Actually, as has been explained time and again on the internet, the original 1977 release version was never officially released on home video until recently (and last year it was part of a 40th anniversary edition that contained the three major theatrical edits of the film), although Criterion’s edit, which substitutes 30 seconds of footage with UFO fly-by shots from the 1980 Special Edition (this particular edit has been shown in syndication) did at one point in time come close to the original as possible.

Incidentally, if you do have a working Laserdisc player and you can find the Criterion edition on eBay, play it. It will be worth it if not for the sake of comparison.