Arrival

7

shiftworkerNov 30, 2016

Sci-fi. Linguist specialist gains prominence when aliens visit the earth. Effective special effects and decent acting do not save this ponderous, over-rated sleep-inducement. Not one to watch again, and only worth seeing once so you can haveSci-fi. Linguist specialist gains prominence when aliens visit the earth. Effective special effects and decent acting do not save this ponderous, over-rated sleep-inducement. Not one to watch again, and only worth seeing once so you can have an opinion on it.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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7

Seymour_MoviesNov 13, 2016

Arrival brings a somewhat unique spin to the overly done and cheesy typical alien plot. Visually, this movie has beautiful, yet simple shots that seem to abruptly change style throughout the movie. The writing was clever throughout, but atArrival brings a somewhat unique spin to the overly done and cheesy typical alien plot. Visually, this movie has beautiful, yet simple shots that seem to abruptly change style throughout the movie. The writing was clever throughout, but at times is very corny and transparent. Amy is absolutely amazing and singlehandedly swayed me to rate this movie at least a star higher.… Expand

5 of 20 users found this helpful515

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7

ourtimehascomeMar 11, 2017

Unlike other sci-fi extra-terrestrial first contact films, Arrival is much slower paced. It focuses on contemplation, thought rather than action. That is not a bad thing, and in fact bodes well for the tone. It manages to be both suspensefulUnlike other sci-fi extra-terrestrial first contact films, Arrival is much slower paced. It focuses on contemplation, thought rather than action. That is not a bad thing, and in fact bodes well for the tone. It manages to be both suspenseful and intriguing, though it has the potential to expect more from its audience. I see many similarities between Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan; both of whom create visually striking scenes with a deep story to back it up.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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7

KaptenVideoDec 9, 2016

It’s the end of the world as we know it! A much discussed and sometimes feared story has come true which, honestly, always sounded a bit ridiculous to actually happen in the real world.

I am, of course, talking about this new sci-fi dramaIt’s the end of the world as we know it! A much discussed and sometimes feared story has come true which, honestly, always sounded a bit ridiculous to actually happen in the real world.

I am, of course, talking about this new sci-fi drama „Arrival“ where mankind is greeted by huge alien spaceships in the sky who seem to be coming in peace… wait, did you think I was referring to Trump becoming the next leader of the free world?

But yeah, these two events have a very similar plot summary so it’s only fitting that I had the chance to experience them in the very same morning.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve – the man behind „Prisoners“, mindbending „Enemy“ with Jake Gyllenhaal, „Sicario“ and currently filming „Blade Runner“ sequel –, one could expect „Arrival“ to be a thinking person’s sci-fi. And one is not wrong.

It is a 116 minute slow-burner all heavy on atmosphere and light on explosions or any quick thrills. If you wish a quick reference to any recent well-known movies, the result is a bit like Christopher Nolan’s „Interstellar“ crossed with Terrence Malick’s „The Tree of Life“. Robert Zemeckis’s „Contact“ (1997) would not be very far either, because „Arrival“ also focuses on fragile yet brave female protagonist whose quality acting is one of the main pillars carrying the whole experience. The other one would be overall atmosphere, deliciously dark and ominous. Some will like it, others will probably find it depressing and maybe a bit slow for their taste.

I haven’t read the award-winning short story by Ted Chiang that „Arrival“ is based on. Wikipedia says that the major themes explored are determinism, language and Sapir-Whorf hypothesis which sounds mighty dry and mostly sci-fi geek friendly. So it’s nice to witness movie makers adding some mainstream appeal which comes mostly in the form of Amy Adams’s great performance. She truly holds the movie together as a woman going where no-one has ever gone before. You will believe her hesitations, the tears, and also the silent determination when the going gets tough. This kind of role is tricky because of the need to play it out mostly alone, often in close-up where every detail and tone has to be clearly seen and felt. Think Matthew McConaughey's mighty turn in „Interstellar“ but decidedly less showoffish.

So it’s mostly Adams’s one-woman-show, and a quite rare chance to see her doing something memorable and worthwhile on screen. She accepts too many decorative pretty girl roles, even in more ambitious projects. The all-male supporting cast is good too, especially star players such as Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker. As stated above, I don’t know the original story but "Arrival's" message is rather spiritual and not "dry" at all. Essentially it is a reminder that mankind’s future depends heavily on our ability to understand and connect to the world, rather than attacking and overpowering everything we find foreign or downright alien. It’s a call to rise above the inflexible ego-based mind the western society so dearly values, and to find balance with our intuitive side.

Overall, „Arrival“ is a good movie although I wasn’t especially happy with the final act which seemed rushed. It felt like somebody grew impatient near the end and wanted to add something „impressive“ just in case the people were not happy with this slow-moving tale. I do not want to talk about it here in detail but, for me, it lessened some of the movie’s overall impact. Mostly because there was not enough time to play it out as properly as the stuff that had come before.

But yeah, if you are into more intelligent sci-fi and don’t prioritize explosions, „Arrival“ is good to go.… Expand

6 of 12 users found this helpful66

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7

AlmostCriticSep 5, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film is visually stunning. I thought the innovative camera work and use of light offer something new and unexpected by extending the disorientating experience to the audience. The story is engaging and a unique take on the traditional alien invasion flick but the narrative changes direction suddenly towards the end resulting in a lackluster conclusion that bothered me.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

DiptanshuApr 2, 2020

At half way through the movie it felt terribly boring and it was like just the quest to find the signs of aliens but that ending changed my opinion suddenly it went to the peak!Awesome score since start of the film i was too much into theAt half way through the movie it felt terribly boring and it was like just the quest to find the signs of aliens but that ending changed my opinion suddenly it went to the peak!Awesome score since start of the film i was too much into the music awesome score,acting.most of time it felt boring even though the suspense of whats aliens try to tell and ending makes it a good movie!… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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7

AWESOM-0Apr 23, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was a short story and a great one at that. So it's understandable that the movie makers have to fill in details. It's in those details that lessen this movie for me.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

TVJerryNov 17, 2016

The aliens have returned. This time in cool-looking, mysterious crafts that hover above the earth in 12 places. Amy Adams is the expert linguist (with a troubled past?) who's brought in to try to establish communications with the mysteriousThe aliens have returned. This time in cool-looking, mysterious crafts that hover above the earth in 12 places. Amy Adams is the expert linguist (with a troubled past?) who's brought in to try to establish communications with the mysterious creatures. This film's concepts for otherworldly design are intriguing, but after seeing the film, the reason for their visit is still hazy. While there's lots of enticing set up, the proceedings move slowly to a repetitive and frustrating crawl before it's over. To make matters worse, the ending may leave you flummoxed. (Some internet research helped explain it.) While the premise is certainly fascinating, the dwindling pace and lack of much tension results in a less-than-satisfying outcome to this untraditional extraterrestrial narrative.… Expand

7 of 15 users found this helpful78

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6

BikerjamesNov 28, 2016

I don't mind that the film is slow. 2001 is a slow movie and I love every frame of it. This movie is boring at times. I looked at my watch a couple of times. I don't believe we could decipher the complex symbols as quickly as they did,I don't mind that the film is slow. 2001 is a slow movie and I love every frame of it. This movie is boring at times. I looked at my watch a couple of times. I don't believe we could decipher the complex symbols as quickly as they did, and I always have to wonder why super intelligent beings have a hard time learning our language(s). I also felt ZERO chemistry between the two leads. I also thought about the movie "Contact" several times as there is too many similarities. On the positive side, the visuals are striking at times, and Amy Adams is wonderful, as she is in every film she is in.… Expand

6 of 14 users found this helpful68

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6

georgioFeb 27, 2017

Arrival is a very nice example of something that I would call "organic" movie. First, it selects its audience that consists of something I would call "wanabe deep thinker". Then choose some scientific trivia - in case of Arrival it is aArrival is a very nice example of something that I would call "organic" movie. First, it selects its audience that consists of something I would call "wanabe deep thinker". Then choose some scientific trivia - in case of Arrival it is a random fact from psycholinguistics. Exaggerate this idea to make it suitably epic for grand reveal. Cover your basics with camera work and CGI. As for the rest of the script just play into cultural stereotypes your newb deep thinkers audience. But beware you only have capacity for one deep idea and even that one has to be carefully unpacked. I am sorry, but just one random idea is not good enough to carry a movie no matter how well made. In a sane world this should be an scifi flick. That is why it gets that mark from me.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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6

CytololNov 11, 2016

This one is getting reviewed higher than I believe it deserves, so I will reply. I love Denis Villeneuve's other movies, and the cinematography and general quality of this one is consistent. We get lost in being too philosophical andThis one is getting reviewed higher than I believe it deserves, so I will reply. I love Denis Villeneuve's other movies, and the cinematography and general quality of this one is consistent. We get lost in being too philosophical and digging for a big philosophical point, but never really finding it, I felt. Simple as that.… Expand

12 of 25 users found this helpful1213

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6

faridiNov 18, 2016

Arrival is one of those movies where people think that if you did not think it is a great movie, then it means you did not understand it. The payoff at the end was just barely enough to cover the deficiencies. Getting to the end wasArrival is one of those movies where people think that if you did not think it is a great movie, then it means you did not understand it. The payoff at the end was just barely enough to cover the deficiencies. Getting to the end was difficult. It was super slow. The romance seemed forced. Could have been better. 6/10.… Expand

6 of 17 users found this helpful611

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6

joaodestroyerFeb 19, 2017

This movie a huge disappointment. It's boring, the plot is a joke, and it tries to very deep and philosophical even though by the end of the movie, you don't care about the characters or their troubles. A waste of time.

