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- Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Complete Edition
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Complete Edition
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Genre:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1979
Original Running Time:
133
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
148
Time Added:
15
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Brief Synopsis:
Close Encounter exists in 3 versions. The Theatrical Cut 133 min, The Special Edition, 138 min and the Director's Cut 135 min. All have varied combinations of scenes, some unique to one version. This edit brings them all material together AND fixes the awful blu ray grading which dialled back the intense lighting of the last 20 minutes which flooded theatres and made you feel you were there. This has been fixed.
Intention:
I love the Theatrical version, but wanted ALL THE SCENES in one place. PLus I hate the new color grade which ruins the end for me. I also noticed lots of little glitches, which I have taken the opportunity to fix.
Other Sources:
Close Encounters Special Edition Cd
Close Encounters Anniversary Edition Cd
Close Encounters Expanded Edition Cd
Close Encounters Anniversary Edition Cd
Close Encounters Expanded Edition Cd
Release Information:
Digital
Special Features
A special feature CE3K WORKPRINT 168 min containing ALL AVAILABLE scenes, in SD but unlike previous fanedits, this has had some color grading attempt (difficult due to poor source material and not ideal) and the music meant for those scenes has been added to "complete" them (from a rare CD were the unused cues are named per the scene, so leaves little room for doubt). I have also completed foley/sound work for scenes that needed it. But this is SD, please note.
Due to there being some dislike regarding the SPECIAL EDITION addition of the the Mothership Interior, I have also made available a version WITHOUT this one scene, but everything else still in the edit.
Due to there being some dislike regarding the SPECIAL EDITION addition of the the Mothership Interior, I have also made available a version WITHOUT this one scene, but everything else still in the edit.
Editing Details:
For the closing scenes lighting, - I say "Gamma correction" but in fact, I used virtual light sources placed where the ship light source would be to actually add light rather than brighten, which would nook very poor. This was done to all scenes where the light from the mother ship is overpowering. Where a camera move is present, the virtual lights are match moved using regression trigonometry.
Cuts and Additions:
THEATRICAL VERSION - Unique items
- Opening scene at Neary home has different opening
- Neary at Power station
- Neary in truck longer
- Old man comment about UFO fly by
- Roy and Ronnie row is longer
- Silent entrance to dinner table
- Roy climbing back thru the window
- Roy building tower longer/outside
- Dog and gas mask man
- Roy and Army chat
- Longer helicopter escape
- Longer shot of Lacombe watching Neary
SPECIAL EDITION - Unique items
- Neighborhood establishing shot
- Near intro at home v different
- UFO Shadow over truck
- The infamous billboard closeup
- Re-Sequenced firing and village
- The Cotopaxi
- Lacombe conference scene longer
- Neary in the shower
- Shorter Ronnie leaving
- Man with dog and gas mask, different scene
- Scoring difference as Roy walks up ramp
- Mothership interior
- Scoring difference as cut back to Lacombe
- Gamma dialled back down in key sequences.
- Rescored end credit roll
DIRECTOR'S CUT
- Nothing unique
SCENES THAT WENT, AND CAME BACK
- The press conference
- The Powerstation
ALL the above are in the COMPLETE VERSION plus the following fixes:
ADDITIONAL FIXES
- Newly created stable opening credit roll with the correct font (per my Godfather fix)
- New hybrid opening scene at Neary home incorporates all material, in a new way
- Theatrical sequencing of scenes used, not Director's cut
- Hybrid dog and gas mask man
- Hybrid Roy at rail station
- When Jillian is taking photographs, some of the shutter sounds are missing. These have been added back.
- In two shots as the mothership ramp opens and light passes up peoples faces, in two shots, the shadow of the light moving is missing. This has been corrected. Where a camera move is present, the virtual lights are match moved using regression trigonometry.
- Color correction of red uniforms washed out in the color grade of the 30th anniversary BD
- The scoring glitches when Roy enters the ship, have been redone from scratch using the Collectors Edition CDs. and rebuilding the ambient sounds
- When the Aliens emerge, virtual lighting returns the scenes as were originally viewed in 1979 using various reference materials for confirmation.
