Great movie but the dig at Australia over the aboriginals was very wrong to bring up...how dare they bring that into a scifi movie, nothing to do with the movie......so disrespectful to the Australian people....
A spectacular movie. The acting, directing, and sound was all top notch.
Blown away. Love the story line. Acting is wonderful.
As much as I truly enjoyed this movie upon the first viewing, I think I need to watch it again and again to comprehend all that goes on, like Interstellar.
The soundtrack stuck out the most to me. The end scene's piece 'On the Nature of Daylight', was so beautiful and even outdid the visuals at conveying the emotion of the scene and what it is to be human. I also liked the touch of Cello throughout the movie, as it gives the sound of humanity.
Very intriguing subject, executed with precision by Denis Villeneuve and his crew.
The man truly is an astounding filmmaker; there’s not a single shot with weak framing or bad lighting.
Cool art design, good performances, intelligent and interesting; we need more sci-fi like this to balance out the usual blockbuster schlock.
Its biggest problem is that none of the characters besides Louise are all that interesting.
Also, there’s a final twist with Jeremy Renner’s character that I found fairly predictable.
But still, a very inspired film with plenty of food for thought.
8/10
If you're looking for an action and "turn brain off now" film, just don't watch it and spare us the 6-7 hearts review.
I for one, am very tired from 500$m crap like Indi Day and Marvel's poop. So I was very excited to watch this one.
This one is more like Spielberg's Encounters from the Third Kind. It's more about the characters in the film and the amazing journey they go through. It's mostly about the human behavior that will make you think.
While it's not an End of the World aliens movie like Battle: Los Angeles, it still offers great amount of military presence and plenty of stuff that's going on.
So if you actually want to care about an intelligent movie and use your head - go. Otherwise, go watch an X men.
Highly recommended for some audience 10/10.
2-feb-2017 edit: Just came out on Bluray and I saw it again. Definitely keeping my rating.
Watching again at July-2023, excited towards Dune II : Excellent. Excellent film. So called plot-holes listed here are negligible when the overall product is really thoughtful and masterfully crafted.
Heavy on the fiction, weak on the science. This makes the human race look incredibly stupid. They are completely guessing at what the aliens are saying. They have no proof at all. Seems to me, beings would be able to decipher our simple symbols before we could make any progress with theirs, duh! They mastered space travel didn't they?
Also, in order to communicate in a first contact situation would be to use symbols that we both have in common, and the only thing that we could have in common would be the elements of the periodic table. Quantum physics would be the only way to communicate initially.
Last point, and this goes along with the first point. They mastered space travel, obviously superior. Wouldn't they have first contact protocols ready, before they actually land. Why come and just sit there looking stupid? Awaiting a primitive species to figure you out. Wouldn't they at least take the lead, not let some dumb college teacher to bumble things up.
I'm sorry but this movie is just plain dumb. At least the science portion of it is.
I don't believe I've ever been so captivated by such a deeply flawed movie as I am with Arrival. What others have written about it—with far more insight than I could—is all too true, namely that the acting is hollow at best and the plot is nothing so much as a severely frayed thread in danger of completely unraveling. It's an utter waste of one of the most creative iterations of extra-terrestrial contact in cinematic history. And yet, despite all of these reasons to dismiss this lamentable execution of the cinematic arts, I can't help but admit…I love it.
When you strip away all of the trappings and examine this movie solely for the essential story being told, you are privy to something very profound, and genuinely uplifting: how humanity's manifold foibles, when put together, might just be redeeming after all. Through the protagonist, Louise, we see the unfolding of a series of personal tragedies and yet her response to them is tempered with unflinching dedication to the accomplishment of something worthwhile, and therein she finds her purpose. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, I found in this story elements of the best of Disney's heroes, Shakespeare's tragic rulers, and religious texts' unwavering commitment to the belief that there is no such thing as a meaningless sacrifice. While they all could've been done greater justice, I believe their coexistence here is cause to sit up, take note, and eschew any demands for a greater polish and fidelity to realism.
I came away with a greater knowledge of myself and a more forgiving opinion of our species as a whole, and for both of those I am grateful beyond measure. Perhaps in time I'll come to see that the imperfections in its presentation actually work to clarify some or all of these laudable aspects of the narrative,...or perhaps the magic will fade under the weight of familiarity and I'll be unable to defend it again as I have here now. Either way, the two hours I devoted to watching this movie for the first time are ones that I won't ever regret, and perhaps that's the best praise any artistic work can receive, especially in light of this particular story.
This movie talks more broadly than just Science fiction. It talks about language, non-linear time, and decision.
Now, this is what a movie about meeting the aliens for first time should be like. Movies like independence Day & War Of The Worlds are shit. Movies like this and interstellar should be made more often. I'm not saying these types of movie are 100% realistic but at least they try to express themselves and have some meaning to them. Overall, it's a 10/10 from me....
It's essentially the "squidward teaches humans a special language" movie.
Cinematic masterpiece. I love everything about this movie.
Still fantastic on rewatch. Crazy to think Denis Villeneuve did this then Blade Runner 2049 only a year later. He really knows hows to do sci-fi. One of my favorite directors working right now.
What a fantastic movie! I was hoping for a less dramatic/action packed take on the 'first encounter' and that is exactly what I got. Such thought provoking and emotional messages throughout. I honestly was a little lost for words towards the end, definitely not a movie you can watch in the background you need to savour and enjoy every moment so you don't get confused.
