Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Critic Reviews

The best -- the most elaborate -- 1950's science fiction movie ever made, a work that borrows its narrative shape and its concerns from those earlier films, but enhances them with what looks like the latest developments in movie and space technology.

One of the great moviegoing experiences.

This is dopey Hollywood mysticism all right, but thanks to considerable craft and showmanship, it packs an undeniable punch.

A daring film concept which in its special and technical effects has been superbly realized.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is unquestionably a great movie.

Suspenseful, thoughtful alien-encounter classic.

perhaps, my favourite alien movie ever

Though made the same year, Spielberg's awe-inspiring sci-fi fable has held much better than Star Wars due to his sublime crafstmanship, which benefits from sharp imagery and F/X, and engaging story and charcaters, well-acted by Richard Dreyfuss and others

It plays out as a film buff's idea of what a UFO sighting would be like if it could be a cross between a Disney theme park and a 1970s light show at a disco.

The first film in years to give its audiences a tingle of shocked emotion that is not entirely based either on fear or on suspense.

Spielberg answers the "Are we alone?" question in fine form.

Not even Spielberg makes them as they used to.

Has just not held up.

What I could see of the special effects were wonderful, and they hold up over time, unlike many sci-fi movies. The landing scene at the end still fills you with wonder and amazement.

Build a monolith, and they will come.

Viewing Close Encounters we are reduced to a childlike perception, overwhelmed by the luster and might of the vision before us.