- Closing end credits score restored from Theatrical version.
- Portion of Special edition credit roll score used for addition of newly created UNCREDITED Crew added to this version so everyone who worked on ALL 3 versions, gets their on-screen credit
- Some very subtle lens flares added in the same style as Douglas Trumbulls work where they were clearly missing due to either budget or production timing constraints. These should not be noticeable, but I know where they are. Drop me a PM if you think you spot any. :)
MISSING SCENES IN WORKPRINT with completed audio work and un-used intended scoring from Special Edition CD
- Longer opening with the war planes
- Lacombe in car on way to airport
- Govt official board plane
- Roy on way to Crystal Lake
- Roy at Crystal Lake
- Roy at Police station
- Roy on roof of house
- Roy Barbeque
- Lacombe is awoken by assistant
- Roy and Jillian stop for gas
- (apologies for the font issue at the opening, it was 13 years ago)
WORKPRINT has a NEW OPENING and all the audio fixes and lighting work from above
- Opening scene at Neary home has different opening
- Neary at Power station
- Neary in truck longer
- Old man comment about UFO fly by
- Roy and Ronnie row is longer
- Silent entrance to dinner table
- Roy climbing back thru the window
- Roy building tower longer/outside
- Dog and gas mask man
- Roy and Army chat
- Longer helicopter escape
- Longer shot of Lacombe watching Neary
SPECIAL EDITION - Unique items
- Neighborhood establishing shot
- Near intro at home v different
- UFO Shadow over truck
- The infamous billboard closeup
- Re-Sequenced firing and village
- The Cotopaxi
- Lacombe conference scene longer
- Neary in the shower
- Shorter Ronnie leaving
- Man with dog and gas mask, different scene
- Scoring difference as Roy walks up ramp
- Mothership interior
- Scoring difference as cut back to Lacombe
- Gamma dialled back down in key sequences.
- Rescored end credit roll
DIRECTOR'S CUT
- Nothing unique
SCENES THAT WENT, AND CAME BACK
- The press conference
- The Powerstation
ALL the above are in the COMPLETE VERSION plus the following fixes:
ADDITIONAL FIXES
- Newly created stable opening credit roll with the correct font (per my Godfather fix)
- New hybrid opening scene at Neary home incorporates all material, in a new way
- Theatrical sequencing of scenes used, not Director's cut
- Hybrid dog and gas mask man
- Hybrid Roy at rail station
- When Jillian is taking photographs, some of the shutter sounds are missing. These have been added back.
- In two shots as the mothership ramp opens and light passes up peoples faces, in two shots, the shadow of the light moving is missing. This has been corrected. Where a camera move is present, the virtual lights are match moved using regression trigonometry.
- Color correction of red uniforms washed out in the color grade of the 30th anniversary BD
- The scoring glitches when Roy enters the ship, have been redone from scratch using the Collectors Edition CDs. and rebuilding the ambient sounds
- When the Aliens emerge, virtual lighting returns the scenes as were originally viewed in 1979 using various reference materials for confirmation.
- Closing end credits score restored from Theatrical version.
- Portion of Special edition credit roll score used for addition of newly created UNCREDITED Crew added to this version so everyone who worked on ALL 3 versions, gets their on-screen credit
- Some very subtle lens flares added in the same style as Douglas Trumbulls work where they were clearly missing due to either budget or production timing constraints. These should not be noticeable, but I know where they are. Drop me a PM if you think you spot any. :)
MISSING SCENES IN WORKPRINT with completed audio work and un-used intended scoring from Special Edition CD
- Longer opening with the war planes
- Lacombe in car on way to airport
- Govt official board plane
- Roy on way to Crystal Lake
- Roy at Crystal Lake
- Roy at Police station
- Roy on roof of house
- Roy Barbeque
- Lacombe is awoken by assistant
- Roy and Jillian stop for gas
- (apologies for the font issue at the opening, it was 13 years ago)
WORKPRINT has a NEW OPENING and all the audio fixes and lighting work from above
User reviews
19 reviews
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
9.7(19)
Visual Editing
9.6(19)
Audio Editing
9.5(19)
Narrative
9.8(19)
Enjoyment
9.9(19)
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This edit could easily be called the definitive version. Wraith has a particular attention to detail and precision that some editors are missing in their work. Everything flowed beautifully and the editing is spot on as expected. This will be my go to version from now on! Well done Wraith and thanks for putting out top quality edits!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
R
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
All the previous fan edits I've watched I've done so in standard definition, but I bought an external blu-ray drive specifically so I could see this cut in HD.