Sure there were questionable moments, and a few times the characters actions were questionable but nothing's perfect. I will definitely be watching again, and recommending to family and friends. Amy Adams puts up a stellar performance
One of those films that comes along all too rarely nowadays, that wants to let a story slowly unfold and leaves the viewer thinking about things from a slightly different perspective.
I'm eagrly waiting for a great, thoughful sci-fi movie. Please tell me this one isn't just a dumb sci-fi action film, not to say pure dogsh*t like Indep day... anyone?!?
Villeneuve follows up "Sicario" with a gem. A deep, twisty and emotional sci-fi piece. Aspects of time, how we view life experiences, communication and and if we would still choose paths even knowing the outcome are a few theme that are touched upon. Jóhannsson again composes a masterpiece score instilling the needed wonderment and fear first contact would dictate. And of course a great cast including Adams, Renner and Whitaker. Just awesome, gotta see it again!
So the free choice does not exist? I'm not buying it.
Also, why the less advanced species are supposed to learn the more advanced language? This would be like expecting that people wait till dogs start to communicate in English.
Excellent sci-fi movie that requires an active brain to enjoy it... But I still wanted to know more about Portuguese! D:
Discovering this plot as it unfolds is such a joy. The themes may be hammered home a little hard towards the end, but I don't care because it's powerful and important.
This is Sci-Fi at it's finest. An original and emotional exploration of the nature of language and time, and a masterfully done sequence of what a plausible non-extintion level first contact would look. Every element fits cohesively to build a strong atmosphere; music, cinematography, audio effects are top notch and will stick with me probably forever. I wanted to rewatch this move the moment it ended.
The investigation of Language was what made "Arrival" so interesting. After the aliens land, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited to try and communicate with them. The film was very thought-provoking, especially in its early stages, because it broke down the challenges of communicating with something that is totally foreign.
The film moves at a slow pace and there are going to be viewers who won't have the patience to enjoy it. It was entirely engrossing and the purpose for the aliens' visit could make your imagination run wild. There is a twist that is pretty satisfying but hard to grasp and it concerns the dream-like states that Banks experiences. It makes "Arrival" better but presents a point of confusion that is best left for viewers to discover on their own.
"Arrival" looks nice and really does a great job to keep the aliens mysterious. My attempt at not spoiling this film makes me wonder if writing this review has any value. It seems frustratingly vague but this is the type of film that I enjoy over all others. This generates a lot of questions and leaves a lot of room for your own imagination.
One of my favourites of this year. Amy is such a treat. Denis Villenueve once again hits it out of the park. Love the music and drive notes. Amazing aliens. Wicked cool writing by aliens.
"Language is the foundation of civilisation. It is the glue that holds the people together. It is the first weapon drawn in a conflict."
It's always so refreshing watching this one. Arrival isn't your usual "let's throw a bomb at the aliens" action blockbuster, it's more civilized, it's all about understanding the aliens and communicating with them—this is the approach we would take in this situation, hopefully!
Another perfectly directed movie by Villeneuve, one of my favorites. Flawless direction and storyline, loved every aspect of the story. Every shot looks gorgeous, love the violin score and great performances. Amy Adams was perfect for the role, she's so believable and knows how to pack a punch with the emotions. Good chemistry with Jeremy Renner, who also delivers.
I'm so fascinated by the language and the aliens, excellent original concept, could have taken an extra ten hour documentary on this. I was already blown away and content with what was given but then a twist happens and it adds another level of complexity to the story. Mind blown. Peak sci-fi!
Arrival is a science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve, which tells the story of Louise, a linguist who is recruited to help communicate with aliens who have landed on Earth. The film is based on a short story "Story of Your Life" and the filmmakers consulted experts in phonetics, linguistics and art to ensure accuracy in the movie's language and visuals. The story explores themes such as communication and the nature of time, but the reviewer found the film to be slow-burning and lacking in impact. The movie looks good and has a solid premise, but it did not grip the reviewer as much as it hoped, and the ending felt unsatisfying. The performances by Amy Adams and the rest of the cast were good, but the supporting characters were underused. Overall, Arrival is a cerebral and well-crafted film, but it did not fully deliver on its potential.
La llegada es una película de ciencia ficción dirigida por Denis Villeneuve, que cuenta la historia de Louise, una lingüista que es reclutada para ayudar a comunicarse con los extraterrestres que han aterrizado en la Tierra. La película está basada en una historia corta "La historia de tu vida" y los cineastas consultaron a expertos en fonética, lingüística y arte para garantizar la precisión en el lenguaje y las imágenes de la película. La historia explora temas como la comunicación y la naturaleza del tiempo, pero el crítico encontró que la película se desarrolla lentamente y carece de impacto. La película se ve bien y tiene una premisa sólida, pero no atrapó al crítico tanto como esperaba, y el final se sintió insatisfactorio. Las actuaciones de Amy Adams y el resto del elenco fueron buenas, pero los personajes secundarios fueron infrautilizados. En general, La llegada es una película cerebral y bien hecha, pero no cumplió con todo su potencial.
The investigation of Language was what made "Arrival" so interesting. After the Aliens land, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is recruited to try and communicate with them. The breakdown of the challenges of communicating with something that is totally foreign is exciting.
