I've seen those scenes. It was a while ago, the first time I saw it, which was probably 5 years ago. I vividly remember him making the all important final modifications. And I was particularly puzzled the next time I saw it that the mountain-building seemed so...missing. So unless I saw it in utero, your claim of "not seen since 1978" seems suspect. But I am glad to finally know I wasn't imagining things when it felt like there was a lot missing, especially since it was on TMC, which usually doesn't do that kind of chopping.

Actually, having just watched all of M. Night's movies in preparation for tomorrow's opening of LitW, I find Sixth Sense to be my least favorite ... though it is obviously his most popular film.



As for any in utero viewings of Close Encounters ... all I can say is that I have not been able to monitor every single TV airing of this film ... but I have sat longingly through more television viewings than is healthy, and I have never seen those missing scenes aired on TV.


I'm postive, however, that they've never been released on any home video version ... and I call BAH, and Shenanigans on the esteemed "Criterion Collection" edition for falsely advertising itself to be the 1977 version of the film. Filth and lies, my friends, filth and lies.

I was curious how many of the AFI 100 I hadn't seen...

1. CITIZEN KANE (1941)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950) (though I have seen the Glenn Close stage production)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

65 not seen. What a loser.

But I HAVE seen Blazing Saddles about 42 gazillion times.

The Lashbear "Haven't seen" List:
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
82. GIANT (1956)
84. FARGO (1996)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990) 96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)

Just out of curiosity, what was your favorite? That is, if you liked any of them. :)

My favorite is Signs, with Unbreakable running a close second.

I love The Village more with each viewing.


The Sixth Sense is by no means a bad film, and was a legitimate cinema phenomena when it was in theaters. Except for €, most people didn't guess the twist and - far more important and rare - no one gave it away, spilled the beans, or talked about Fight Club.

Unbreakable is my favorite. Signs and The Sixth Sense are both roughly equal. I was apalled at how bad The Village was but haven't seen it since so maybe I should give it the chance of a second viewing. But the very idea of it is so trite and rehashed that it is hard to find enough enthusiasm to sit through it again.

And if you haven't seen The Third Man you really should go out of your way to do so.

I think too many people are hung up on the unsatisfactory nature of the patented M. Night "twist" in The Village. The movie is so much more than that. His movies don't need a twist. Signs doesn't have a twist.


I will certainly go out of my way to see The Third Man. Who knows? Maybe I'll see the other 2 AFI listers also.

I don't reember a thing about Close Encounters except the famouse kid scene. It is quite possible I've never seen it.

There are 17 I don't THINK I've seen, three of which I'm not sure about.

8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)

21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)

36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)

43. KING KONG (1933)????????

44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)

54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)

63. STAGECOACH (1939)

64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977) ?????

69. SHANE (1953) ????????

74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)

83. PLATOON (1986)

85. DUCK SOUP (1933)

89. PATTON (1970)

90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)

96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)

98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)