Arrival

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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9

BrianMcCriticNov 11, 2016

This is a brilliant screenplay with wide sweeping breathtaking shots. The more you think about it the better it gets. Denis Villeneuve is really putting himself as one of the must see directors of our time. I love this film my currentThis is a brilliant screenplay with wide sweeping breathtaking shots. The more you think about it the better it gets. Denis Villeneuve is really putting himself as one of the must see directors of our time. I love this film my current favorite film of 2016. A… Expand

9 of 28 users found this helpful919

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9

SpangleNov 11, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is official. Denis Villeneuve is my favorite working director. This could change, but my Lord is Arrival brilliant. Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, and now Arrival are all some of the best films of this decade - no, century - and each has an indelible respect for the audience. It trusts that we will follow along as Villeneuve spins a web that, though it may not make sense initially, will craft a gorgeous vignette of some element of existence. Arrival is most certainly a part of this collection now and is one of the best science fiction films in a while with stunning visuals, chill-inducing brilliance, and incredible performances.

Admittedly, however, Arrival missed the mark for the first half or so. It seemed so different. So unique. Nothing truly made sense from the opening with this daughter that seems out of place for the film I expected to receive, plus the weird narration scene by Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner). It just seemed so haphazardly put together that it seemed wholly indigestible. However, after this halfway point, the film is pure brilliance. Even better, it opens up the world of the first half to the point that you realize that - even if the narration is still a moment that I cannot wrap my head around - everything else adds up. In this second half, Arrival soars with the grace and beauty previously only experienced by eagles.

A confusing, nonlinear film, Arrival follows Louise Banks (Amy Adams), the country's best linguist in the aftermath of the arrival of extraterrestrials. In the interest of determining their purpose, Louise is tasked with cracking the code of the heptapods (the aliens). What transpires is film that can often mirror Dances with Wolves in its respect for language (Close Encounters of the Third Kind as well to a degree for this) and Contact for its similarities regarding the military and its approach to, again, language. In many respects, Arrival is a science fiction film, but it is also a film about destiny, free-will, and the beauty of language.

Through language, worlds open up. One can weave a beautiful sentence that can move readers to tears. Others can craft a speech that sways people to believe one thing or the other. Language allows people to express feelings, emotions, thoughts, or simply converse with others. Language, as discussed in the film, is the foundation of a civilization. In many ways, it is the foundation of humanity. Arrival delves into this sheer beauty of language throughout the picture. Villeneuve brilliantly allows this elegance to take centerstage with long drawn out sequences of nothing but communication between Louise and the heptapods.

Yet, the film hardly stops there. Through showing the possibilities the language of the heptapods can reveal, Arrival hits a peak. Once we learn that the heptapods language allows the speaker to see the future, Arrival's philosophical explorations really take hold. This is the part where many will be lost and why I am skeptical as to film's acceptance amongst general audiences. However, the film's nonlinear storytelling is incredibly revealing and really works. Through the nonlinear storytelling, we know the end of Louise's story. We do not know that we know this, but by the end, it is clear what her future is. Louise knows it and though she keeps it to herself in the present, we know the future is something that is simulatenously her past. It is already a part of her and one she cannot escape. However, it is clear she does not wish to escape her future. It is one filled with challenges, but filled with equal joy and love. Films have previously discussed the concepts of free-will and destiny (hell, Oedipus did this in the BC's) and yet, Arrival brings a warmth to the discussion. Though Louise may know her future, she chooses to head into it with no hesitation. Yes, it will bring her unspeakable pain and tragedy, but it will also bring sheer ecstasy. For Louise and many others, this is more than acceptable. However, Arrival does not hesitate to ask: If you know your future, would you try to change it? This is certainly a fallacy, as I believe Arrival showcases. The heptapods knew Louise's future. How? Because it already happened. There is no time, there is no free-will, there is only destiny. For the world of Arrival, the possibilities of the world are not endless. You are on a path and destined to complete this path.

Arrival often mirrors the language it discusses, not just the heptapods' language, though. Language, as Louise states frequently, can be messy and confusing. Yet, it opens doors to the world that were previously locked tight. This is very similar to the film as a whole, as it is a complex puzzle and my initial hesitation to the film's world was because I only received small pieces of a large puzzle. Once they started fitting together and the image became clearer, the film became a truly awe-inspiring, striking, and beautiful experience.… Expand

4 of 20 users found this helpful416

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9

yezoNov 11, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I enjoy the movie. However, I could not help but thinking the theme has been repeatedly used for the past 2 months. Miss Peregrine, Doctor Strange, and now Arrival.
I enjoy the way the movie is being shown with constant 'flashback' and it did set me up.
As a research student, I understand the pain how the character Dr Bank has to deal with the military, it is pretty much what happens to scientists (to deal with politics, admin and such) on a daily basis.
The deep philosophy behind the movie is also interesting as it demonstrates the conflicts within a human which comes into contact with 'new' things (and or world). In addition, because I am a bilingual from two very different cultures, Chinese and English. I understand the frustration of being an interpreter. And indeed, the more you understand the language and cultures of both sides, explaining a sentence or phenomenon to one side of people can be difficult because it takes time to think a way to translate the meaning and be able to deliver the concept which is indeed harder than you think. Because there is something more than the factual meaning on those words but the interpretation which is the key of a communication.
(Let me give you an example below.)