The film moves at a slow pace and there are going to be viewers who won't have the patience to enjoy it. "Arrival" does a great job keeping the aliens mysterious and the purpose for their visit is simply hinted at. There is also a satisfying twist that concerns the dream-like states that Dr. Banks experiences.
Visually, this isn't going to win any awards. It's a murky looking film and everything seems like it's some shade of grey. The alien craft is ominous but basically looks like a massive skipping stone. This isn't necessarily a happy film, either. In fact, it's rather sad.
If you're tired of watching Marvel, DC, and Star Wars movies, give "Arrival" a try. It's thought provoking and leaves room for your own imagination to work on those "what if" questions that the universe has to offer.
Villeneuve elevates Arrival's source material to the very zenith of great storytelling through excellent production design and an incredible, intensely-emotional plot, bolstered (and blessedly not sidelined by) the science-fiction concepts at its core. A must-watch, and my all-time-favourite.
This is how a human alien interaction would be.
Intelligent and purposefully directed, Arrival succeeds in its' ambitious themes despite sedate pacing and uneven characterization.
This is not a perfect movie. There are times where it seems a little lost in its own story, especially anything to do with time. Time travel is tricky AF, and this movie has issues with it as well.
All told, I really enjoyed it. I love the idea that time doesn't only run forward (thanks, physics), I love the idea that the way we view the world is influenced by our language (thanks, linguistics), and I love thoughtful sci-fi. It didn't blow my mind because I figured out the "twist" pretty early on, but it was well done enough that having that knowledge didn't ruin the movie for me.
Denis Villeneuve i love you, second rewatch of this movie hits even more than the first one, the directing and coloring of this movie was perfect, and that sound design? beautiful.
the whole concept of Louise being able to perceive small flashbacks, but in a sense, from the future, was really well delivered, and Hans Zimmer's music is as heart wrenching as ever, melancholic, and at the same time so beautiful
competent movie with a scenario that has his limits but all other aspect are great
Probably the best alien invasion movie ever made (If you're a thinker that is).
Not great, but not at all bad... It thinks it's smarter than it actually is, but I found it quite predictable.
Watching the movie a second time (knowing everything that is going to happen but enjoying it immensely) is the right way to do it thematically.
One of the Best movies in 2016.
The movie is good but not great. It started out with a good idea and intriguing plot. The attempt to give the movie a deeper spiritual aspect was a bit awkward, like someone that tells you a ghost story without believing in ghosts at all. all in all the movie was enjoyable but not something that resonates for long.
Bold enough to let your brain do the heavy lifting. Quiet, brooding, hopeful and wondrous.
First Kodi movie watcehd and it was good.
Was very disappointed in this film.
Aliens who come and talk to them is difficult , it is okay is different from others, quiet
Strange, intriguing and well acted. Just expect a film that's mostly about communication with aliens as well as life and love. Arrival is moving and I appreciate it for what it was. Even if it didn't exactly blow me away.
Denis Villenueve. A solid lineup. A different take on first contact. I loved Sicario but went in expecting a cerebral epic sci-fi.
That was a mistake.
Good things:
- Some really nice visual scenes
- Interesting aliens Calligraphy aliens!
- Clear theme of communication is omnipresent
- A neat score that might be awesome in a different movie
Bad things:
- The acting
- The lack of emotional reaction to ALIENS! The students asking to turn on the TV, all of the main characters
- Lack of useful characters Only the aliens and Louise actually did anything the entire movie.
- Supporting characters are very stupid in an attempt to foil the main character slightly
- Very clumsy exposition. Genre-typical news reports, voice-overs, dumb characters asking stupid questions.
- Very slow pacing. This worked in parts of Sicario, but didn't work in this movie because there was no tension. The main characters never seemed remotely threatened.
- Lousie showing up at school thinking everyone will be there after aliens arrive and there's a state of emergency
- Why can't you translate alien language like you can translate Farsi. This is a paraphrase but in the spirit of what Colonel Weber was saying.
- Useless love interest when the costars have no chemistry.
- Ultrasecure military base lets someone steal a ton of explosives and put it in an ALIEN SPACECRAFT without anyone noticing.
- Many unbelievable plot points
- Poor dialogue Let's make a baby - real quote
- Poor handling of the major plot points Looking through time seems to undermine the fact that the aliens need help. Why did one have to die if they could see the future? Why did only one die when they were right next to each other?
- Very heavy handed moral messaging that didn't align with the rest of the movie.
- Why couldn't Ian also see into the future as he studied the language, or any of the others?
Overall extremely disappointing. I'm honestly surprised critics or general moviegoers like this. The premise was very good. It's a real shame the execution failed so miserably.
[8.2/10] It’s hard to talk about Arrival without spoiling the film. So much of what makes it more than just a well-done first contact story is tied up in its later developments. They recontextualize enough of the prior proceedings that trying to discuss the import or quality of the film without mentioning them is like trying to give someone directions without letting them know the destination.
But its premise is fairly straightforward. Aliens have come to Earth, in twelve ships scattered across the globe. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) a linguist, is brought by the U.S. Military to the ship in Montana, in attempt to help us communicate with the extra-terrestrial presence. With the help of theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner), and buffer provided by Colonel Weber (Forest Whitaker), Banks slowly but surely finds ways to talk to these beings, with the American team alternatively working with and against similar groups in other nations attempting the same.
