This movie is sort of an "in-between", because it is in between the blockbusters "Jaws" and "E.T.".

So I think of it as a "learning the craft" movie for "E.T."

Lots of scenes in¡¶Close encounters of the third kind¡·are redundant, and can be cut. There is little conflict or tension. There is no message. I couldn't even finish it. (I am always in a hurry, I admit. :-))