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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6

ozymandias79Dec 5, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This could have been a great movie but the plot holes were large enough to drive a truck through and the premise is a bit hard to swallow. So there's a written language that induces clairvoyance. Sounds stupid when saying it out loud , right. So if the whole point was to teach us this written language, why didn't they start with that? Why was it Amy Adams who starts trying to communicate through writing? If they can see the future, why do they let one of themselves die? Forgetting the phone call to the Chinese general, a major plot point? Also, the twist is a bit predicable, not horribly, but you can guess it before the reveal. Poor execution has really detracted from this movie. If you're going to make a film, do it properly!… Expand

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

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6

43in2014Jan 9, 2017

Related media: The film is based on a short story, Story of Your Life, by I have not read it.
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What's it like?: Twelve spaceships arrive on Earth suddenly and the story focus on the US military enlistment of a linguist (Amy Adams) and aRelated media: The film is based on a short story, Story of Your Life, by I have not read it.
>
What's it like?: Twelve spaceships arrive on Earth suddenly and the story focus on the US military enlistment of a linguist (Amy Adams) and a physicist (Jeremy Renner), among others, to investigate the spaceship that landed in Montana. The aim is to communicate with the visitors and to find out what they want.
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Cons:
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1. Many of the concepts of the film do not make sense. Why would a species able to build such advanced spaceships, and hence would be advanced themselves, not have done the homework with figuring out the languages of 21st century Earth first before landing on Earth or making their presence known, hence needing me to spend nearly two hours of my time watching them do their homework (ha ha...)? While doing that, why not also figure out the 21st century Earth geopolitics so as not to land in a war zone or in a country that is more prone to strike first before asking questions, like China, Russia and the US?
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2. While we are on that, any of the recent films that pander to the China, such as Iron Man 3, The Martian, etc., always seem to skate on thin ice on the probabilities of the plot needing to depend on China. China has a restriction on the number of foreign films to be allowed to be screened there each year. Including an actor of Chinese nationality and a plot that portrays China in a good light, would up your chances of getting your film screened there. This film is doing just that. > 3. Why would the supposedly friendly visitors come with so many large ships? To make a first contact, one smaller ship would suffice. Sending so many ships would make it appear like a projection of power. Furthermore, the visitors stayed quiet for a long time and did not send out greetings that announce their intentions, thereby making everyone edgy. Then there is this elaborate process for the less advanced humans to figure out the language of the visitors, thereby keeping countries edgy for a longer time.
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4. *Spoiler* The language of the visitors, stupidly, does not have a proper order/syntax and one assumes, could only be understood by someone who had learnt it since young or had spent many years studying it. How could an advanced species have such a poor language? Just compare this to the advanced nations on Earth now. >
5. The sound editing of the film seems to have been arranged by someone less experienced than the more established artists. There were inadequate separation between different sounds and inadequate distinction between them. The sound editing in Interstellar was clear - you had quiet periods and then loud ones. Here, the different sounds were on all the time and I could not separate between the film score and sounds made by the visitors or their spaceships.
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6. The reason behind the visit was inadequately emphasised by the visitors - it was delivered too quickly and the details were poor. The reason made me ask the question, why travel such great distance (and ***) to deliver such a simple message? It could have been done using less manpower and resources, and at less risks to the visitors, by just sending a radio message.
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7. Forest Whitaker has made another film where he did the usual character actor job again, the other being in Rogue One. It didn't have much of a significance there and the the same applies here.
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8. *Spoiler* The film implies that the visitors had implanted visions of the future into Amy Adams's character, as a final twist, but I do not accept its explanation on on how the implant could have happened, thereby making me feel like it was a cheap shot.
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9. This film is ripe for parodies by HISHE and Honest Trailers. The film is much ado about nothing, much.
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Pros:
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1.It's the usual stuff with Oscar-bait films, good acting, etc. etc. I don't think it should win anything after watching the film.
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How would the different age groups rate it?
Children: Poor
Teenagers: Poor
Young adults: Average
Medium age adults: Average
Old adults: Average.
My rating: 3/5 (no half scores). Save your money and watch it on TV.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

AxeTNov 26, 2016

On the one hand, yet another damn flick about aliens coming down! On the other, one that is fairly restrained, intelligent and serious with an original thought provoking premise. The slow unraveling mystery is good. The conventions of theOn the one hand, yet another damn flick about aliens coming down! On the other, one that is fairly restrained, intelligent and serious with an original thought provoking premise. The slow unraveling mystery is good. The conventions of the sub-genre that still aren't transcended here are not, nor is some of the sentimentality. Alas it is not that bold after all.

Would a real scientist constantly dealing in mathematics and numbers upon reading .083 say, "point oh eight three" and not "point zero eight three"? If he is played by a sloppy actor taking sloppy direction perhaps. Or such a real scientist saying oh instead of zero might just need to be fired and lose grants.… Expand

5 of 15 users found this helpful510

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6

Douglas56Dec 2, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Much has been said of Amy Adams's acting in this film. The praise is richly deserved but that's where the accolades should end. Great acting rarely makes great films and this movie is not great, despite my sincerest desire for it to be so. Greatness in theatre or cinema usually requires great characters (or less often, a highly original storyline). Arrival has neither and Adams's character, the linguist Louise Banks, who dominates the screen time, is little more than a sketch for a oil painting Villeneuve and his writers are unable to complete. The film has been hyped by the critics as a serious, intellectual alien encounter sci-fi that outshines all the comic book treatments of this trope. It's certainly serious but rather brainless at the same time. The science is minimal ("hey, I've discovered that 0.0833 recurring is 1 divided by 12") and the linguistics a mere ornament. But worse than that, it's a little boring. The social commentary is unremarkable, the philosophical content hackneyed ("hey I've discovered that love conquers all") and the ending a hasty conclusion to a fabricated tease. That's two disappointing films in a row for Villeneuve—hardly a good omen for the Blade Runner sequel.… Expand

5 of 17 users found this helpful512

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6

SrPepeNov 17, 2017

Si bien me pareció una gran historia con buenas actuaciones, la película es extremadamente lenta. Me aburrió bastante, no la volvería a ver y no creo que haya merecido estar entre las mejores películas.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

cgoofiesNov 16, 2016

I went to see this because when I arrived at the theatre Arrival was the only movie that just started. I liked Jeremy Renner in other movies like The Town, so I thought I would watch this one. I was pretty disappointed and could not give moreI went to see this because when I arrived at the theatre Arrival was the only movie that just started. I liked Jeremy Renner in other movies like The Town, so I thought I would watch this one. I was pretty disappointed and could not give more than a 6. It seems he did not get enough acting in and even looked quiet at times like his lines were cut out. I don't see him in a romantic role either and the music was too overwhelming for me. It is an interesting idea but I don't believe the writing was really there, her flashbacks were predictable, and you knew what was going to happen. One of those films basically you know as the ones that rely on the CGI to get the ticket sales which is a losing concept to me.… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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6

patrickk1Nov 26, 2016

Sorry, movies rated 81 are supposed to rock the house. They mailed it in for the last 30 minutes. Stay home, save your money, and watch it on your flat screen.