And then there’s the twist. The birth, death, and tragedy of Louise’s daughter, implied through the grammar of film to have occurred prior to the alien encounter we witness, actually happened afterward. The estranged husband hinted at early on turns out to be Donnelly. And Banks herself, through learning to think like the heptapods, and eventually direct contact with the aliens, becomes unstuck in time. She experiences moments from what we’d consider the past, present, and future, in non-linear splendor, mixing them up like a memory collage.
Despite the narrative trickery employed, the reveal itself isn’t so unfamiliar to those acquainted with the novels of Kurt Vonnegut, Watchmen, and even Star Trek: The Next Generation. But what the twist lacks in novelty, it makes up for in thematic resonance. Like those works, Arrival uses the time-dilated nature of its story to comment on processing trauma, the value of one’s experiences and life itself in a chaotic universe, and the potential of the human mind to expand to contemplate greater possibilities.
You’re unlikely to find a film this year with as many intriguing philosophical implications as Arrival. In that, it is akin to The Prestige, as a film with a twist that initially knocks over the viewer with how it changes the reality of what’s been depicted up to that point, but that makes its bones from the implications of that new reality. In both films, what the reveals show about the characters, and say about the value and nature of human life, linger long after the shock of the twist dissipates.
But the force of the movie does kick into high gear after the non-linear way in which Louise begins to experience time is unveiled. It answers the plot-specific mystery that Arrival presents – why did the heptapods come here? They, it turns out, have experienced time in this fashion from the beginning, the thoughts and information able to exist simultaneously in the past and the future. Their journey is to help Earth unify, to serve as a catalyst for cooperation, so that three millennia in the future, humanity will be able to help them. It is an intriguing and clockwork explanation for their presence.
Beyond, however, the on-the-ground (so to speak) plot mechanics of Arrival, what makes it stand out is its exploration of how this change in temporal perspective changes how individuals think, how they value different things in their lives, how they approach and view the world. The film reflects this in interesting ways.
The heptapods’ language is circular, more symmetrical and again, non-linear to reflect their perspective, tying into the motif that learning a language rewires your brain to a certain extent. Louise naming her daughter Hannah, which the episode notes is a palindrome, reflects the way this same symmetry and perspective has filtered down to her. And the film itself often frames Louise symmetrically, using a flat background or one-point perspective to balance the images.
But most notably, that mode of thought changes Louise’s perspective on life writ large, estranges her from eventual husband Donnelly, and motivates her to both marry him and have a child, knowing that each choice will end in pain. The cinch is that for Louise, these decisions do not “end.” They simply are. They exist on the same continuum as all moments, not greater or lesser in priority or order than the others.
And for that, for the gift given to her by the heptapods, she chooses the path that will increase the amount of bliss she enjoys, where she experiences love, where she is enriched. Amy Adams understated performance gives life to this epiphany. Freed from constraints, in philosophy and temporal perspective, of having to fear loss and hardship, she pursues those paths that will make her life more worthwhile, that will give her more moments of happiness and wonder and fulfillment, regardless of any chronological path from joy to sadness.
It’s a laudable message, that applies even to the humble folks who still experience time in a linear fashion. Much of cinema tackles ideas about coping with loss or valuing the good times even in the shadow of the bad. But the device of the scattered timescape of Louise’s life, seen as an accumulation of experiences and not a linear progression, drives that point home in a unique way. Much of Arrival is about broadening perspectives, and the scattered scenes combining what was, what is, and what will be help to cast the same broadening spell on the audience that the heptapods do for Louise.
That’s part of why talking about this film without talking about its twist is so hard. The way Arrival tells its story, the ways those moments are sequenced in the film, is so essential to what the film is trying to say that discussing it apart from that perspective is unavoidably lacking. In a film about altering perspective, there is only so much to say without talking about how it attempts to shift the audience’s own perspective in the process. Arrival uses the alien and unfamiliar to tell a deeply humanistic story, about unity, philosophy, and worth, through one individual who comes to see them all very differently.
Disappointed.....while basis of the movie is intriguing the execution was extremely poor. I love sci-fi's that are more than visual effects and action so I appreciate the depth of this film. This isn't your typical alien invasion storyline it really had the potential to be a great movie. There was also such a lack of emotion it seemed like the entire cast as on xanex!!! The ending was also very weak and left too many questions unanswered.
If you're looking to kill some time or veg on a Sunday afternoon give it a watch but this is NOT a main attraction movie night film.
This movie takes us to interesting places, exploring the barriers of language that meeting an alien race would pose, the geopolitical impact of the first contact with an extraterrestrial life, the mystery of... "Why are they here!?" but it sells itself short, going instead to a rushed third act with no REAL explanation whatsoever for why these creatures have come to the earth. This movie is amusing at times but very disappointing overall.
Over all a fine movie. Good for a one over, I think the rewatch-ability of it is very low.
Overall...
Pros
- The communication element and focus on that element was neat and different.
- The effects were decent. Though this is more of the lower side of a pro though because I've seen video games with better looking CGI than they used during the climax. That was a bit jarring. They're decent, nothing to write home about.
- The alien language looked cool. Yes it's a shallow reason, so sue me.
Cons
- Super generic character behaviors. Unfortunately it couldn't escape the sameness that all alien encounter movies seem to share.
- Lots of useless people. If you're like me you will only know 2 of the characters names by the end. The rest are either functionally useless, or cliche "imma just get in your way" roles.
