Close Encounters Of The Third Kind- 40th Anniversary Blu-Ray

[everythinggoesdumb]

I've been having some trouble with the Blu-Ray (Feature) disc of the Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (40th Anniversary Edition). There are 3 different cuts of the film on it: Theatrical, Special Edition and Director's Cut. The problem is that there are two versions of each showing in MakeMKV. Both versions for each cut have the same run-time as each other (i.e. the Theatrical Cut version 1 has the same run-time as version 2) and I haven't seen many differences between any of the audio or subtitle tracks.
Here are the 6 versions:

Director's Cuts:

Source file name: 00345.mpls
Duration: 2:17:14
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.7 GB
Segment count: 37
Segment map: 399,401,336,337,338,339,340,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348,349,350,351,352,353,354,355,356,357,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t03.mkv

Name: Close Encounters of the Third Kind 40th Anniversary Edition (English)
Source file name: 00412.mpls
Duration: 2:17:14
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.7 GB
Segment count: 37
Segment map: 399,401,336,337,338,339,340,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348,349,350,351,352,353,354,355,356,357,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t05.mkv

Theatrical Versions

Source file name: 00346.mpls
Duration: 2:14:45
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.1 GB
Segment count: 39
Segment map: 399,401,371,372,373,338,374,340,375,342,376,344,377,378,379,380,348,349,381,382,383,384,385,355,356,357,358,386,360,387,388,363,389,365,366,367,390,369,391
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t04.mkv

Source file name: 00413.mpls
Duration: 2:14:45
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.1 GB
Segment count: 39
Segment map: 399,401,371,372,373,338,374,340,375,342,376,344,377,378,379,380,348,349,381,382,383,384,385,355,356,357,358,386,360,387,388,363,389,365,366,367,390,369,391
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t06.mkv

Director's Cut:

Source file name: 00417.mpls
Duration: 2:12:29
Chapters count: 23
Size: 27.7 GB
Segment count: 35
Segment map: 404,402,401,336,337,338,339,340,392,342,343,344,393,346,347,348,350,351,352,353,354,394,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,395,369,396
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t07.mkv

Source file name: 00420.mpls
Duration: 2:12:29
Chapters count: 23
Size: 27.7 GB
Segment count: 35
Segment map: 404,402,401,336,337,338,339,340,392,342,343,344,393,346,347,348,350,351,352,353,354,394,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,395,369,396
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t08.mkv

I created a backup using MakeMKV and opened it in VLC, and it automatically starts playing Title 54 without going to a menu. Title 54 seems to be the Director's Cut because it has a run-time of 2:17:14.

Does anyone have any pointers for how to find the correct version? (I also apologize if I'm formatting any of this wrong, this is my first time posting.)

[Woodstock]

Does the menu offer a commentary version of each?

Some times multiple versions ARE identical if you rip them, but they have separate play lists because of what which feature you're taking advantage of.

[everythinggoesdumb]

I will have to check once I get back to my standard Blu-Ray player.

Also, I created a decrypted backup, but for some reason it will not play in VLC Player. (The proper library and other backups play just fine.)

[keithl]

Anyone know which sequence on the 4K UHD retail disc?

[everythinggoesdumb]

So I think I figured it out for the regular Blu-Ray that is included with the UHD. The difference is one of the subtitle streams. In each one, the third English subtitle stream is slightly different. After looking at them, I think the correct ones are as follows:

• Director's edition Source file name: 00345.mpls

• Theatrical Edition Source file name: 00413.mpls

• Special Edition Source file name: 00417.mpls

Please let me know if I'm incorrect so that I can redo the process.

[geogan]

I'm just looking at this now. Confusing alright. Well it seems like the segment map is exactly the same between the duplicates, so I guess that means it doesn't matter does it?

One thing I find strange is the shortest version of movie has most chapters, 23, whereas the others have only 16 chapters??

Anyway I think I will go with the longest 2:17:14 version (00345.mpls) Director's edition

I'm not really familiar with the differences in cuts TBH - first I heard of them.

[d00zah]

I'm just looking at this now. Confusing alright. Well it seems like the segment map is exactly the same between the duplicates, so I guess that means it doesn't matter does it?

One thing I find strange is the shortest version of movie has most chapters, 23, whereas the others have only 16 chapters??

Anyway I think I will go with the longest 2:17:14 version (00345.mpls) Director's edition

I'm not really familiar with the differences in cuts TBH - first I heard of them.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about Close Encounters Of The Third Kind...

Alternate Versions

Technical Specifications

[TatlTaelLynx]

Anyone know which sequence on the 4K UHD retail disc?

I am also looking for this. Does anyone have the Sequence for the 4k UHD 40th anniversary edition?

[rbkopelman]

For those who have some knowledge of the disc(s) of Close Encounters: There seems to be 2 versions available on Amazon as of 7/26/2024 (1) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] [4K UHD] for $15.50 & (2) Close Encounters of the Third Kind Anniversary Edition [4K UHD] for $36.53. Every single detail about both are identical as listed on Amazon. The only differences seem to be the price, the edition name, & the jacket. I looked this up on https://www.blu-ray.com/4k as well. Once again, no discernible difference. (I have noticed this with other 4k movies as well.) Runtimes for both products are listed as 6 hours and 44 minutes indicating that both include all 3 released versions. Why is one 2x as expensive as the other? I don't wish to miss anything, but if they are exactly the same, why pay double? Can anyone shed some light or share some advice?

[dcoke22]

For those who have some knowledge of the disc(s) of Close Encounters: There seems to be 2 versions available on Amazon as of 7/26/2024 (1) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] [4K UHD] for $15.50 & (2) Close Encounters of the Third Kind Anniversary Edition [4K UHD] for $36.53. Every single detail about both are identical as listed on Amazon. The only differences seem to be the price, the edition name, & the jacket. I looked this up on https://www.blu-ray.com/4k as well. Once again, no discernible difference. (I have noticed this with other 4k movies as well.) Runtimes for both products are listed as 6 hours and 44 minutes indicating that both include all 3 released versions. Why is one 2x as expensive as the other? I don't wish to miss anything, but if they are exactly the same, why pay double? Can anyone shed some light or share some advice?

I think the anniversary version has different packaging that lights up and plays the iconic tones from the movie. Basically, it is a bunch of collector paraphernalia. I think by asking the question, you've already self-selected to NOT be in the hardcore collector group that would gladly pay the extra money for the fancy packaging.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6PTWunLAnU

[rbkopelman]

Thanks. As long as the movie/version is the ssme, I'll go with the less expensive one. I love movies but don't really need all the collector 's bells & whistles. It is often frustrating to try & figure out the differences from the web sites.

[everythinggoesdumb]

I believe the other person is correct with the packaging differences. I use Blu-ray.com to check versions sometimes (Close Encounters Of The Third Kind releases).