9 of 21 users found this helpful912

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6

SathielJul 4, 2019

As if realistic alien contact is not difficult enough on its own to depict, Arrival also tries to incorporate "time travel", hence doubling-down on its failure to portray a convincing sci-fi narrative. Beyond the fresh but failed attempt withAs if realistic alien contact is not difficult enough on its own to depict, Arrival also tries to incorporate "time travel", hence doubling-down on its failure to portray a convincing sci-fi narrative. Beyond the fresh but failed attempt with the linguistic aspect, this film is far below Contact in every regard, and only a truly numb mind can look beyond the glaring illogicalities and senseless plot.

To be more specific and to name some key points: aliens come to the planet physically but do absolutely nothing? Anthropocentric madness. Time travel into the past without addressing the paradox? Americans being the only "good guys" of the human race? A pathetic accidental misunderstanding of a common word (in English) being the plot device that results in the culmination? Mediocre acting and a pointless plot for a very forgettable film that, I'm sure "fans" don't even recall anymore. Watch the Contact instead.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

Redrog1Dec 8, 2016

Sorry but I must have missed something here.... an alien culture that has the intelligence to travel millions of light years to our planet and they rely on us for translation and to communicate?

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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6

bkristmanJan 8, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have to give the film makers a 6 for effort and some originality because it is different than other sci-fi films but the overall dreariness of the characters and the foggy plot take much away from it.
Even though it made me think awhile after i watched it it i came to the conclusion that it was too silly to be worth the thought with all the logic holes.
One thing i thought of that made me laugh after i watched it was how when they brought the female lead in to try to communicate with the aliens after 'every other expert failed' she succeeded by just doing what is a stock thing in every low budget fish out of water film i've ever seen .....pointing at herself and saying 'me jane....and then pointing at the alien and .you.... ???"
Those other experts must have been pretty lame.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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6

Sosmooth1982Jun 2, 2023

ok movie really boring at times. it was only interesting to see the space craft and the aliens. other then that it was pretty dumb. working together and love is something the planet will never understand. well at least our leaders wont any way.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

PsychopathicTimMay 14, 2021

The movie is very aesthetically pleasing to look at. There are a lot of great visual set pieces here. But as far as that, the movie never really transforms into anything more than a slice of life. Yes, the woman knows what'll happen in theThe movie is very aesthetically pleasing to look at. There are a lot of great visual set pieces here. But as far as that, the movie never really transforms into anything more than a slice of life. Yes, the woman knows what'll happen in the next few years by the end of the movie, but what does she say to the guy that would happen to? The moral of the story is to live life even if it means going through heartbreak, but if feels hollow as it all felt avoidable to a degree and yet also in some ways makes the inevitability of the situation even worse.

It's hard to say without spoiling, but it's decent to below average (a 6 rather than a 7). The soundtrack is probably the only other above average thing about this movie, though, very etherial and melancholy. God rest the soul of the composer.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

JJ2FAS4UDec 30, 2021

----------------------------------6.0/10-----------------------------------

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

netflicNov 14, 2016

This is a science fiction movie about aliens visiting our planet. Or rather about attempts the mankind takes trying to establish a contact with aliens.

The movie is done quite professionally, and I liked it's cinematography and sound track.This is a science fiction movie about aliens visiting our planet. Or rather about attempts the mankind takes trying to establish a contact with aliens.

The movie is done quite professionally, and I liked it's cinematography and sound track.
There are good actors starring there (Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker), and they deliver adequate performance. Most of the movie kept me interested. Sometimes pseudo-philosophical lingo carried me away. I think the movie was too long, and the script has not been thought through, leading to nowhere. Which is a shame, it had a lot of potential.… Expand

13 of 24 users found this helpful1311

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5

jgzegerJan 27, 2017

Two alien octapuses travel to Earth in a giant egg and share the secrets of time with humans by squirting black ink onto the wall of their on-board fish tank. This film really makes you appreciate Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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5

mrmonsterMar 6, 2017

Tremendously overrated. It is a good movie, and has very good special effects, but it did not deserve a best picture nomination. At best it is forgettable.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

swingDec 30, 2016

Weird and complex, strangely engrossing, but not entertaining. A big problem was that you couldn't understand what they were saying half the time, but maybe that was a good thing. And, as for meaning, who knows? Certainly no 2001 or CloseWeird and complex, strangely engrossing, but not entertaining. A big problem was that you couldn't understand what they were saying half the time, but maybe that was a good thing. And, as for meaning, who knows? Certainly no 2001 or Close Encounters. I suppose it had something to do with the meaning of life. Unfortunately, too much pat Hollywood story lines as well.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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5

Sh4rk82Nov 13, 2016

Can I be honest? This movie doesn't have any sense? What "precious" message aliens have for the Humanity? after half hour I completely lost interest watching the movie that was turning into a no sense plot. After Indipendece day any otherCan I be honest? This movie doesn't have any sense? What "precious" message aliens have for the Humanity? after half hour I completely lost interest watching the movie that was turning into a no sense plot. After Indipendece day any other Sci-Fi movies has been able to be plausible (for what possible), exciting and with a simple as much as deep story. Disappointed… Expand

5 of 14 users found this helpful59

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5

jcasetnlNov 5, 2017

The long-used time paradox theme gets competent and often clever treatment but that alone does not a good film make. There's not a likeable performance anywhere to be found, but Amy Adams is certainly the worst, wearing a perpetualThe long-used time paradox theme gets competent and often clever treatment but that alone does not a good film make. There's not a likeable performance anywhere to be found, but Amy Adams is certainly the worst, wearing a perpetual close-to-hyperventilating expression of confusion and shock for nearly the entire running time. Even worse, we have to be told in voiceover by Jeremy Renner of Adam's competence as a language expert because neither the storyline nor Adam's character can manage it. She literally goes up to the alien with a small whiteboard and writes 'human' on it and points to herself. Seriously? That's the why the military wanted her so bad?

Despite her deer in the headlight stares and stumbling dialog, it's revealed she is also somehow the savior of the world and the film doesn't even try to pull off this sleight of hand with any kind of cleverness or character development, simply letting the time paradox storyline conveniently drop the pieces in place around her. The last WTF is a romance introduced in the final few minutes of the film despite a complete lack of chemistry between the main characters. No moments of levity or humor between them, but out of nowhere Jeremy Renner delivers one of the corniest, left field romantic lines in cinematic history, paraphrased as: "those aliens blew my mind but you blow my mind even more." Keeping the romance under wraps was to protect the "big reveal" at the end, but the storytelling necessity of doing that should have been the clue the writers needed to bake this one a bit longer.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

AxgrinderNov 13, 2016

As a “thought-provoking” movie, Arrival is over-rated drivel. Amy Adams is a good actor, and she does yeoman’s work here, but she breaks no new ground. The movie is a “Fail” almost every other level. Forest Whitaker is wooden, and TheAs a “thought-provoking” movie, Arrival is over-rated drivel. Amy Adams is a good actor, and she does yeoman’s work here, but she breaks no new ground. The movie is a “Fail” almost every other level. Forest Whitaker is wooden, and The Notebook like story within a story is lame.

Amy Adams plays Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist, trying to figure out how to speak to aliens that have arrived at earth in dark, giant, scary looking, pods that look like slag. The aliens have no spoken or alphabet based written language. Instead, the aliens converse using ink blots (which look like the stain that a wine glass might leave on a cardboard coaster, and made me wonder if the writer came up with the whole idea while sitting at a bar.) Equally boring and conventional are the aliens. (Why do aliens always seem to have squid-like bodies?)

Dr. Banks is apparently the only gifted linguist left in the world, and the gov’t seeks out her expertise to the exclusion of all others. (Ugh!) Dr. Banks speculates that the aliens are so advanced that they have no apparent way to communicate with humans, and thus it is up to the humans to figure out how to communicate with them. (Groan!) For Kumbaya reasons, the aliens have split the message they want to convey to the people of earth into 12 parts, and use 12 different space craft to deliver it to 12 different populations across the earth. (Ay Yi Yi!) Of course, the reaction of earth people is to go loot Best Buy and then try to blow up the aliens.