- and my biggest annoyance we never find out what crisis the aliens needed humanity's help with. That would have mades MUCH more interesting movie. Instead we're just left to wonder because like virtually all alien encounter films only the humans story gets too told.
What an amazing journey.
This movie is wonderful.
You need to pay attention so you can understand what's going on.
It reminds me to the butterfly effect.
Prisoners, Sicario and now Arrival - Denis Villeneuve proves once again that he is one of Hollywood's finest directors. This movie is one of the best movies of 2016 and one of the best sci-fi movies I've seen lately. It was very thought provoking, and everything about it was nothing but amazing - the acting (especially Amy Adams, who was brilliant as usual), the cinematography, the suspense & the atmosphere. Definitely an Oscar deserving movie.
Perhaps taking a long time to watch this film was the best choice, because a story that would have everything to be just about another alien invasion, turns into a very impactful personal experience.
The best asset of "The Arrival" is in its script that shows the puzzle as the story evolves. When this construction is finished, in the final act, the sentimental "stroke" can be measured according to the personal experience of each spectator.
So, I say with certainty that the beauty of this film is in this impact and this construction.
Nice film that shows that Denis Villeneuve is in fact one of the great directors of his time, that makes a topic as complex as the importance of language in the evolution of the species, has such a personal approach.
I can't say much that hasn't already been said about this film but it was fantastic to see it unravel the way it did.
That being said i have one issue with the way it ended and that is the dick move from Louise to Ian. Why she didn't have the decency to tell Ian about it their child's impending illness until years later. It was his kid too. Either tell him from the start or don't tell him at all. Clearly he got mad and found out that she knew which means she told him at some time that she knew all along. Who does she think she is? A child is two people.
Also from another comment "Also, it can be considered selfish as she is viewing time differently; she is able to relive moments with her daughter when she pleases and experience the joy she brought her constantly. Ian will spend the rest of his life feeling the despair of his deceased child and unable to relive that joy." Exactly. Really bums me out but the movie wasn't bad.
Outside of that Amy Adams played an incredible lead in this film and hope she is able to continue getting the roles she deserves. During those flash scenes with her daughter it reminded me so much of my mother it hurt a bit, in a good way. I honestly want to know more but i understand a sequel would defeat the purpose of this film. It gives hope for humanity in some way but of course it would take an alien visit for any progress to happen haha.
Terrible don't waste your time
I missed movies like this one
Arrival explores a particular type of first contact. The ominous ship that appear all over the world don't seem to do nothing, they don't destroy famous building or monuments. They are just there. Every 18 hours a small entrance appears, allowing a group of daring humans to go inside and try to communicate with the aliens.
The plot is interesting and well thought. It is based on a short story by Ted Chiang called "Story of your life"(which I do recommend), but with some(minor) changes. The main character, played by Amy Adams, is an expert linguist who is recruited by the US army to determine the intentions of the alien vessels. She will then get to go inside the spaceship and interact with the two creatures inside. I won't say more to avoid spoilers, but know that it is more of a cerebral type of sci-fi than most. Even then, it manages to be captivating for the whole runtime.
The cast was good. Amy Adams was really great and really carried the whole movie. The others were a bit anonymous, but still ok.
The score was really impressive. Without being too much in your face (or rather ears), it helped increase the sense of wonderment and fear of an alien first contact. That's how it's done.
While the audio was good, the visuals were nothing short of breathtaking. The first time we get to see the ships up close is an extremely visually pleasing scene, able to convey the dimensions sheer dimensions of these foreign object and how strange they are. they really feel out of place, but in a good way. I also really liked the "chamber" into which the aliens resided. That's a really clever way to kinda hide the aliens to make them feel even more, well, "alien". Small sore point: that scene where Amy Adams is kinda floating looks really bad; the CGI on her hair was not good.
In the end, it is a really good movie. It looks good, it sounds good and it makes you think a bit when it's over. The only reason I don't give it an higher vote is because of some things that I feel are a bit of a plot hole(i'll add a spoiler marked section later). Even then, I absolutely recommend it; the two hours of the movie will fly by. Even better if you can watch it with some friends, as the movie can ignite a nice discussion after it is finished.
8.5/10
First of all, I think that the way the flashbacks/flashforwards of Louise's daughter were misleading, as the audience was lead to believe that Louise was experiencing them at the same time we were seeing them. It didn't feel "fair". But I can forgive that in name of a plot twist. What I feel more strongly about is that the movie tried to both have a deterministic future and free will. If you can see the future and you can change it, are you really seeing the future? And yet, the movie tries to imply that Louise makes a choice when deciding to have a baby that she knows will die very young. In the novel, it is clear that there is no free will. In the movie, it was left ambiguous just to pull an emotional string.
I was reading the short story collection by Ted Chiang that includes 'Story of Your Life', the story this film is based off of... and within the contents of book it was already my favourite. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was adapted into a film and given the Denis Villeneuve treatment.
I thought they did a wonderful job of adapting the story, but the short story goes a lot more in depth when explaining what is happening to Dr Banks. The only problem I had with the film is that they don't explain well enough the fact that once you understand Heptapod language, you realise there is no such thing as free will (which is why the Heptapod dies, they don't warn them to defuse the bomb, Dr Banks chooses to have a daughter anyway - there is no such thing as a choice). There is a moment of the short story in which she essentially becomes detached, seeing what the other guys say as if they were rehearsed lines. Would have been cool to see that.
