Speilberg's aliens ... appeared in a halo of bright light and possessed a serene, other-wordly quality reminiscent of biblical encounters with angels. Much of the imagery ... was Bunyanesque, especially near the final scene when the alien mothercraft appears in the sky, awesome, brilliantly illuminated and suggestive of [the] Celestial City. Throughout the story the aliens set the agenda, and privileged humans were drawn psychically and with religious, pilgrim-like fervor towards the all-important encounter after many trials, tribulations and doubts.