There is a story within the story about time travel (Oh no!) and Amy Adams daughter who, we learn early on, has died from some rare disease. This is supposed to give the movie its heart, but when you separate out the two movies halves, neither part has enough weight to give the movie any real substance. As far as director Denis Vileneuve goes, I liked his work in Sicario. Arrival is a step backwards.… Expand

11 of 23 users found this helpful1112

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5

BeeceeNov 14, 2016

The film starts off in an interesting way. An alien race lands in 12 places on earth for an unknown reason. Amy Adams is a linguist who is contacted by the military to communicate with the aliens, with a metallic, spider-like appearance,The film starts off in an interesting way. An alien race lands in 12 places on earth for an unknown reason. Amy Adams is a linguist who is contacted by the military to communicate with the aliens, with a metallic, spider-like appearance, who communicate through circles of ink. The effort to communicate with the aliens is the most interesting part of this film. However, there is a major digression into the private life of Adams' character, and the film goes back and forth over time regarding the daughter's life (who is in the hospital in one scene) - her husband barely appears. The movie is basically unsatisfying and confusing - you never really understand why the aliens came to earth in the first place and why they landed in 12 locations. With the exception of Adams' character, you never really get to know anyone else. There also doesn't seem to be any interactions with people at the other locations. "Contact" was a much better and coherent movie on a similar subject.… Expand

5 of 15 users found this helpful510

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5

ryecaNov 13, 2016

Not great. As others have said, it is slow. Also, it feels like they just did a wikipedia search for "linguistics" and then wrote a script around the first paragraph. I don't see this as a cerebral sci fi film at all. More of a cheesy, slog-fest.

21 of 44 users found this helpful2123

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5

moviecritic68Nov 16, 2016

Being a sci-fi buff I was anxious to see this film. It was not all I hoped it would be. Repeated scenes over & over lost the interest of the audience as I could feel. The acting was average and the sub plot was difficult to follow. JustBeing a sci-fi buff I was anxious to see this film. It was not all I hoped it would be. Repeated scenes over & over lost the interest of the audience as I could feel. The acting was average and the sub plot was difficult to follow. Just couldn't rate it as some have.… Expand

9 of 20 users found this helpful911

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5

NegatiwFeb 5, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I had so many high expectations from this movie, but they all fell into the drain after the end of the movie. I expected it to be a mystery, a good Sci-Fi movie, but it was completely and utterly boring. I know, there are some psychological and existential implications to the movie, but damn, it wasn't what I expected.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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5

night4Mar 25, 2017

Seriously, just go watch Contact again, because it's way better than this. Arrival is trying to be Contact and it just falls flat.

A male protagonist would have helped. Being less slow would have helped. A better soundtrack would have helped.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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5

MyDistUniverseDec 26, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Lets starts honest
I really liked Arrival. Until it turned weird. Then, not so much anymore.
With a class A cast including Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker this should have been a great movie all the way to the end. Except that it wasn’t. It was a great movie until it stopped being that. I had high hopes for it and as such I was left slightly disappointed.
Arrival is a good story with a ton of potential for greatness until it got whacked on the head and it all went belly up. For some reason I can’t help comparing it to the 1997 movie Contact, starring the iconic Jodie Foster, which kind of had the same problem. Great movie with a great story until the moment it went all pear shaped.
The Story
Twelve pods of unknown makeup and origin have appeared overnight at seemingly random locations around the globe. As to be expected the media goes nuts and social services break down. School is out. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is a successful linguistics professor who stands in from of an empty class room the next day. She highly regarded in her field and has done highly classified consultancy work for the government in the past. Because of this it comes as no big surprise when she gets approached by the military. They need her help in decoding the language of the aliens and once that is done they want her to establish communications with the visitors. For this mission she gets a team of people and works closely together with Ian Donnelly, a theoretical physicist, portrayed by Jeremy Renner.
All twelve pods have positioned themselves at seemingly arbitrary coordinates all over the world. The local governments are scrambling to establish contact with the aliens and try to learn as much as they can about ‘their’ pods. They all have a fall out about how to proceed and one by one they end up shutting down communication with the rest of the world. Everyone is now acting isolated without knowing what the others are doing or how far they are with their work to decipher the purpose of the visit. This of course creates an explosive situation that threatens to get out of hand when gossip has it that the Chinese are contemplating to nuke their pod in search for answers. This of course is not an ideal situation for anyone, as no one knows if and how the aliens or the neighbours, for that matter, will retaliate.
Here is where it went wrong
In between her work Louise has these strange flashbacks to her family, mainly her daughter. Except that we learn she doesn’t have a family nor a daughter. These flashbacks are just that, but that the events have not actually happened yet. They will happen in the future. And that, because she now speaks the aliens language, time doesn’t follow in a straight line for her anymore but in parallel strings all mixed up.
Say what?
This is where is turned south for me. I am good with weird and strange. But that was too much for me. In that moment the movie lost its credibility in my eyes. I know there are concepts out there about time and space and astro physics. In fact I am very interest in the subject. I have read several read books and listened to countless podcasts about it. But the way it was done in the movie is just ridiculous. I am very sorry.
Final thoughts
I suppose we can draw similarities to todays society, which is rather trigger happy. We constantly on the cusp of a global catastrophe even without the presence of aliens. This raises the question of what will it take for humankind to step back from the abyss. What is needed for people to start working together instead of against each other?
Arrival also touches on another question. A moral one that people ask themselves daily. If you knew the future and the way your life would turn out to be, would you change anything? If you knew that by accepting the greatest gift and joy you would ever get, you would also set yourself up the the most desperate pain. Would you still chose the same path?
Its a powerful message. I just wish they would have found a different way to convey it.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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5

DovahKJul 2, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Otra más que bebe en aspectos de la todo poderosa Alien, aunque esta vez por fin, parece que no tienen porque ser los extraterrestres los malos.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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5

DogeGamer2015Jun 6, 2020

Aunque tiene una calidad de producción increíble, la trama es muy lenta y puede confundir al espectador.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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4

lennycliff123Nov 11, 2016

As other have commented, Villeneuve is a good director but this is a step in the wrong direction for him. I hate to use the B word {boring}, but Arrival is a real endurance test even for fans of serious, thought provoking movies.

32 of 64 users found this helpful3232

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4

shoulderoforionJan 20, 2017

Cheap time travel as memory tricks doomed this only passing scifi flick with trite explanations, ignoring gaping logic holes dealing with the two main characters. I wouldn't recommend this movie. Style (& not all that much of that) over substance.

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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4

Thejudge21Jan 27, 2017

If you want to watch a film to fall asleep to this is it. Long boring and you won't want to stay awake for the ending. How this has such a high rating Is as baffling as those squid like aliens. Even I could write a better script than thisIf you want to watch a film to fall asleep to this is it. Long boring and you won't want to stay awake for the ending. How this has such a high rating Is as baffling as those squid like aliens. Even I could write a better script than this film had. Endless moments of nothing, and the climax was not out of this world. very disappointing considering the acting talent. Don't waste your time...… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

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4

nuggetmanNov 11, 2016

Denis Villeneuve is a talented and promising filmmaker, 'Prisoners' being an obvious benchmark. While I'm still looking forward to his Blade Runner sequel I have to say Arrival was a huge disappointment. Amy Adams great performanceDenis Villeneuve is a talented and promising filmmaker, 'Prisoners' being an obvious benchmark. While I'm still looking forward to his Blade Runner sequel I have to say Arrival was a huge disappointment. Amy Adams great performance notwithstanding, this was a ponderous, superficially profound movie that ultimately goes nowhere.… Expand

34 of 66 users found this helpful3432

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4

OrionDarkwoodJan 4, 2017

Arrival has some interesting things going for it. However the plot quickly slows to a snails pace with the "flashbacks" going on which caused me more than once to serious consider leaving the movie. The twist at the end helps some but evenArrival has some interesting things going for it. However the plot quickly slows to a snails pace with the "flashbacks" going on which caused me more than once to serious consider leaving the movie. The twist at the end helps some but even that they bang you over the head with like we are idiots and need everything spelled out for us several times.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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4

johnsonjohnsonJan 17, 2017

亜有時則是指在伦敦西区上演的戏剧。光業的役所浩二勝俣博山约百老汇剧院經常共同被看作光業的役所浩二勝俣博山是英语世界中最高水平的商业剧院代表。观赏伦敦西区的演出已经成为觀光業光業的役所浩二勝俣博山的役所浩二勝俣博山崎健藺生小林高水平的商业剧院代表。观赏伦敦西区光光業的役所浩二勝俣博山業的役所浩二勝俣博山。亜有時則是指在伦敦西区上演的戏剧。光業的役所浩二勝俣博山约百老汇剧院經常共同被看作光業的役所浩二勝俣博山是英语世界中最高水平的商业剧院代表。观赏伦敦西区的演出已经成为觀光業光業的役所浩二勝俣博山的役所浩二勝俣博山崎健藺生小林高水平的商业剧院代表。观赏伦敦西区光光業的役所浩二勝俣博山業的役所浩二勝俣博山。

