Thread by @jonnymorris1973

Tonight's SF classic. I've seen it before but not in this century.

I love that Spielberg ignores the 'rules' of screenwriting. 15 mins in and we finally see the protagonist. Plus of course it sets up mysteries which never get resolved.

Those three spaceships couldn't be more disco if they were being driven by the Bee Gees.

The aliens use the same map coordinate system as us.

Unless...

Unless... WE GOT IT FROM THEM!!!

Just realised I have the DVD of this film so perhaps I should be watching that rather than Netflix. D'oh!

Okay this a different version of the film that was on Netflix cos Richard Dreyfuss is teaching his son maths and that wasn't in the other version.

Okay this is the 1997 collectors edition. Netflix must have a different one???

Okay and this version doesn't have the scene of him working in the power station... Maybe I should go back to Netflix...

Okay, and the DVD has the boat being found in the desert, not in the Netflix version. I had been wondering where it was!

Okay Netflix must be showing the original 1977 cut. Interesting. I shall watch both versions to get the full effect.

Now watching the 77 version.

There are various websites that list differences but they seem to be missing so many none of them are any use!

Why is it every time I think the landing site is at the top of the mountain and not next to it? A remarkably persistent false memory.

They are now attempting to communicate with the aliens through the universal language of disco.

ELO have just turned up.

The aliens have brought back Glen Miller. He's the one who taught them jazz.

I'm guessing Neary didn't like his kids that much then.

HOW DID THEY GET THE BOAT INTO THE SPACESHIP WE ARE NEVER TOLD

I must have seen the special edition at some point because I remember us going inside the spaceship and all the alien cafes and gyms and things

Ah, it's been included on the bonus disc. Albeit in ropey-o-vision so we get a sense of its deletedness.