Brand new factory sealed 2-disc dvd comes in a foil slipcase which has a little minor scoring streak on the back. These foil cases are easily susceptible to dents and scrapes.

This is the director's cut which incorporates scenes from both the special edition and the theatrical cut and shortening other scenes. But it does not include the interior of the mothership scenes at the end as Spielberg has never liked these scenes. This version of the film was re-released in 1999 to theatres and is longer than both of the other versions. The film's thrust is, however basically unchanged.

Spielberg draws on documented lore of UFOs and, with the cinematic trickery of Douglas Trumbull, creates staggering effects. The "Mother Ship" (see cover) is a mind-blower and the smaller saucers flit behind glaring lights, looking solid one moment, multi-dimensional and transparent the next.

Spielberg's script is about power lineman Richard Dreyfus ('Jaws'), who is subjected to the saucer phenomena. But, the story is overshadowed by the beauty of the saucers, the integrity of the effects, and the neoreligous mood. French director Francois Truffaut portrays a UFO investigator heading an international team which travels the world in pursuit of the saucer mystery.

Another great score by John Williams