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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4

Benkoko11Feb 23, 2017

In his first foray into sci-fi, Villeneuve's lofty ambitions are as over-calculated as they are under-executed. Arrival is far from the promised humanist thriller, coming across as a wannabee Nolan thinker, only less coherent and moreIn his first foray into sci-fi, Villeneuve's lofty ambitions are as over-calculated as they are under-executed. Arrival is far from the promised humanist thriller, coming across as a wannabee Nolan thinker, only less coherent and more pretentious. After the abominations of Enemy and Sicario, this may just be strike 3 for Denis.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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4

gt1967May 25, 2020

Definitely a case of the emperor's new clothes, this film isn't as clever as it thinks it is. To be fair though it seems to have convinced a large number of people that it is. The longer it goes on the more the story and more importantlyDefinitely a case of the emperor's new clothes, this film isn't as clever as it thinks it is. To be fair though it seems to have convinced a large number of people that it is. The longer it goes on the more the story and more importantly logic starts to unravel. As for the ending, meh just psychobabble.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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4

RobMarr75Sep 9, 2023

Massively overrated. Nonsense science masquerading as deep thoughts for those that don't know any better. I don't know how else to explain that what you see in this movie is just silliness.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

All this user's reviews

3

gfnyNov 14, 2016

The movie preview showed aircraft flying overhead. This was the only action in the entire movie. A low budget, slow, out of focus movie. Watching paint dry has more action. A rare film that wanted to make me demand my money back.

24 of 54 users found this helpful2430

All this user's reviews

3

roscoeswaffleNov 13, 2016

Blather.
Mumbo-jumbo.
If you understand these two simple terms in English (as opposed to heptapod), there is no reason to see this movie--I've just summed it up for you. Huge disappointment. Love the director, cut my teeth on sci fi. Still,Blather.
Mumbo-jumbo.
If you understand these two simple terms in English (as opposed to heptapod), there is no reason to see this movie--I've just summed it up for you.
Huge disappointment. Love the director, cut my teeth on sci fi. Still, I'd have been better off staying home and bingeing on The Crown.… Expand

10 of 34 users found this helpful1024

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3

Tss5078Nov 14, 2016

Arrival is being called one of the best Science Fiction films in years. It is one of the best rated and reviewed films of 2016, and is drawing comparisons to Close Encounters of The Third Kind, but I have a question, did they watch the sameArrival is being called one of the best Science Fiction films in years. It is one of the best rated and reviewed films of 2016, and is drawing comparisons to Close Encounters of The Third Kind, but I have a question, did they watch the same film that I did? I wasn't crazy about Close Encounters, but that movie was leaps and bounds ahead of this one. Twelve alien crafts land in random places all across the planet, and the people are in a panic. Some countries react with hostility, but the U.S. Government decides to act cautiously (yeah right), and send Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), the best linguist they have, to figure out a way to community with the aliens. The aliens, turn out to be giant octopus, whose language turns out to be ink that they squirt into the air. This movie features flashbacks and flash-forwards, that seemingly make no sense, until the end when you finally figure out what they mean and once you do, you realize that you just wasted two hours of your life. If that wasn't bad enough, the film moves at an absolute snails pace, I mean you could take everything that actually happened in the film and squeeze it into about twenty minutes. The rest is just people talking to each other about the same damn thing over and over again. Trying to figure out the same thing over and over again. Worrying about the same things over and over again. The characters have no personality whatsoever, and you might think that it's one of those slow moving weird films that all comes together in an amazing ending, but no, it doesn't. Once you can see the whole picture, as one lady in the theater so eloquently shouted out, "really, that's it, that was so stupid." Her uncontrolled outburst really sums up this entire film. Honestly I think the slower and more artistic a film is, the more the critics love it, but I am one critic who isn't fooled by great actors and emotional music, this isn't the best film of the year, this is the biggest turd of the year, and it should be avoided at all costs!… Expand

38 of 84 users found this helpful3846

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3

EdeltraudDec 7, 2016

Meh. No doubt adapting this material to the screen was challenging but the director's self-love really sucked the juice outta this. The too visually dark settings & blah blocking of action made it less than a pleasure to watch.This could haveMeh. No doubt adapting this material to the screen was challenging but the director's self-love really sucked the juice outta this. The too visually dark settings & blah blocking of action made it less than a pleasure to watch.This could have been a sweeping, magical visual treat but it just seemed to lack imagination. The score was often trite & overwhelming & the schmaltzy ending seemed to go on forever. Interesting story, but it could have been told with more humor, energy, tension, etc.… Expand

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

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3

EludiumQ36Apr 30, 2017

Do you remember why you loved the Matrix trilogy then hated it? It's because it was a love story masking as a kick-ass sci-fi story. Similar thing here, "Arrival" is a love story masking as an alien contact story. I want to rate it a "1"Do you remember why you loved the Matrix trilogy then hated it? It's because it was a love story masking as a kick-ass sci-fi story. Similar thing here, "Arrival" is a love story masking as an alien contact story. I want to rate it a "1" because of its deceit, implausible plot points, and feel-yourself-age pacing but it gets a "3" because of its production values and A-list cast. It also messes with the flow of time, not time travel, but its sequencing. While that's laudable, it can be very confusing and inevitably leaves you feeling "had" or conned story-wise. It's a pretty mess resulting in a waste of 2hrs of your time.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

All this user's reviews

3

gameplayer85Jan 15, 2017

I was excited too watch the movie after all the hype i heard about it. Now i regret ever watching it. A whole lot of nothing going on in the movie. First 70 minutes and absolutely nothing happens! I'm a fan of the main cast but this movie wasI was excited too watch the movie after all the hype i heard about it. Now i regret ever watching it. A whole lot of nothing going on in the movie. First 70 minutes and absolutely nothing happens! I'm a fan of the main cast but this movie was absolutely dreadful. I kept watching something exciting or something that would make me think would arrive. But nope. You can only watch silent octopus aliens for so long. Use 2hr of your life more wisely and watch something else. If you have a taste for some sci-fi go watch the classics.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

All this user's reviews

3

Bo33yJan 26, 2017

I don't know about that future, intuition becomes squid worth, they traveled in giant bananas, communicating in bubbles and spraying ink.. Square Pants. A snooze fest that had some Syfi connecting that language, but the rest of it wasI don't know about that future, intuition becomes squid worth, they traveled in giant bananas, communicating in bubbles and spraying ink.. Square Pants. A snooze fest that had some Syfi connecting that language, but the rest of it was propaganda. A pat on the back for World Pieces or Peace, in the attempted language of the octopods. No purrs there.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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3

MightyThorDec 5, 2016

I don't get all the praise heaped on this movie. Maybe if I knew more of what to expect going in, because I expected sci fi/thriller type along the lines of Prometheus and Interstellar. While this movie starts out very promising with a lot ofI don't get all the praise heaped on this movie. Maybe if I knew more of what to expect going in, because I expected sci fi/thriller type along the lines of Prometheus and Interstellar. While this movie starts out very promising with a lot of intrigue about the alien visitors, it soon drags, devolving into a commentary on human existence that really isn't emotionally moving or anything. There is a twist to the movie that was mildly interesting but seemed very copy cat of Interstellar, and then it ended very abruptly. I hated the ending. Basically there was no explanation of the reasoning behind anything and you are left hanging. It's just supposed to make you appreciate your humanity and question your life choices I guess.

The one positive though is the acting throughout is superb. Even the dialogue is fine, just the pacing and ending are awful.… Expand

8 of 19 users found this helpful811

All this user's reviews

3

psyberdelicFeb 14, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Slow and nonsensical. Learning the aliens language allows you to see the future? Time travel in your day-dreams? Everybody's stupid but the heroine? Subtitles for the alien's language? Close Encounters did a vastly superior job of imagining first contact. I fast-forwarded through most of it just to see if the positive reviews made any sense. Nope.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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3

JudNov 15, 2016

I've never seen a movie so tedious and suspenseful at the same time with such a letdown in the end. Although the acting was superb, unless you like art for art's sake, don't bother with this one. The critics really got this one wrong. ItI've never seen a movie so tedious and suspenseful at the same time with such a letdown in the end. Although the acting was superb, unless you like art for art's sake, don't bother with this one. The critics really got this one wrong. It won't answer most of the questions you'll come up with while watching it, including the one that makes the whole story unnecessary: just learn their language the same way your children learn English. Duh!… Expand

11 of 25 users found this helpful1114

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3

AeschylusSnNov 14, 2016

Great atmosphere, nice actor playing but script is totally screwed. All characters looks like decoration for one main character and at some dramatic moment people just start laughing.