Leaving the original material aside, the film is super effective and just looks stunning. I'm sure I will be rewatching it in the future.
Whoever watched this expecting loads of action and weird alien stuff got disappointed, because this movie is 100% about humans their emotions and interactions, it was all I wanted in a movie and I'm so satisfied with it! A beautiful work and highly recommended if you like a movie about HUMANS not ALIENS.
Wow, I did not expect this film. The hook alone is more than worth the experience - I gasped out loud when I realized what it was. Beautiful and emotional story.
https://IHateBadMovies.com
Boring, confusing, incoherent and wants to be one of those "what if?" movies. Skip
Arrival is probably the most beautiful film of 2016. Denis Villeneuve continues to blow me away with his direction. He elevates a script that was already incredible with great locations, great cinematography and one of Amy Adams best performances yet.
The (mostly) faithful adaptation of the science fiction short story "The Story of Your Life' by Ted Chiang. The short story is absolutely fantastic, with an original premise and flawless execution. Therefore I had high hopes for the movie. And despite the fact that there is nothing wrong with the movie, there is also nothing great about it. It is a pretty conventional adaption. Because part of the charm of the story is not only the twist ending (which the movie keeps), but also the beautiful language which describes the time perspectives. And those were not kept in the movie. Thus, we were left with the visual medium trying to convey the poetry of words. Yes, visually stunning shots helps to do that, and the movie tries its best to be a stunning visual experience. But in this case the words themselves added immensely to the story. The movie starts with a voice-over narration. They should have done a lot more of that, quoting the short story language.
I have not watched Arrival since the year it came out (and even then I was late to the party). This rewatch definitely made me appreciate it more than the first time around.
I think my problem from the get go has always been that I thought the movie was massively overhped and I still do. I also get why people love it.
The movie does know how to deliver on its atmosphere and sets a very unique tone. It's something between melancholy, dread and even a sense of uncomfortable unsettlement. Different from any other science fiction film I've watched.
I also like the concept of the movie. Instead of your typical alien Invasion with a lot of explosions it's all about the communication, the use of language and the importance of it. That aspect is brilliant.
The lead performance by Amy Adams is also again fantastic. She gives a beautiful performance and deserved all the recognition for it and more. Or as we should call it: Another performance Amy Adams should've gotten the Oscar for and somehow didn't.
Also great in this despite not having much to do, Jeremy Renner.
The aliens also have a unique and interesting design and their form of communication is imaginative and new.
Then the plot twist happens and the film kinda loses me.
Before you think I'm nuts, hear me out on this one. I understand the film. I understand the twist. I like the general thought of this personal and also moral dilemma Louise is going through by knowing the future and still letting it play out. It certainly makes for an interesting discussion and keeps you thinking about it long after you finished the film. I appreciate all that. I also think this is one of the better uses of non-linear storytelling.
I just...found myself honestly not caring much about it all. Again, I like the thought provoking element of it, not the whole time travel hijinks and the "let's stop the Chinese from blowing up our new alien buddies" aspect, that's when the film suddenly borders into cliché territory.
The pacing is also a big issue for me. It starts out intriguing, slows down too much in the middle part and then turns into a messy third act. The middle part is especially frustrating because a lot of the linguistic centric parts of the story are told via montage and voice over. How was that thing with the show not tell?
Despite great performances I also think for such a "prestige" film the characters fall pretty flat. Especially the whole military cast surrounding Forrest Whitaker (who I can't take seriously no matter what he's doing) who are all pretty run-in-the-mill been there done that characters.
"Arrival" is an interesting film that certainly deserves it's fan base. For me it's trying a little bit too hard to be meaningful and important but "not for me" definitely doesn't equal "not good."
Movie is slow on some points, to the point of wanting to put it forward.
Regardless of that, the history, the structure of the movie, the aliens and their purpose, was well put.
I like the movie
I loved the premise, but the execution was poor. The first half is great, I loved this take on first contact with aliens; but in the second half focuses on telling the story of just one person, instead of the much more interesting story of the aliens and their relationship with humanity. Louise also comes of as extremely selfish. She either should have told Ian what would happen to their daughter beforehand or never at all. And as others have pointed out, she can relive her time with their daughter any time she pleases, but Ian can't. All he has is the pain of losing a child. I don't find her story sympathetic at all, I just feel sorry for Ian.
There is something about this movie. I really love the plot, I think it is great how they did the story. The screenplay and direction is wonderful and the acting is magnificent. But I just cannot connect with the ending. I don't quite like it.
Well damn.
I couldn't stop thinking about this one and may not for awhile. "Arrival" is one of the best Sci-Fi films I've seen in this year. Everything about this film was just top notch that I can't put into words without going all over.
So let put it like this:
Amy Adams was wonderful in this. A very grounded and real performance. Probably her best. Same thing that can said about Jeremy Renner.
And how the aliens were part of the story was fascinating and quite clever. Without spoiling anything, they had a unique look to them. Like spiders. Although out the film, you feel their presence. A presence that's both scary and yet remarkable.
Denis Villeneuve is my favorite working director. He can release a movie every year and still be close of making a masterpiece. Villeneuve delivers a haunting and heartbreaking story that leaves the audience with a experience that will stay with them. A beautiful, thought-provoking, Sci-Fi film that isn't an action or war movie. And I'm even more excited to see "Blade Runner 2049".
