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Review Summaries
"Roy Neary (Dreyfuss) is a line worker who has what he thinks is an encounter with a UFO out on the prairie during a power outage. Strange visions and a haunting 5-note melody line begin to obsess Neary, upsetting his family's tranquility. Other isolated individuals have similar experiences, however, and the U.S. government, also onto these developments, figures out where the aliens plan to land and attempts to keep ordinary people away from the site. But they come anyway. Spielberg's story features veteran film director Truffaut as a sympathetic scientist and an optimistic outlook. Movie fans may recognize Carl Weathers, Lance Henriksen, and news anchor Howard K. Smith among the supporting cast."
David Loftus, Resident Close Encounters of the Third Kind Scholar
"An SF film of sweeping proportions, yet pretentious in its writing and acting. An ordinary man becomes swept up in the machinations of a government plot to contact aliens whose intentions are at best vague. They steal our men and children, then bring them back to talk with us. Ultimately unsatisfying as a whole, it still has parts that leave you breathless."
captnemo, Resident Scholar
"A somewhat goofball blue collar power company worker ( Richard Dreyfuss ) is drawn into a nightmarish web of self doubt and inner struggle after encountering U.F.O.s on an Indiana summer evening . The extraterrestrials have planted a vision in his mind, an invitation to a secret meeting with scientific and military officials . Facing a hostile wife and slipping into brooding insanity , he must keep his appointment with the aliens...even though he doesn't know it !"
Rick Belter, Resident Scholar
"With particular reference to the opening sequences of the film, the Bermuda Triangle figures prominently until we encounter the main character who cannot explain what is happening to him."
Mark D. Schneider, Resident Scholar
"Aliens come to Earth, and Dreyfuss must get in touch with his feelings by creating a mash potato mountain and learning to play the xylophone. If you need a nap, this movie is perfect for you."
steve, Resident Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 32% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 48%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact
Yes
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- search for identity/new understanding
Generally friendly 1st contact with aliens?
Yes
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- engineer
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium wavy
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn, straight
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
Profession/status:
- govt employee
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
Ethnicity
- White
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average Intelligence
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century (1970's to Present)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Tone of movie
- upbeat
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Kinds of F/X
- exotic spaceships
- exotic aliens
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
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