5 of 14 users found this helpful59

All this user's reviews

3

LloyddaisyDec 10, 2016

Very disappointing film. I found that it was boring with no suspense. I didn't care about characters or the aliens. It was not believable that Amy could not recognize that the symbol that the aliens were using was the same as symbol on theVery disappointing film. I found that it was boring with no suspense. I didn't care about characters or the aliens. It was not believable that Amy could not recognize that the symbol that the aliens were using was the same as symbol on the book she had written.… Expand

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

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3

SerengetiFeb 4, 2017

I was really disappointed in this movie. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. The premise was totally fabulous, but I don't think the story lived up to the promise the original idea promised. The biggest disappointment of all was theI was really disappointed in this movie. It didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. The premise was totally fabulous, but I don't think the story lived up to the promise the original idea promised. The biggest disappointment of all was the appearance of the alien life forms. I thought it was just completely stupid to make them look the way they did. For me, this movie was a total bust.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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3

OsmarCamposFeb 12, 2017

The movie is just a non sense trailer with non sense flashbacks, it's an argue who starts good and finish with a non sense... thing, the director just make and experiment with a wrong trama

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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3

Christopher715Feb 16, 2017

I really had high hopes for this movie. While Amy Adams "acted her heart out", this somehow missed the mark. Being a HUGE science fiction/space sf, this was slow and just didn't do much for me. Great concept and not directive, I justI really had high hopes for this movie. While Amy Adams "acted her heart out", this somehow missed the mark. Being a HUGE science fiction/space sf, this was slow and just didn't do much for me. Great concept and not directive, I just didn't find it interesting in the least. Perhaps this had appeal for some, but just didn't do it for this particular viewer.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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3

Dragonfly44Nov 27, 2017

This movie was so dull that I’d watch Barney Reruns while eating whatever I can find in the garbage bin rather than sit through all two hours of this severely underwhelming story again.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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3

egoBorderApr 14, 2019

I give this movie some credit for holding my attention for most of the running time. Unfortunately by the end it completely falls apart. Worse still, it makes many of the supporting characters dumb just to pretend the main characters areI give this movie some credit for holding my attention for most of the running time. Unfortunately by the end it completely falls apart. Worse still, it makes many of the supporting characters dumb just to pretend the main characters are intelligent. I guess worth a rental but ultimately unsatisfying.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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2

GreatMartinNov 30, 2016

I went to see “Arrival” sort of reluctantly because I am not into sci-fi movies with aliens coming to take the world over and a war ensues between the good guys (us) and the Bad (the aliens) and we always win. It was a choice of seeing thisI went to see “Arrival” sort of reluctantly because I am not into sci-fi movies with aliens coming to take the world over and a war ensues between the good guys (us) and the Bad (the aliens) and we always win. It was a choice of seeing this movie or “Rules Don’t Apply” and I am not a fan of Warren Beatty’s and I understand it is really a flop so I decided on “Arrival”.

The main reasons I was interested in seeing “Arrival” was because I am becoming a big fan of Amy Adams and on YouTube I saw a video titled “Arrival Ending Explained” which intrigued me though I didn’t watch it until after I saw the movie.

The first hour of the movie was like watching a foreign language film without subtitles and didn’t hold me interest at all. The second hour with the 12 egg-shaped UFOs all over the world set up the standard them versus us but that isn’t where it goes.

Amy Adams is Dr. Louise Banks, is a language expert, who had a daughter who died at the age of 12, and is called on to help make contact with the aliens who are named Abbot & Costello by the theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly, played by Jeremy Renner, who brings the very rare humor in the movie. They work together in ways not exactly up to what Colonel Weber, (Forest Whitaker) and a CIA agent played by Michael Stuhlbarg want from them.

The film revolves around Adams and Renner with little time for the other actors except for an important cameo by Tzi Ma who plays the Chinese leader though it is Adams who holds your attention every time she is on screen which is through the whole film.

The film is not about them versus us but about time and how it can be looked at in different ways. We see many scenes with the mother and daughter from birth until her death 12 years later and by the ending these scenes all are looked at in a way that we weren’t aware while watching them.

The ending is done subtly by the director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Eric Heisserer instead of hammering the audience over the head but I really wished I had watched that YouTube video before I saw the film.

Adams performance is constrained, as it should be, where it could have been melodramatic. When it comes to her what it all is about she calmly accepts and understands what is happening and what happened. Renner is very strong support for her performance.

This is not an ‘entertaining’ film in the sense you can sit back, munch on your popcorn and enjoy aliens invading earth but to which you have to think.

“Arrival” for the most part is a boring film except for the last 15 minutes and I didn’t think the time invested was really worth the first 101 minutes and time is what the film is all about.… Expand

8 of 19 users found this helpful811

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2

NikolayGFeb 25, 2017

Grossly overrated movie. The plot is nearly non-existent, and what there is makes little sense. Huge questions, such as - Why have the aliens come? - are answered in about 6 words. The screenplay isn't a screenplay; it is a rough sketch, oneGrossly overrated movie. The plot is nearly non-existent, and what there is makes little sense. Huge questions, such as - Why have the aliens come? - are answered in about 6 words. The screenplay isn't a screenplay; it is a rough sketch, one that leaves many story elements undeveloped. Honestly, I don't know what they needed two hours for if this is all they had to deliver. I could, if I wanted (I won't) "spoil" this movie for you in about two sentences, as that's all there is in terms of content. The rest of it is spent on dull shots of the giant floating rock of an alien ship, and repetitive scenes of our cast learning to communicate with the octopus-like aliens. Add two hours to your life and do not see this movie.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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2

CarribeanDeanNov 12, 2016

boooooring. As a big fan of Sicario and Prisoners i expected better. paint dries more entertainingky than this. like watching a kid draw with an etch a sketch for 2 hours. Even Forrest Whitaker sucked. Jeremy Renner often sucks, no surpriseboooooring. As a big fan of Sicario and Prisoners i expected better. paint dries more entertainingky than this. like watching a kid draw with an etch a sketch for 2 hours. Even Forrest Whitaker sucked. Jeremy Renner often sucks, no surprise there. it felt like they were afraid to wake up the audience.… Expand

18 of 40 users found this helpful1822

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2

KattsyltJan 16, 2023

A film that instantly tries to force emotions upon you with dreary violins, showing a mother with her dying child. Two characters i have no link to since the movie just started. Sure its still sad but yea, it just becomes forced. The movieA film that instantly tries to force emotions upon you with dreary violins, showing a mother with her dying child. Two characters i have no link to since the movie just started. Sure its still sad but yea, it just becomes forced. The movie builds up tension and excitement well, similarly like the movie Contact with trying to decipher what the aliens want. You become invested in it and really want to know what it's about but it falls short on the delivery.

Spoiler ahead.

The movie delivers nothing. It's completely pointless.
It tries to tell us that humanity need to work together and communicate. Well ok, thanks i guess. And some mumbo jumbo about love and children. All delivered with pretentious flashbacks and more dreary violins to force emotions upon you. All the setup is great. But in the end it doesnt deliver anything at all. It's a completely pointless movie. Watch Contact instead, it's basically the same movie but good.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

paulmarsDec 11, 2016

D.O.A.

Sterile, lifeless, dull, drab, uninspiring, anti-climatic, confused, uncharismatic, overrated, unappealing, frustrating, tired, sleep-inducing, unimaginative, cheezy.

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

All this user's reviews

2

argonsteeleNov 16, 2016

wow. record breaking boring for an alien movie. disappointing from top to bottom. almost unwatchable. pretentious, slow, dry. i seriously thought of asking for my money back on the way out. sheesh.