And how can I forgot the amazing score, astonishing cinematography, intelligent script, and the tearjerker ending that left me in pieces.
I honestly can't say anything else. Please do yourself a favour and watch it. For now, I'm dumbfounded.
Oh Amy...
How could she not get an Oscars for THIS?
First time I saw it, I thought it was boring. Now I have learned to appreciate it.
7.5/10
Without being a master piece, be it of sound or visual, this is a nice experience that will make you think and wonder.
"If you could see all your life from start to finish, would you change things?"
This movie brings an interesting approach to Time, which you would’t expect from a sci-fi movie where an extra terrestrial species makes contact.
It made me think about how foreseeing the future could either allow you to shape it or become crazy trying. If you were writing the book you will read, where would the content come from? Do you see what actually is or what you want the future to be. And therefore do you even see the future? Or do you see a future? Probably you’d go crazy and live a life of regrets from what could have been but wasn’t.
First half was really good. Second half was the usual Hollywood stuff. Shame
Spectacular, thought provoking, intelligent sci-fi. Beautiful to look at and the sound design is fantastic.
Wow, what an amazing movie. The story is brilliant and thought-provoking. Amy Adams delivers a great performance and the soundtrack is just beautiful.
Es una historia perfecta, y la parte de ciencia ficción no es la más importante.
It’s good but very boring
This blew my mind. I expected just another alien invasion movie and got something to think about instead. The story has a bit of a slower starting pace but once you get in to it it just gets very interesting. The aliens are beautful and the ending is truly not what I expected at all, mind blowing stuff and very heartbreaking.
One of the best alien movies.
I love that feeling when I can see that the movie is going to be at least a great experience just after the first 10 minutes. You can see right from the start that everything was thought through carefully, every shot so well made, the cast is good, the atmosphere, the lighting and sound are top-notch and the premise a mystery. Arrival takes its time but is never boring.
As far as I know this story is adapted from a book and although Villaneuve didn't invent any of the twists or how the story was structured, he did an amazing job adapting it to the screen.
Arrival is a must-see in the sci-fi genre and one of the best movies I have seen, ever. If you are looking for an action film about aliens invading Earth, then forget it. This is a serious movie and revolves around science and philosophy. You can't really turn your brain off and enjoy it, you have to think and pay attention because every second matters and contributes to the overall experience.
amy adams breathing loudly into her microphone the entire movie is super annoying. can't even concentrate on the movie
Since interstellar I've been waiting for a movie that will blow my mind like it did. Simply amazing!
Sooo... well made movie, good acting (the white house people were a bit to dumb but who knows, it is not like I will ever witness that ;) and quality filming including fx. The ending was a bit odd though.... let's just say it felt like a thriller that deals with catching a serial killer and after 1.5 hours you see the end trailer and a voice narrates that they caught the guy. Done... what?
An emotional, spine-tingling movie. Highly recommended.
amy addams every movie she starts in have an interesting story and this is one is no different.
You may find yourself waiting over 2 hours to something to happen... And that something, indeed, will never happen.
It's questionable the whole plot, when the aliens do not do anything over the whole movie, and at the finale when you're expecting for a "massive" attack ends on nothing, so the overhelming suspense has no reason to be...
I appreciate the ride offered and was entertained by "Arrival" but if this came in any less competent package my rating would be much lower.
Instead of relying on explosions as other Hollywood titles of this kind do were instead focusing on an outer space mystery while still not presenting "human characters"* which is something the story asked for (they're all just a backdrop to for our Mary Sue anyways). Tying into this does the world building which was questionable at best along with quite a few stupid people in charge.
*Might also mention the usage of Max Richter's "Nature of Daylight" here; it does not magically conjure emotional connections for your characters on screen and I would even go as far and say that it's not at all suitable as a complementary track (the use in the opening sequence was esp. awful imho).
This film could be 30minutes and finish...I just watched it because it was interesting how they described the alien and the language...after seing it the film was over... So dont waste time till the end, skip your player and watch every 10 minutes, and save your time...
I loved it, I had not seen a movie so deep of mind for a long time! SPOILER >>>> !!!!!!! As expected in the future, it could not be otherwise... the "aliens" will save us from ourselves...;) As a call changed the course of some fatal events... WOW a 10.
de l'humanité pas de violence enfin un bon film
I was expecting an action thriller movie based on the trailer with a twist thrown in, but instead I got a drama thriller. When they said aliens I expected all out war and action not a slow suspense movie. It wasn't a bad movie just not what I was hoping for going into this science fiction thriller. A bit too slow at times but a very good script with good actors.
This movie requires thinking and I wanted more of turn off your brain kind of action. I'm simple I will admit that and I know what I felt like. Again this was a very good movie but not for everyone.
Many people are thrilled of this movie so I was curious why. I went to the cinema, watched it and honestly I don't know what they are thrilled of :) For me it's just another sci-fi movie with nice legacy but we've already seen this in many different forms. The end is a little bit confusing because of time paradox but you just have to take it as it is. Don't think about it much or your head might explode :) If you like sci-fi go for it but do not expect any action in this movie, it's not about that. It's about legacy to mankind.
One of the most baffling sci-fi movies I have seen in years. The complete opposite of Independence Day, this was a thought provoking though puzzling film with stellar performances from Adams and Renner. Don't go into this expecting the alien destruction of the White House (sorry Trump haters). For the patient viewer this is deep, rewarding science fiction.