Back to the movie, note the general public is scared in such situation as they recall history and they are aware they are on the other side of civilisation, some of them would like to bring peace, some of them would like to fight them off.
As a scientist, we are naturally curious, understanding of something new would be the greatest achievement of all, and hence explain how Louise and Ian approach the alien.
I understand in most sci-fi movie, physicists are often involved as the part of movie since it involves paradox and time, but it would be nice to get an organic chemist role because it would be interesting for organic chemists to learn new organic molecules from alien if they exist.
If anyone reading this comment and happen to know physics, could you tell me where can I learn more about time, event horizon, general relativity on a conceptual level coz I don't know much maths, thanks! Ok, the example of language and culture.
For those who don't know Chinese, here is an example.
One of Australian friends used to learn Chinese, he told me what he learnt. The first thing he learnt is 'How are you?' in Chinese which is fine.
But here is the problem. Most Chinese do not greet with 'How are you?' Chinese ask all kind of questions from 'Where are you from?' (stranger/new friend) to 'How is your family/work?' (close friends/relatives)
My understanding at that point is, there is no harm learning those phrases, but it is not particular helpful if you really want to interact with a Chinese. I quickly suggested I could teach him Chinese, but because there are tests and exams so I understand he would rather stick to whatever the teacher taught him.
In contrast, for whose who do not know too much English, 'How are you?' is greeting, and they actually don't care how are you, it is in fact pretty meaningless.
From my understanding, learning a language systematically (through a book/class) is quite ineffective. I argue the best way to learn a language is to interact with that person who is speaking in that particular language. Learning from items, to phrases, to sentences (like how a baby learn a language). And one day, your brain will 'click' and understand, like how Amy Adams understand a new language in the movie.
I can tell you from my experience. I have learnt English for almost 20 years of my life, until I have interact Australians for an extensive period of time, I realise what I have learnt from my textbooks back from Hong Kong is virtually useless. Same thing if someone feel like learning Chinese, go interact with a Chinese, learn and practice and you will pick up the language and understand how they think fairly quickly.… Expand

4 of 20 users found this helpful416

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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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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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10

AbbottNov 11, 2016

All I can say is WOW!
I sincerely blew me away. Caught me off guard and got intended reaction to poignant and powerful film. They don't make them like this anymore. Prisoners astonished me, Sicario impressed me and Arrival blew me away.

12 of 35 users found this helpful1223

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9

ddaltontnNov 11, 2016

This is a deeply philosophical movie, so many parallels to life. I thought it was ingenious and inspiring.
When I watch a movie, I'm not watching it through a "critical" eye, like what I like and don't like about the movie, but I'm weighingThis is a deeply philosophical movie, so many parallels to life. I thought it was ingenious and inspiring.
When I watch a movie, I'm not watching it through a "critical" eye, like what I like and don't like about the movie, but I'm weighing my own experience, my goal is always a vicarious experience. I got that with Arrival. I give the movie a solid 9. I've only give a few movie a 10 in my life, so a 9 is really high for me.… Expand

5 of 25 users found this helpful520

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0

The918Nov 11, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was really looking forward to this movie for a long while. Unfortunately I left the theater with much disappointment. The movie had me going for about 1/2 way or little more, then I started figuring out some things, and really didn't care for how they ended the movie.... weak. The movie could have went so many different ways and could and should have been awesome. As it was... turned out to be a slow, anticlimactic, prophetic love story of sorts, that ends up saving the world with a phone call.… Expand

8 of 24 users found this helpful816

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8

Rebecca31Nov 11, 2016

I was not at all hopeful for this movie, there are too many below average alien movies (looking at you Independence Day) but I am most certainly glad to be proven wrong in this case. Such a refreshing take on alien invasion movies, thoroughlyI was not at all hopeful for this movie, there are too many below average alien movies (looking at you Independence Day) but I am most certainly glad to be proven wrong in this case. Such a refreshing take on alien invasion movies, thoroughly enjoyable. The story is excellently told, beautiful music, the visual effects for the aliens and their language are stunning. As always Amy Adams is terrific and it's been a long time since Jeremy Renner gave a performance that didn't make me want to punch him in the face. A definite recommendation.… Expand

7 of 24 users found this helpful717

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10

drawman61Nov 11, 2016

What a moving film. A first contact movie that makes you think rather than just relying on the latest CGI effects. They enhance rather than carry the movie.
Amy Adams is perfect as the interpreter. All her emotions are there to see.
If movieWhat a moving film. A first contact movie that makes you think rather than just relying on the latest CGI effects. They enhance rather than carry the movie.
Amy Adams is perfect as the interpreter. All her emotions are there to see.
If movie length CGI battles are your thing then this probably isn't the movie for you.
It's how I would imagine First contact would be like.… Expand

16 of 39 users found this helpful1623

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9

Ekoc_77Nov 11, 2016

it is a well told clever story, i love the fact that it is one of the best combination ever of sci-fi with a great transition from Novel to movie, is hard to see such a good translation and specially on a sci-fi flick, didnt give a 10 mostlyit is a well told clever story, i love the fact that it is one of the best combination ever of sci-fi with a great transition from Novel to movie, is hard to see such a good translation and specially on a sci-fi flick, didnt give a 10 mostly due to be a bit pretentious on "im a such a smart movie i will spin you around and around at each twist" when it is not that much… Expand

9 of 33 users found this helpful924

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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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10

PatrickSousaNov 11, 2016

Just like Villeneuve's other films, this one has proved that he is one of the greatest director nowadays. The way that he approaches a common theme in movies is almost revolutionary.

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8

EpicLadySpongeNov 11, 2016

Arrival tries to improve what's seen on the screen by doing whatever it takes from the plot to read the fellow person's mind and flood it with sci-fi events happening on the screen. It's foolproof.

6 of 25 users found this helpful619

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9

georgex72Nov 11, 2016

A deep movie, not for those who are looking for special effects of a modern sci-fi genre. This movie is for all the others who want to feel and to immerse into the noble and greater ideals of humanity within the new coming era.

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Arrival

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