13 of 28 users found this helpful1315

All this user's reviews

2

BringitbackNov 20, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let's face it, a story like this hasn't crossed the paths of viewers only once before, right? I thoroughly enjoyed the actors in this production. Kudos for the CGI (thank goodness there was a lot of grays available). Question me this: Why did her hands shake? What was said to make her husband leave? How could she figure out what was being said? Was it "flash back" or flash forward" or "flash sideways"? Why was Costello dying? Why did the story take the audience through the back door (again) to find us at the beginning? Did this happen? Was it going to happen? Did one of the last lines allow us to think that maybe the end results that have been seen will be changed? As for the production: Why were the interiors so dark? To save money. Go NFN whenever possible, right? There are several more questions to ask, but I do not want to actually ask direct questions that no one will answer of this movie. I do not know what movie the other people who commented were watching on this site (and a few others), but the one we just watched is far from being “Oscar” material as one person mentioned. The idea of the visitor… Well, I suppose it was an easy way to “communicate” to the persons portrayed, but come on,really? Did the writers answer any questions? No. There is a whole lot more, but I can easily state (and without reserve), I would rather have watched “Gravity” again. I mean no disrespect to the actors. It should have started and finished. The script was created –middle – “present” – middle – “present”. The comments of those few people who saw the movie today were walking out saying “huh”? There was a chance at the first few scenes to make this a gripping idea. Then...well, we were all inked!… Expand

9 of 21 users found this helpful912

All this user's reviews

2

anonymous1babyJan 12, 2017

Amy Adams and JR gave good if not great performances, but beyond that there's nothing here to keep a serious sci-fi fan interested. As others have said, it's slow, boring, and intellectually uninteresting.

Ask yourself how a race from theAmy Adams and JR gave good if not great performances, but beyond that there's nothing here to keep a serious sci-fi fan interested. As others have said, it's slow, boring, and intellectually uninteresting.

Ask yourself how a race from the present or future that is capable of time/interstellar travel can't figure out a few basic languages before they get here? And the needless gravity manipulation? Why not rotate the ship and use a ramp? More goofy parlor tricks to keep the FX folks busy. The time travel wrinkle was just a way to get out of multiple plot dead-ends.

Villeneuve's oooh, ahhh direction is just ridiculous stalling when a better script was necessary.… Expand

4 of 11 users found this helpful47

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2

tasslehoff69Feb 17, 2017

I thought the beginning half of the movie was fairly good and I was interested in the story. The ending was so bad it actually made me angry and I yelled at my TV.

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

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2

safari4me1943Nov 18, 2016

I attended this movie with a friend and we were looking forward to seeing it. When it was over we both looked at each other and asked 'what was that movie about ? The flashbacks to her child and the confusion of future and past events madeI attended this movie with a friend and we were looking forward to seeing it. When it was over we both looked at each other and asked 'what was that movie about ? The flashbacks to her child and the confusion of future and past events made us spend more time trying to figure the scripts meaning. We could not understand the complexity of the movie and what turned the evening into a chaotic movie was truly disappointing and hours later we were still trying to figure it out. If it could have been less entangled with the past, present and future it would have been wonderful. It was a waste of hard earned money.… Expand

10 of 24 users found this helpful1014

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2

ThermonuclearNov 20, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ultimately a boring yarn that resolves on a 'twist' that a presumed flashback is actually a flash forward.
Dull and ambiguous but lacking in mystery. Flawed.… Expand

11 of 24 users found this helpful1113

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2

BroyaxAug 13, 2017

Alors, lapin compris ? je fais comme dans le film, je parle un double langage qui tente de noyer le poisson sous des allures intello-pédantes bien prétentieuses et quelques relents de naïveté bien naïfs ; je secoue le tout au shaker et jeAlors, lapin compris ? je fais comme dans le film, je parle un double langage qui tente de noyer le poisson sous des allures intello-pédantes bien prétentieuses et quelques relents de naïveté bien naïfs ; je secoue le tout au shaker et je balance à l'écran très lentement sous couvert de poésie moralisatrice.

Alors, Amy et Jeremy sont très bien, là n'est pas la question et les effets spéciaux sont judicieusement exploités ; par ailleurs la musique planante qui vous plonge dans une sorte de transe hypnagogique est très relaxante (je crois en fait que le film entier a transformé le peu de matière grise qui me restait en gelée). Mais tout de même, ces extra-terrestres qui ont l'air si avancé sont en vérité tellement cons qu'il faut tout reprendre à partir du cours préparatoire : "té-lé-phone... mai-son..." et bien sûr, ils sont un peu neuneus et durs de la feuille, voire carrément gagas : gentil extra-terrestre, gentil, gentil... ah mais attention aux méchants humains roooo... Denis Villeneuve nous déroule donc sa petite fable écolo béate à deux balles sous Lexomil pendant deux plombes mais nous, on veut sortir de cette mélasse !!

PS
Lapin compris ou pas ??… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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2

sicknutzFeb 4, 2017

Looks like most people are judging this movie without having read the short story upon which it's based. There was a lot of rework of the plot to make it a movie, and in doing so the beauty and best parts of the story were discarded. AllLooks like most people are judging this movie without having read the short story upon which it's based. There was a lot of rework of the plot to make it a movie, and in doing so the beauty and best parts of the story were discarded. All that's left is a sappy mess which causes the first contact part of the plot to feel awkward and out of place.… Expand

1 of 6 users found this helpful15

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2

yvriMar 21, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Extremely slow paced and boring. Could see the ending came a mile away. Everything about the human experience is extremely unlikely when it tries to portray the real world response to first contact.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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2

RBdave274luvApr 10, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have watched Arrival four times to find any redeeming qualities to it. I felt the acting was fine but over rated since the movie was so low key and not particularly entertaining. My first problem with it was the way they portrayed the aliens. It is the same old thing, make them look like monsters who have no hands ect., making it totally unbelievable they could build anything to travel anywhere. The movie is more about time than anything else. It is unlike any other movie I have seen so saying there were cliches I found to be inane and won't use that. The soundtrack droned and was very distracting sometimes eclipsing what the actors were saying. The language shown would have been impossible for a linguist to figure out in such a short time. A friend compared it to a Tibetan circle language yet upon investigation, the linguist that created it said nothing about it being anything more than made up. It's a love story in a way but done in a very boring way. I didn't find the movie interesting or thought provoking because the subject matter within it...time isn't linear is old news. Amy Adams did a good job with what she was given but it wasn't much. The movie simply is not entertaining and leaves one with unanswered questions. Unless one is very cerebral this will not be able to hold the attention of most viewers for long. I was very disappointed and have watched hundreds of science fiction movies. I have also read a number of reviews around the net and no one person got the same thing out of this film. Good luck to anyone who tries to sit down and make heads or tails of it without extrapolating on it like most critics have done.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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2

JohnBrianKJul 26, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My review talks about the movie so I guess it is a spolier: I have never felt the need to review a movie before. Some I really liked, some I disliked. I am a movie person. I love them. Haven watched thousands of movies in my life. I was super excited to see this movie, but had to wait until it came to video. The premise of the movie is that Aliens come to earth to share their language because somehow that gives you the ability to see into the future....sorry they lost me right there. Soo many plot holes. What do the ships do when they get someone to learn their language? Of that's right they simply fade away. That is really it. I know their is a theory out there about being able to see the future or something and while I am a huge fan of theories revolving around what the human brain can accomplish the idea that learning a language allows time travel is a little too big of a stretch IMO. The entire political angle is also over acted and comical really. I have never seen a movie that got such praise be one that I found so incomplete..almost comical in the holes the writer left. I can only shake my head. First review on this site and most likely the last unless some other extremely mediocre movie gets immense praise. And just for the record the parts with Amy Adams and her child in the movie are extremely heartfelt. Having 3 kids of my own those scenes did tug on my heart strings, but it did nothing to help the score of the movie from my perspective.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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1

BHBarryNov 12, 2016

“Arrival” stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker in this sci-fi drama written by Eric Heisserer based on a novel by Ted Chiang (“The Story of Your Life”). The film was directed by Denis Villanueve who, together with the writer“Arrival” stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker in this sci-fi drama written by Eric Heisserer based on a novel by Ted Chiang (“The Story of Your Life”). The film was directed by Denis Villanueve who, together with the writer and the editor, if there was one, must take full responsibility for the 2 hours I wasted watching their product. The movie is slow, confusing and complicated and the scenes float back in time and place without ever clearly indicating what was intended by its creative team. Ms. Adams can do no wrong for she is a talented actor but somehow she got placed in this amateurish attempt at a modern day “ET”. The film is not only a disservice to Ms. Adams’ talent but to the audience that must suffer through the picture as well. I must have looked at my watch at least 5X during the course of the film and, in so doing, found the hands on my timepiece more interesting that that which was being projected on to the screen. What amazes me most is that so many professional critics found this movie to be worthy of their highest rating, again proving that being paid for an opinion doesn’t mean it has value. I give this film a 1.0 rating and if I hadn’t been in the company of my wife and friends, I would have walked out of the theater mid way through it. The only recommendation I can make about this film is to respectfully suggest to Ms. Adams that she hire a new talent agent..… Expand

