots of swashbuckling and chasing, and the beautiful Janet Leigh and Eleanor Parker with her gorgeous flaming red hair is worth the price of admission; and Mel Ferrer despicable as the 'bad guy' - both films recommended if you're into adventure films in Technicolor from the '50s era, AND a Stewart Granger fan!  Dave

King Solomon's Mines is a 1950 Technicolor adventure film starring Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger and Richard Carlson. It was adapted by Helen Deutsch, directed by Compton Bennett and Andrew Marton and released by MGM. In "British East Africa" in 1897, experienced British safari guide Allan Quatermain is persuaded by Elizabeth Curtis to find her husband, who disappeared in the unexplored African interior while searching for the legendary King Solomon's mines. She has a copy of the map he used. Elizabeth and her brother John Goode join the adventure. Allan has no use for women on a safari, but during the long and grueling journey he and Elizabeth begin to fall in love. (Source)

Scaramouche is a 1952 romantic swashbuckler film starring Stewart Granger, Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, and Mel Ferrer. Filmed in Technicolor, the MGM production is loosely based on the 1921 novel Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini. It was directed by George Sidney. In France just prior to the French Revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette asks her cousin Noel, the Marquis de Maynes, to uncover the identity of "Marcus Brutus", a dangerous pamphleteer rousing hatred of the aristocracy. She also pressures de Maynes to marry to preserve his line, and is introduced to Aline de Gavrilac, one of the Queen's wards. (Source)

 

[Karl Henning]

Trippy: I watched about half of The Blues Brothers, and now I see Henry Gibson on The Dick van Dyke Show (and he got a short poem in,)

[Todd]

An Honest Liar.  A biopic of The Amazing Randi.  Like a few folks, I became familiar with Randi via his talk show appearances, most famously with Johnny Carson.  His takedowns of charlatans like Uri Geller and Peter Popoff were good fun.  I didn't learn anything particularly meaningful or new while watching, though it is evident from the film that Randi was himself a publicity whore.  That's showbiz.

[LKB]

I'd entirely forgotten about War of the Worlds.

Solid work by Cruise and Ms. Fanning, along with acceptable work by the young man playing Robbie. But this is really Tim Robbins' film while he's a part of it, credibly delivering his character as vulnerable or menacing as required.

Most memorable scene: The Tripods snatching selected victims out of the water at night, after capsizing their ferry... terrifyingly beautiful.

[Karl Henning]

Solid work by Cruise and Ms. Fanning, along with acceptable work by the young man playing Robbie. But this is really Tim Robbins' film while he's a part of it, credibly delivering his character as vulnerable or menacing as required.

Most memorable scene: The Tripods snatching selected victims out of the water at night, after capsizing their ferry... terrifyingly beautiful.

Well, my curiosity is piqued, and what is the Library for?