“Play the five tones.”
I finally watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). I understand now why this film had such a profound cultural impact.
Steven Spielberg’s grounded, realism based film making focusing on the human experience of “first contact” was so different from any other sci-fi made at the time. Richard Dreyfus plays to the hilt someone totally unhinged by what he experienced. François Truffult is the coolest French scientist in the world. The main kid actor totally sells his shots with wide eyed curiousity and glee.
The special effects still look amazing in 2026. And the sound design is just incredible — John Williams at his finest. The actual aliens look a little hokie, but they don’t spend much time on screen.
Honestly one of the best parts was how the government (unspecified agencies and international bodies) cooperates to simply study and understand the aliens. The military is there, not to defend against the aliens or shoot down the ships, but just to support the researchers and keep the general public away.
Some of the film feels very dated, but that’s part of its charm. So much of the imagery and scenes have become a part of the larger cultural DNA.