Arrival (2016)

I watched this two weekends ago, and I would recommend it. It reminds me of another great sci-fi movie that I think I should re-watch: Interstellar.



Spoilers:

I liked the idea that the aliens presented of networking. And of course the language topic was interesting. If you don't have all of the puzzle pieces of reality (words), how can you describe it objectively? When she chooses to go ahead with having the child, I guess that's just picking your suffering and lessons? But I didn't really like the determinism element that was pushed. I mean, couldn't she, knowing the future, make changes to it? Maybe it was just the author/director's bias. I wanted her to kind of see the future, and like a "super-genius" who learns from an other possible self in the future :P, says no I'll just not go down that road.

And I agree with Nima in that I thought she was selfish having the baby and not telling the father. I mean, in real life, if you have an infectious disease or a genetic predisposition to something, don't you tell your partner!? If I could see the future with clarity, I think and hope I'd alter my decisions a bit, to at least brace myself for the bumpy parts.
 
Yeah, saw it the other day... they only deal with the simple aspects of the future, as if it is pre-determined, not 'open' to change....
The dream aspects of her 'visions' are interesting, though purposely setup by the script to keep it muddled until the end... almost... very manipulative storytelling, but it wasn't too badly done.
Other than that, I thought the film was rather boring... predictable... seen this nearly exact scenario in so many scifi films/shows... always blaming Russia/China for aggressive actions.
These aliens are here to 'save humanity'? :halo: C'mon, if they are so advanced with their language conceptually, besides for their technology, wouldn't they see all of this coming? WOuldn't they understand the situation they are trying to influence? This message of aliens 'saving humanity' is as manipulative as the use of our MC's dreams... and we are left to believe that they are manipulating humanity for our own good... that sounds familar don't you think? Isn't that what the state always tells its citizens?

As a film, a drama.... it's still too slow, so much more could have been put in there but wasn't, so obviously the director/writer simply don't know what they are really dealing with, haven't thought it through much and fell back on the usual alien visitation storyline, friendlier in this version than some others, then the director/writer threw in a little dream concept like Interstellar as some seasoning for flavor to make it more aligned with the current trends...

It was alright, but a little too boring... not much going on here... the usual 'bad' military types planting a bomb... Abyss style... or Stargate... or... this whole project seems rather derivative.... only the dream aspects is a little newer.. but better done in Interstellar... good cast, but a weak script... not bad, just weak.
 
gdpetti said:
Other than that, I thought the film was rather boring... predictable... seen this nearly exact scenario in so many scifi films/shows... always blaming Russia/China for aggressive actions.
........
As a film, a drama.... it's still too slow, so much more could have been put in there but wasn't, so obviously the director/writer simply don't know what they are really dealing with, haven't thought it through much and fell back on the usual alien visitation storyline, friendlier in this version than some others, then the director/writer threw in a little dream concept like Interstellar as some seasoning for flavor to make it more aligned with the current trends...

It was alright, but a little too boring... not much going on here... the usual 'bad' military types planting a bomb... Abyss style... or Stargate... or... this whole project seems rather derivative.... only the dream aspects is a little newer.. but better done in Interstellar... good cast, but a weak script... not bad, just weak.

Your analysis matches mine. Totally agree about the script writing; or lack thereof. Sloooow pace. Familiar stereotypes. All about the visuals. A big "meh". Saw it a couple weeks ago and I already can't remember it. Ah, but what about viewing it as predictive programming? Everybody freaking out when contact is made. Aliens have our best interests at heart. And how did those giant Hydras make that hardware technology with those suction cup squirting octopus hands? I give it 3 1/2 "Whatevs"
 
Just saw this movie. Only thing I have to say about it.

If you park your huge alien vessels on Earth. And let the less developed species figure out your language in order to communicate.

That has to be one of the most laziest first contact attempts ever done.
 
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