I'm glad I did!
I first saw CE3K on its original release and have been a big fan ever since. The differing versions have always fascinated me and my opinion as to which one was definitive was (a bit like Spielberg's) always changing with time. What really attracted me to Wraith's edit was the restoration of the blazing light finale. This was a crucial aspect of the visual feel of the film and it was very welcome to see it this way on my home cinema screen.
I believe the mark of a great movie is just how often you can re-visit it with satisfaction and this 'Complete Edition' delivers in spades. Technically excellent, Wraith has made the extended experience work and done the story proud. No matter how many times I see it, I'm always amazed at how much new things there are to discover, especially in that highly cinematic final act.
Full marks. Well done, and thanks Wraith.
One of my next stops (when I have three and a half hours to spare!) will be this editor's Roadshow Restoration of John Wayne's 'The Alamo.' I'm not a huge Wayne fan or even a Western fan particularly, but there' something about those old Roadshow presentations that make me wish I could have visited a picture house in the fifties and sixties.
I'm glad I did!
I first saw CE3K on its original release and have been a big fan ever since. The differing versions have always fascinated me and my opinion as to which one was definitive was (a bit like Spielberg's) always changing with time. What really attracted me to Wraith's edit was the restoration of the blazing light finale. This was a crucial aspect of the visual feel of the film and it was very welcome to see it this way on my home cinema screen.
I believe the mark of a great movie is just how often you can re-visit it with satisfaction and this 'Complete Edition' delivers in spades. Technically excellent, Wraith has made the extended experience work and done the story proud. No matter how many times I see it, I'm always amazed at how much new things there are to discover, especially in that highly cinematic final act.
Full marks. Well done, and thanks Wraith.
One of my next stops (when I have three and a half hours to spare!) will be this editor's Roadshow Restoration of John Wayne's 'The Alamo.' I'm not a huge Wayne fan or even a Western fan particularly, but there' something about those old Roadshow presentations that make me wish I could have visited a picture house in the fifties and sixties.
User Review
Format Watched?
Blu-Ray
A
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
An absolutely top notch edit! It was everything I wanted and more. The editing was seamless and the movie flowed perfectly. Visually fantastic, audibly fantastic and the definitive way to see this movie.
I cannot give it any less than 10 on all fronts.
I cannot give it any less than 10 on all fronts.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
A
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
I just watched Wraith's edit of Close Encounters, This edit is just fantastic, I found that the scenes flowed smoothly and seamlessly so you can't tell where they have been added. If you you show this to someone who has not seen it, they would not know if this film is the official edit or not. Wraith, is a masterful editor, and this is not an edit that has been slapped together, this edit has been put together with love and care and attention to detail. From now on this will be my go to version!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
B
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
You can tell when you are watching a masterpiece - because when it finishes, you find yourself wishing that it never ended at all. There is always a slight sense of melancholy is knowing that the story is over, and that the joy is over as well. Wraith's efforts at creating an enhanced version of this beloved science fiction classic has undoubtedly resulted in a cinematic triumph that surpasses what Spielberg originally presented to the mass public in 1977, and again in 1980.
To Wraith, I personally consider this fanedit to be a well-deserved feather in your cap, and an outstanding example to the other members of this website of the quality that can be produced by a faneditor who dedicates their time and effort to a worthy project.
To Wraith, I personally consider this fanedit to be a well-deserved feather in your cap, and an outstanding example to the other members of this website of the quality that can be produced by a faneditor who dedicates their time and effort to a worthy project.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
D