stormsm

@jared looking at your list it seems to me that you have missed or misunderstood some things but most importantly non linear time, from your comment

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?

This is what I took from it baring in mind I've only seen it once;

Giving humanity the ability to experience time non linearly is the absolute key to humans being able to help the aliens and doesn't undermine anything. It's that ability that shows us 'now' what we need to do to help them in 3000 years so that we can actually do it in the first place. They help us to help them by showing us what we do to help them. Its a paradox just like when Louise experiences talking to the Chinese General and then uses that information to get him to stand down. The aliens teach Louise the ability, or at least gives her everything she needs to learn (the information dump on the wall) which she gives in detail to the world through her book years later.

Why did Abbot (or Costello?) have to die? Because he did die. It happened. You seem to be confusing experiencing time non linearly with something analogous to time travel in that you can change the future. You can't and that conceit is pervasive through the film. He died because he did, just like Hannah. Knowing it can't change it. Why did only one die? Bad luck. How does someone survive anything from a car accident to an earthquake when the person next to them doesn't.

In terms of 'seeing the future' it doesn't make you omnipotent and all knowing. Non linear time puts in to question the notion of 'now' and our path is strewn with paradox particularly when 'now' is a moment that you are experiencing another point in time. You can't change the future but a paradox can be the cause what does happen for example the Chinese General

The alien who survived the blast was only aware of the event to come moments before it happened and knocked on the wall in an attempt to alert what was about to happen and then did a dump of knowledge before knocking them down the shaft and containing the blast. That alien didn't necessarily see the explosion as an event, he could have experienced a moment far ahead of that and it was the fact that the other alien died in the explosion is where he got the knowledge of the event. That is assuming the one that knocked is the one that survived, it could easily have been the one that died that knocked who potentially has always known that he died then. Just like Louise with Hannah. Paradox.

In terms of other things.

The 'useless love interest' was key to the understanding of everything for both Louise and the audience. They have 'no chemistry' because they aren't a love interest in the story and at no point linearly are they portrayed as one. It's not until well after the events of the aliens leaving does anything spark between them. Portraying them that way also keeps the reveal that he is the husband/father. For me the "Lets make a baby" line rings completely true, but I have children.

Why Ian couldn't view time like that? Louise is a linguist and as such grasping a more concise, though limited understanding. By the time the aliens leave she is only just wrapping her head around it. We are also shown that in Ians work he is still focusing heavily on equations. The interactions we see with Ian and the aliens, Ian is essentially Louise's prop i.e. "Ian walks"

Ok that's way more on that than I thought I was going to write and proof reading paradox discussions tends to make you go in circles so I won't and hope it makes sense. It wasn't intended as condescending so I hope it didn't come across that way.

Anyway, it's just a difference of opinion/interpretation.

I really enjoyed the film and it's sparked a lot of interesting discussions in my circles both positive and negative. One of my friends that I thought would absolutely love it fell asleep.

Maybe what I have written is exactly how you saw everything too but still didn't like it, I don't know.

@blakblu Umm you do know that "foreshadowing is a literary device by which an author hints what is to come" (as per Wikipedia), and not some kind of super power, right? I was specifically talking about the hints and cinematic techniques the director, Villeneuve, and the screen writer, Heisserer, were using to foreshadow the ending, not that I thought the humans were granted some amazing power of ''foreshadowing"!!! Please, learn the basics of Cinema/Literature 101 (or just attend a High School Literature class for more than 5 minutes) before attempting to troll others. Good lord...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreshadowing

@stormsm I absolutely loved this movie. Probably the best movie that I've watched this year. I just finished watching it for the second time (saw it opening weekend as well) and I loved the cinematography, all the subtleties, foreshadowing and masterful acting by Amy Adams. Knowing the big twist ahead of time (now), I was paying extra attention to all the hints and how the secret was revealed this time and was left in wonder all over again. And that final musical piece (Max Richter - On the Nature of Daylight)... Gives me the feels every time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVN1B-tUpgs

@stormsm I feel you on this subject but I don't think that this film is an intelligent movie. It is a well shot movie, so suspenseful and kinda thoughtful that what humans can do if they deal this situation. But the third act is a disappointment for me unfortunately. I care about "why they are here and what they are gonna do" thing but it didn't me satisfy. The film goes another subject.

Also, people can watch both Marvel movies and Sci-fi movies. If I can watch an X-Men movie, it doesn't mean that I cannot watch this movie. I see your point but there are other peoples like me takes this argument differently. Thanks...

@stormsm I've seen it. It's a really good sci-fi movie. Way better than Independence Day, less action, more thoughtful dialogs and better special effects.

@stormsm Definitely not a dumb action film