This was complete rubbish. I go to see all styles of movie's, comedy, horror, action, thriller, suspense. This wasn't any of them. If you go to see this, take a pillow. You'll get the best 2 hours sleep of your life.
I loved this. Taking an appropriately bleak view of how our current governments would approach this type of encounter. But shining a light on a more enlightened scientific and thoughtful approach. Also, Amy Adams is terrific as always.
I can tell half of the reviewers here didn't understand the film, cus Jesus Christ that was spectacular.
Definitely not a snoozer. Lots of crazy cool writing and ideas going on.
If you're just looking for action this isn't it.
But if this isn't one of the best Scifi concepts and stories idk what is.
Masterpiece
I enjoyed this one a lot. The score and visuals were great. The movie had me emotional a few times throughout. The story/theme isn’t anything new, but it’s something that sometimes we all need to be reminded of. To try and not spoil, the movie reminds us that the juice is worth the squeeze, no matter how painful it is/will be.
One of the best movies of all time. I'm so glad that I'm alive to witness this masterpiece.
The senses are what I look out for the most in movies, I want to feel as if I'm there, and Arrival does just that. From sight to sound, smell to taste, I could perfectly invision myself in this story. The score is erethreal, the acting is heavenly, the visuals are angelic, the dialogue is genius, the sfx are unworldly, the story is breathtaking, and the emotion is heart wrenchingly beautiful. This was the movie that made me realise how much of a wizard Denis Villeneuve really is. He managed to blend the meaning of life, love, death, and a lot more into a grippingly, satisfying, slow burn thriller. If this hasn't made you want to watch it, then I don't know what will.
This is not Kubrick's "The Odyssey" or Spielberg's "Close Encounters." The film tries to be a serious commentary, but it only ends up being a long-winded one.
No story at all. Why do the main characters even get together? The entire movie is terrible except the language looks interesting. That is literally the only thing that kept me confused enough to be semi interested until I'm here writing about there being nothing to even write about. There is no movie here. Don't watch.
After watching Dune I've heard of this movie and I was interested to know more about Denis Villeneuve (not that I loved Dune part 1, I was just curious about the stunning-created world).
Arrival was a big surprise! Loved the atmosphere here, the story is not slow-paced like Dune and I was entertained the whole part. The sound and images are just stunning! Kept my interest the whole time. Didn't expect to like this one that much.
In my opinion, this movie falls into the category of a concept that would have worked better as a captivating TV show rather than a film. While the idea is interesting, the execution of the script leaves much to be desired. Perhaps another filmmaker, apart from Denis Villeneuve, could have handled it more effectively.
I really enjoyed the performance of the main actor; however, it was disappointing that she seemed to be the only one carrying the film, as the other roles felt empty and lacked emotional depth.
As an example let's take the role of the coworker physicist. It could have been completely omitted from the story as it didn't contribute anything substantial. It appeared that his sole purpose was to fulfill the obligatory love story element. If the filmmakers had taken the time to develop his character further, it would have allowed viewers to form a stronger connection with him. The concept of him being the man in the main character's future memories is actually quite intriguing. Unfortunately, since his character was introduced in such a superficial manner, it failed to make a significant impact on the overall narrative.
The writers omitted many things in the story, such as the absence of a political aspect. This absence made it difficult for me to relate to the characters and imagine the events happening in real life. However, they introduced politics only when it was necessary to create a rival. It would have been better if they had completely kept politics out of the story.
The pacing of the story is confusing to me. Initially, it seems impossible to understand the alien language, but later on, the characters suddenly have a significant amount of vocabulary. However, the writers failed to effectively convey this progress to the viewers. It felt as if they needed to expedite the plot and hoped we wouldn't notice the gaps.
The first hour of the movie focuses on understanding the alien language and their purpose for coming to Earth. However, after the explosion, the movie takes a sudden turn into total nonsense when the aliens mention needing help in 3000 years, despite already assisting us. It's unclear what they are helping us with exactly, considering their presence nearly triggered a world war between China and Russia in the first place. They show their gratitude to a scientist by giving her the power to see the future, which includes the tragic death of her daughter... In theory, this could have been an interesting idea for a movie, as tragic events often make for compelling stories. The phone call to prevent a world war felt like a hastily added plot device to patch up inconsistencies in my opinion.
At this point, what makes the movie enjoyable is the anticipation of understanding what will happen to the alien planet in 3000 years. However, to my disappointment, the film abruptly ends without any explanation or closure on that aspect. The credits roll, and there is no further elaboration. It seems as though they didn't even bother to provide an explanation.
This is one of the better and more nuisanced alien invasion movies that takes the audience along for the nonlinear plot. Amy Adams put in a really good performance as the main U.S. linguist trying to translate the alien language. The ending was truly touching. The film was shot beautifully. My only complaint, much like with Villeneuve's films, Enemy and Dune, the pacing is excruciatingly slow, and I hate the director's glacial camera work. I understand why he tends to shoot in this way, but it's hypnotic and snooze-inducing and maybe creates the opposite effect from what he's going for, which presumably is suspense or anticipation. Otherwise, this was a good watch.
Anti climatic but not bad
Shout by YoshiBlockedParent2021-08-20T20:42:30Z
Rewatching this masterpiece on Amy’s big day. Happy birthday, Amy Lou Adams! :orange_heart: