Review: Arrival


Is Arrival worth your Arrival to the Theater this weekend?

What starts as your average film we get a morbid background story and a lifeless Amy Adams. She is the top linguist in the world and the US military needs her help to communicate with unknown lifeforms that have popped up around the world. For convenience purposes and the sake of fact checking Adams already has top clearance translating for the government before. In what starts out to be a slow and dragging first half of the film we are introduced to the issue at hand, what are these in Adams own words “well are we going to say it, or not aliens” here for and what do they want? That is the premise of the film and the world has to work together to solve this mystery.

There is a sense of urgency but the film is too slow for that urgency to make the viewer anxious to find out what's at stake. If anything I was more concerned with what the aliens looked like and if they would try to one of independence Day: Resurgence. Before you continue reading, if you’re looking for a crazy action packed alien film this is not it. This is not to say that the film is flawed, it is just not a summer blockbuster. As someone who went into this film knowingly that it would not be an action film I was not let down. The plot takes its time to reveal what the aliens want and why there are 12 ships around the world. The ships only open once every 18 hours and when they do open the amount of time they can spend in there is very limited. The first time Adams and Renner enter the ship they see the aliens and we jump to the next scene so that the plot isn’t completely spoiled. Throughout the film we are teased by what the aliens really want and lets be honest it’s a science and we aren’t going to figure out what they want overnight. Adams makes Renner look useless, and he is not only does his character contribute next to nothing to the plot, but he is only there to serve as a talking character for Adams so she doesn’t look crazy talking to herself about these aliens.

Re-reading my own review it may seem like a negative one, however this sci-fi genre plays to its advantages of keeping the main plot a secret. The secret is so well hidden that you only find out what it is in the very final scenes of the film. It is difficult to compare this film to others because most of them haven’t sailed the same waters as Arrival and for good reason. Would you rather go into this film expecting another action packed flick with nothing to offer to the actual plot, or would you have an actual sci-fi thriller that approaches things rationally and direct? You have to decide because if it is the aforementioned you will be disappointed.

3.5 out of 5

What would I have changed? (Spoilers)
Click here to read what I would Change

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Johnny Johnny (Contributor) was born and raised in San Diego. He's been a fan of films the majority of his life. He enjoys the feeling it invokes and the power it has to take you to another place. 

Comments

Elizabeth Parker said…
LOL re: the "What would I have changed" section.

I really liked this movie, I gave it 4.5/5 in my review. Definitely a "thinking (wo)man's" movie.
Marie T Louidon said…
I admit kind of a slow start .But i was interested to see the ending .Because i already figured it out half way .
natash12 said…
Enjoyed this movie. Very thought provoking in the main characters ability to communicate with these aliens and what they left her with.
Devon L Smith said…
Terribly boring sci fi film, was just watching Amy on the tonight show and even she didn't want to describe it...I can't blame her one bit, film dragged on too long even to be talking to her daughter supposingly...ugh, trash this one.
Kamela Kern said…
It was a slower-moving film, but it was very good. It's one you need to pay attention to, though.
Electricblue717 said…
Once the movie got going, the empty brain teasers in my gray matter started filling in the gaps and bingo I got it at the end. Good Movie. :)
Angel Filleaudeau said…
This movie is one you use your mind. Intellectually is how this movie performs which is something missing in most films of today. As stated above, it is definitely not the typical sci-fi, not in the least but at least the theme encourages people to think.
sandy weinstein said…
it was a slow start. it was okay, i am not really into sci fi films but not the really way sci fi film here. it was not a movie i would go to normally.
Konnie Semonski said…
I enjoyed this movie. It had you thinking all the way through. It starts to make sense about half way through and finally wraps it up at then end. Worth seeing.
c cook said…
Even though it was slow, liked it very much.
kaitb1103 said…
I didn't get a chance to see this but am looking forward to it!
thejaminbean said…
This is definitely one of, if not the best, movies of the year. Had me gripped from the start!
justsuff said…
The Arrival is on my to-see list now.
Daniel said…
Hearing nothing but great things about this movie. Can't wait to see it
Samantha White said…
I can't wait to see this!
Deb Bialik Schmidt said…
I left after seeing this very confused. Regarding her daughter and the other guy.
Paul said…
My wife is an SLP and she really enjoyed this film
joan bush said…
This was a different movie. I would like to see it again.
Alexandra Oller (iamthealexxx) said…
I was also more concerned with what the aliens looked like than what they were going to do! This is a great review, definitely sums up the movie very well.
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