12 of 28 users found this helpful1216

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1

shaunmedNov 30, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Nothing here that hasn't been done a thousand times. Simple time loop paradox. If you're looking for a movie about aliens, this is not it. It really has nothing to do at all with aliens. It's a weak tug at heart strings depicting a story about a parent that loses a child. The chemistry between the two main actors is non existent. Just a terrible waste of 2 hours.… Expand

18 of 36 users found this helpful1818

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1

DreadLordAvatarNov 26, 2016

Captivating buildup but the ending is totally disappointing. Horrible, wasted opportunity to entertain - it is a fake sci-fi film packaged as a ridiculous love story. Avoid wasting time and money on seeing it in the theater like I did, it isCaptivating buildup but the ending is totally disappointing. Horrible, wasted opportunity to entertain - it is a fake sci-fi film packaged as a ridiculous love story. Avoid wasting time and money on seeing it in the theater like I did, it is worthy perhaps only as a viewing on Netflix. I feel totally scammed by the professional critic reviews, I really really want a refund and my time back, extremely disappointed. :(… Expand

6 of 19 users found this helpful613

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1

foxgroveNov 15, 2016

An 'alien' film to leave you totally alienated! This is so self-important and ponderously dull that it makes Ingmar Bergman's depressive dramas seem like comic farces. The screenplay is all **** and pretension in which Amy Adams' languageAn 'alien' film to leave you totally alienated! This is so self-important and ponderously dull that it makes Ingmar Bergman's depressive dramas seem like comic farces. The screenplay is all **** and pretension in which Amy Adams' language specialist amazingly deciphers the black ink vocabulary of the extra-terrestrials in record breaking time. A feat that only ever happens in the movies. The creatures themselves look like a cross between giant squids and an elephant's foot, and it's no exaggeration to state that their presence is underwhelming. The first ten minutes promise much but we never get that film. Instead as soon as the alien pods arrive degeneration in to boredom is immediate and sleep inducingly effective. Praised by the highbrow critics, make no mistake this is alarmingly over rated. A totally confused and uninteresting example of the sci-fi genre. Arrive? It certainly did. However, I couldn't wait to leave!… Expand

23 of 46 users found this helpful2323

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1

Paperboy17Nov 23, 2016

Took nearly 90 minutes to figure out what this movie was really about. I will never get that time back. This is a love story and about time, with aliens.
I will never get nearly 2 hour of my life back.

9 of 21 users found this helpful912

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1

magnusgrafexNov 29, 2016

I'm sorry I don't know how this movie got such good reviews. It was dumb dumb dumb and boring. I would describe it as a chick-flick sci-fi movie. Don't bother seeing it and these high reviews are way off. Must be the "different" effect.I'm sorry I don't know how this movie got such good reviews. It was dumb dumb dumb and boring. I would describe it as a chick-flick sci-fi movie. Don't bother seeing it and these high reviews are way off. Must be the "different" effect. Different does not = good.… Expand

7 of 17 users found this helpful710

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1

0815Dec 2, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring, boring, boring....blablabla boring, boring, boring.
DonT waste your money on this **** movie.
The biggest disappointment in cinema history. Better watch "it came from outer space"… Expand

6 of 15 users found this helpful69

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1

ALexA182Feb 19, 2017

How on earth are people giving this boring mess of a movie such high scores? I guess it just tells you have bad the average movie is today. This is a convoluted, boring, poorly acted contrived mess that has neither originality or a realHow on earth are people giving this boring mess of a movie such high scores? I guess it just tells you have bad the average movie is today. This is a convoluted, boring, poorly acted contrived mess that has neither originality or a real story line. Thankfully I saw this on a DVD so I could fast-forward through the plodding mindless scenes.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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1

FrankomanMar 5, 2017

I love sci-fi. From Star Wars to 2001 (my all time fav), Alien, although not so much Aliens, The Abyss, 12 Monkeys, Blade Runner, The Thing, and Gattaca to name but a few, and just to show the range that appeals to me, a sci-fi lover.

So farI love sci-fi. From Star Wars to 2001 (my all time fav), Alien, although not so much Aliens, The Abyss, 12 Monkeys, Blade Runner, The Thing, and Gattaca to name but a few, and just to show the range that appeals to me, a sci-fi lover.

So far I have read reviews stating Arrival is about big ideas, it's a character study, it's sci-fi for the mind, thought provoking, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Well, that last part was true. I was on the edge of my seat all through the movie, but only because the remote was just out of reach. The rest? Well, I'd like to know what the **** you people were smoking to get anything out of this bilge. I have never, in my life, watched such garbage. A film about nothing. And I got it. I understood it. I know what happened, and why. I just couldn't give a flying ****, about any of them. A pretentious movie, with pretentious Aliens, where nothing happens.

What the **** is happening to people?… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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0

fantasyNov 11, 2016

This was on my must see movie list. The movie starts out very slow, then gets slower until finally I started to doze off. The movie makes absolutely no sense. There's no suspense or any action. Other than Amy Adams performance the rest ofThis was on my must see movie list. The movie starts out very slow, then gets slower until finally I started to doze off. The movie makes absolutely no sense. There's no suspense or any action. Other than Amy Adams performance the rest of the cast is nothing as they mailed their parts in. The ending is beyond ridiculous. Avoid unless you have insomnia. You've been warned.… Expand

16 of 37 users found this helpful1621

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0

HotpocketAug 8, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie brought me to tears. And not in a good way. Theres a scene where the girl knows she's going to have a child and she can see the future that the child is going to die from cancer. Fully knowing this she continues with the path laid out in the visions to have the child and watch her die all over again. This could not have been more bull----. Anyone who has lost their child from cancer or whatever, could never live that over again. NEVER. And you have the audacity to tell me that she's going to do it even tho she knows whats coming. Don't even feed me that bull---- story. Completely unbelievable and unrealistic story arc at that point. Who ever wrote this should be fired.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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0

ViajeDec 8, 2016

Don’t waste your time with this unnecessarily protracted pseudo-science-fiction drama about first-contact with aliens. Instead, see 1977’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” or even better the classic 1951 original, "The Day the EarthDon’t waste your time with this unnecessarily protracted pseudo-science-fiction drama about first-contact with aliens. Instead, see 1977’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” or even better the classic 1951 original, "The Day the Earth Stood Still."… Expand

5 of 14 users found this helpful59

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0

yashdanMar 5, 2017

I don't understand how this movie got such good reviews!!!
This movie is incredibly stupid and boring!
Not worth watching even if you have time to spare!
Acting - 8
Plot/story - 0
Suspense - 2
Action - 0

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

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0

JuakinNov 19, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Typical dead child of cancer (hollywood typical **** the movie tries that you feel sad about the child but you don't get to know her so you don't care, nothing happens in the movie, boring. I want my money and time back.… Expand

10 of 23 users found this helpful1013

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0

JavierChileNov 12, 2016

I really enjoyed this movie. I would recommend it a lot. It has a slow and building argument that finishes in a metaphysic meditation. All mixed in a context of international tensions and near-war situations. Just excellent!

Even if it'sI really enjoyed this movie. I would recommend it a lot. It has a slow and building argument that finishes in a metaphysic meditation. All mixed in a context of international tensions and near-war situations. Just excellent!

Even if it's different from Interstellar, it gave me the same sensations as a viewer. It isn't as slow as that movie though, but it's still not suited for every spectator. I heard some unhappy people after the movie talking it was boring. You must know if you are the kind of viewer willing to sit, relax and think a little with a movie.… Expand

4 of 29 users found this helpful425

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0

CameraBounceGodNov 20, 2016

the thought of amy adams having magical dreams ............................................................................................i might not even see this

5 of 18 users found this helpful513

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0

avan1976Dec 9, 2016

The visuals and acting are great. And the initial interactions with the aliens were fascinating. Unfortunately, emotional flashbacks (forwards), which make little sense, are becoming a bit of a cliche for humanizing these kinds of movies. IThe visuals and acting are great. And the initial interactions with the aliens were fascinating. Unfortunately, emotional flashbacks (forwards), which make little sense, are becoming a bit of a cliche for humanizing these kinds of movies. I wish these directors could accept that the geeky aspects are enough to sustain a kick-ass sci-fi movie (if done well). What next: faster-than-light travel powered by a mother's love for her child?… Expand

6 of 15 users found this helpful69

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Arrival

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