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I've been having some trouble with the Blu-Ray (Feature) disc of the Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (40th Anniversary Edition). There are 3 different cuts of the film on it: Theatrical, Special Edition and Director's Cut. The problem is that there are two versions of each showing in MakeMKV. Both versions for each cut have the same run-time as each other (i.e. the Theatrical Cut version 1 has the same run-time as version 2) and I haven't seen many differences between any of the audio or subtitle tracks.
Here are the 6 versions:

Director's Cuts:

Source file name: 00345.mpls
Duration: 2:17:14
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.7 GB
Segment count: 37
Segment map: 399,401,336,337,338,339,340,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348,349,350,351,352,353,354,355,356,357,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t03.mkv

Name: Close Encounters of the Third Kind 40th Anniversary Edition (English)
Source file name: 00412.mpls
Duration: 2:17:14
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.7 GB
Segment count: 37
Segment map: 399,401,336,337,338,339,340,341,342,343,344,345,346,347,348,349,350,351,352,353,354,355,356,357,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,368,369,370
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t05.mkv

Theatrical Versions

Source file name: 00346.mpls
Duration: 2:14:45
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.1 GB
Segment count: 39
Segment map: 399,401,371,372,373,338,374,340,375,342,376,344,377,378,379,380,348,349,381,382,383,384,385,355,356,357,358,386,360,387,388,363,389,365,366,367,390,369,391
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t04.mkv

Source file name: 00413.mpls
Duration: 2:14:45
Chapters count: 16
Size: 28.1 GB
Segment count: 39
Segment map: 399,401,371,372,373,338,374,340,375,342,376,344,377,378,379,380,348,349,381,382,383,384,385,355,356,357,358,386,360,387,388,363,389,365,366,367,390,369,391
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t06.mkv

Director's Cut:

Source file name: 00417.mpls
Duration: 2:12:29
Chapters count: 23
Size: 27.7 GB
Segment count: 35
Segment map: 404,402,401,336,337,338,339,340,392,342,343,344,393,346,347,348,350,351,352,353,354,394,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,395,369,396
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t07.mkv

Source file name: 00420.mpls
Duration: 2:12:29
Chapters count: 23
Size: 27.7 GB
Segment count: 35
Segment map: 404,402,401,336,337,338,339,340,392,342,343,344,393,346,347,348,350,351,352,353,354,394,358,359,360,361,362,363,364,365,366,367,395,369,396
File name: Close_Encounters_of_the_Third_Kind_40th_Anniversary_Edition_t08.mkv

I created a backup using MakeMKV and opened it in VLC, and it automatically starts playing Title 54 without going to a menu. Title 54 seems to be the Director's Cut because it has a run-time of 2:17:14.

Does anyone have any pointers for how to find the correct version? (I also apologize if I'm formatting any of this wrong, this is my first time posting.)

Does the menu offer a commentary version of each?

Some times multiple versions ARE identical if you rip them, but they have separate play lists because of what which feature you're taking advantage of.

I will have to check once I get back to my standard Blu-Ray player.

Also, I created a decrypted backup, but for some reason it will not play in VLC Player. (The proper library and other backups play just fine.)

Anyone know which sequence on the 4K UHD retail disc?

So I think I figured it out for the regular Blu-Ray that is included with the UHD. The difference is one of the subtitle streams. In each one, the third English subtitle stream is slightly different. After looking at them, I think the correct ones are as follows:

• Director's edition Source file name: 00345.mpls

• Theatrical Edition Source file name: 00413.mpls

• Special Edition Source file name: 00417.mpls

Please let me know if I'm incorrect so that I can redo the process.

I'm just looking at this now. Confusing alright. Well it seems like the segment map is exactly the same between the duplicates, so I guess that means it doesn't matter does it?

One thing I find strange is the shortest version of movie has most chapters, 23, whereas the others have only 16 chapters??

Anyway I think I will go with the longest 2:17:14 version (00345.mpls) Director's edition

I'm not really familiar with the differences in cuts TBH - first I heard of them.

geogan wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 29, 2021 11:55 am

I'm just looking at this now. Confusing alright. Well it seems like the segment map is exactly the same between the duplicates, so I guess that means it doesn't matter does it?

One thing I find strange is the shortest version of movie has most chapters, 23, whereas the others have only 16 chapters??

Anyway I think I will go with the longest 2:17:14 version (00345.mpls) Director's edition

I'm not really familiar with the differences in cuts TBH - first I heard of them.

Probably more than you ever wanted to know about Close Encounters Of The Third Kind...

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