I miss the theater that I volunteer at. We used to project Blu rays on the big screen. One the coolest experiences was watching 2001: A Space Odyssey on the big screen!

Close Encounters in 70mm. That would look so beautiful.

I think I saw both in theaters. I remember Gremlins being glorious, especially that last Stripe scene. The Goonies kinda low key, one locale really pic. Small screen is fine for that, I think...

I think it would depend on the size of the theater. A huge theater would call for Close Encounters, while with a smaller theater I'd take Alien.

I saw Close Encounters back then at one of the big Century dome theaters, it was an experience that no theater around here now can match. Alien had 70mm prints also, first time I saw that was on a 13-inch TV on a RENTED CED player- this was in 1983.

This sort of thing is how I judge any theater- would I want to see an older movie at it? Since both of these movies are scope 2.35 and many new theaters show those letterboxed on a native 1.85 screen without even any top or bottom masking, those get a failing grade. The scope format is already crippled on digital being natively 1.85 and letterboxed in that frame.

Since the OP asked to answer as if you'd never seen either I'll go by how I felt when they came out. I was much more interested in seeing Alien than Close Encounters so would absolutely go with Alien.

After seeing both I'd still go with Alien as the last third of of Close Encounters eliminated all good feeling I had about the first half of the movie. Since then I've seen Alien a dozen or more times (theatrical and director's cuts) and enjoy it every time. I've seen Close Encounters 5 times (theatrical and director's editions - I avoided the one that shows the ship interior as the movie was bad enough at that point without that lame addition) and still feel the last third ruins what was a good movie up to that point.

Alien for me without question. Great cinematography or not, there are about 100 other movies I'd want to see on the big screen ahead of Close Encounters.

If you were in Windsor, Ontario 35 years ago, you could have seen that The Goonies/Gremlins double-bill at the drive-in with Pale Rider and Ladyhawke on the same bil as a bonus.

I would loved to have seen Close Encounters at Devil's Tower like the Alamo Drafthouse did a few years ago.



As much as I love JAWS... I don't think I'd do the JAWS on the water screenings. Just out of general discomfort of sitting in an innertube for 2 hours.

Yeah ours is doing 20 for $100, even better. Decker's friend's deal sounds like a rip at $2500

Today is the day. The manager told me that the Alien print looks good but has a pink fade, and offered to screen a BD, but I’d rather watch the print.

Too bad he can't screen the 4k. It's pretty darn good.

I saw Close Encounters at the Hollywood Cinerama Dome on the last day it was playing BEFORE it opened wide. I remember two things (three really)...

#1 The screen was incredibly wide and curved. I don't think I ever saw a movie in that theater again. (Is it still as it was in '77?)
#2 That opening...with the sound and the desert opening scene....


#3 Boom, by the end, it was one of my all time favorites and still is. I would love to see the theatrical version again, on that screen!

Alien.
Finally watched CEot3K within a year or so and apart from the music and some cinematography, I didn't really like it that much.
It would probably be really impressive on a big screen, but then I'd be thinking "wow this is impressive on the big screen", not "wow I'm so into this movie."

Oh....it's 150$, PLUS up to 30 ticket prices, PLUS 150$ minimum spend on concessions.
Still pretty cool, the min spend probably wouldn't be tough to do with even 15 attendees, and there's worse ways to spend 150$ for a cool experience for up to 30 friends.
I'm still not ready to be in a movie theatre, even with only 30 of my friends. (Well, I'm more than ready in terms of wanting to, but I'm not going to.)

Cinemark is offering this where I live, which I think is kinda cool -- especially if your kid is having a birthday or something

Here's the selection they offer.

If I had to make that choice I'd go with Close Encounters on the big screen. The visuals look amazing on a screen that size.

Alien works really well at home on a 50" screen. Close Encounters loses a little more on a smaller screen.

I'd definitely go for Empire or Raiders on the big screen. Now I just need some friends...

I'm offering it to my daughter for next weekend before she goes off to college, for her to invite a few friends and her grandparents. I would love it if she went with Empire or Raiders, but she's leaning towards Gremlins or The Matrix. I've never seen Goonies, so I'd be good with that as well.

Grease would be fun as a drunken sing-a-long!

This was going to be my answer to the thread. I'd take 2001 over Alien and Close Encounters easily

It was screened nationally in IMAX last year. It was pretty cool. I took the family.

Not an option. And luckily, I’ve only ever seen that on 70 mm (never on home media or a TV).

Alien is the superior movie to me, but I think that Close Encounters gains more by watching on the big screen. So I'd go with the latter.


That's a tough one for me between Raiders, Empire Strikes Back, and The Matrix. Gun to the head, I'd probably go to Empire.

My daughter picked Empire We are going on Saturday night in our own movie theater. $99 well spent.