Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss) wants to escape. It’s evident in his every action; from the detached way he interacts with his family, to the lethargy with which he approaches his job. The only time Roy seems happy is when he is lording over the alternate world that is his elaborately constructed train set. This is clearly a man who wants to be somewhere else; this is clearly a man who doesn’t belong here. So it is with no small measure of wonder and obsession that Roy approaches the very real possibility that we are not alone after his first encounter with what he thinks are visitors from another world. He tries to share the joy of his experience with his wife (Teri Garr) and kids, but they think he’s lost his mind. Soon, however, even Roy begins to doubt his own sanity, as he finds himself compulsively recreating a mysterious monument with everything from his mashed potatoes to chicken wire and mud. When said monument is revealed to be Devil’s Mountain, Roy feels the need to go there, despite reports of a widespread epidemic that’s lead to the evacuation of the area.

Roy knows something is coming, and, when it arrives, he wants to be there.

He needs to be there.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is, in my opinion, one of Steven Spielberg’s most well-realized films, with a flawless script, fantastic cast, and some of the most beautifully shot sequences to ever grace the silver screen. I think the fact that this film gets overlooked in favor of the director’s other high profile alien film (“E.T.”) and Academy Award winning fare (despite the fact that this film was, itself, a blockbuster for its time, as well as an Oscar winner) makes it one of the most underappreciated films of his storied career.

This is precisely the sort of movie I bought a Blu-ray player for in the first place. The sheer beauty of CE3K’s 2.35:1 transfer on Blu has to be seen to be truly appreciated, as it presents the film in its most beautiful incarnation to date, preserving the essential cinematic grain, but giving viewers an otherwise pristine quality image. The depth and detail offered here is simply astounding, and Douglas Trumbull’s special effects sequences – which have held up marvelously, I should add – are vivid and awe-inspiring.

The audio is slightly less impressive, as there’s some noticeable compression in dialogue. It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but there were a few moments toward the end of the film where I strained to hear a line or two. Conversely, the sound effects and John Williams magnificent score come across with wonderful depth and clarity.

The collector’s edition Blu-ray sports three versions of the film, seamlessly branched, offering viewers the chance to see CE3K in its original, “extended”, and director’s cut formats on the first disc, with the extras assigned to the second disc, including ten minutes of deleted scenes, and three featurettes; the vintage 1977 "Watch the Skies", the 1997 feature-length “The Making of Close Encounters”, and the all-new "Steven Spielberg: 30 Years of 'Close Encounters'", a 22 minute interview with El Spielbergo (the sole featurette presented in 1080i).

 There’s an abundance of Blu-exclusive stuff here, as well, including a ridiculously large treasure-trove of stills, conceptual sketches, and other ephemera, as well as three trailers for the film, all presented in 1080i!

The packaging, itself, offers up a gorgeous 64-page, full color booklet, a fold-out poster that highlights the changes in the film’s three incarnations, all stored in a spiffy slipcase. Definitely the most “deluxe” BD release yet!

This is one of the most gorgeously shot, beautifully written, and wonderfully nostalgic pieces of Sci-fi cinema ever crafted, and, if you own a Blu-ray player, this is an absolutely essential purchase. This is Steven Spielberg's first "HD" release, and a Blu exclusive, to boot, so go make all of your HD-DVD-lovin' pals jealous and show them the light with this seriously stocked set!