This is a fantastic movie movie from one of my favorite directors. Really no flaws I could see. Maybe I'm just gushing, idk. But man, this movie blew me away. It completely subverted my expectations. This is a thinking mans alien movie. Sorry for being so vague, but this is one movie you don't want spoiled for you. Great movie. 5 out of 5.

~Zack~

Agreed.  Great fresh take. Screenplay adapted from a short story.

The funny thing is, I don't know when it happened, but Eric Heisserer learned to write really well. It's a very welcomed change and the movie was really good.

Quoted from Mr. Blonde The funny thing is, I don't know when it happened, but Eric Heisserer learned to write really well. It's a very welcomed change and the movie was really good.

I assume you are referring to his script for the Nightmare on Elm St remake. From what I have heard the finished product was very different from what he wrote. Check out this article.

http://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3397692/eric-heisserer-interview/

Very insightful.

~Zack~

An article by Eric Heisserer about how he wrote Arrival.  A wonderful script.

Quoted from Zack I assume you are referring to his script for the Nightmare on Elm St. From what I have heard the finished product was very different from what he wrote. Check out this article. http://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3397692/eric-heisserer-interview/ Very insightful.

In all fairness, I was also referring to The Thing and the first act of Final Destination 5, as well... =)

EDIT: I know Wesley Strick had a hand in messing that one up, too, but I like to blame Heisserer. It makes me smile.

I loved The Thing! Amazing prequel. Sure the CGI wasn't the greatest, but that is hardly the screenwriters fault. I do sorta agree with you on the first act of FD 5, but the rest of the film was actually quite good. It's probably the best film in the franchise.

~Zack~

Quoted from Zack I loved The Thing! Amazing prequel. Sure the CGI wasn't the greatest, but that is hardly the screenwriters fault. I do sorta agree with you on the first act of FD 5, but the rest of the film was actually quite good. It's probably the best film in the franchise.

Zack, we're going to have to disagree about The Thing, but that's okay. It's good to have differing opinions. Seriously, though, the dialogue in the first 10 minutes of FD5 is among the worst I've ever heard.

Anyway, sorry to derail. Arrival was very good. =)

Quoted from Bold An article by Eric Heisserer about how he wrote Arrival.  A wonderful script.

Interesting stuff. I haven't seen the movie myself, unfortunately, because that whole plot about language sounds intriguing and is definitely not what one would expect from that flick on first sight. A very brave concept that is, I believe.

In the interview, I especially liked the part where he explains how much work he had to invest to find the single term "non-linear orthography". A whole page goes into the bin and what stays is such minor story-characteristic/specific term. It's such a drudgery...

Quoted from PrussianMosby Interesting stuff. I haven't seen the movie myself, unfortunately, because that whole plot about language sounds intriguing and is definitely not what one would expect from that flick on first sight. A very brave concept that is, I believe. In the interview, I especially liked the part where he explains how much work he had to invest to find the single term "non-linear orthography". A whole page goes into the bin and what stays is such minor story-characteristic/specific term. It's such a drudgery...

That may be the plot, but the magic is in how this film pulls it all together to make you feel something.

I thought the movie was good, not great. I kinda expected something more. Especially in terms of atmosphere.

Just saw it - didn't really care for it. Just too many WTF moments (e.g., some how soldiers are able to load TNT into the most guarded thing in history, a linguist is able to just leave her tent and walk into the pod/spaceship - no guards/no barriers, etc. etc. One plot point after another where I'm thinking that would never foking happen.

A poor man's Close Encounters  IMO  

One of my favorite movies of the 2016. I was intrigued the whole time, and I left the theater still considering what it was I just saw. I'd be surprised if it doesn't win best Adapted Screenplay.

Boring characters. Boring aliens. Boring message about time. I can't even understand the hype generated from this snore fest.

Quoted from TonyDionisio Boring characters. Boring aliens. Boring message about time. I can't even understand the hype generated from this snore fest.

Yup.

Just finished the script. Not bad, but nothing too left of field. That said, it is just the script; perhaps there's something to be missed without Villeneuve's direction.

I was taken aback by how conventional it was, though. It's really a classic Hollywood story: Will a damaged person find redemption when confronted by colossal otherworldly forces? The alien language is simply the window dressing that separates this story from the rest. It does have its own unique narrative drivers and devices, not to dismiss it entirely, and is genuinely interesting from a linguistic/scientific perspective, but the metaphor is super simplistic and obvious (called it halfway through reading). It'll get folks talking after the fact, but I doubt most of those conversations will truly be in the context of the story itself.

To be fair, I had no real reason to believe it wouldn't be more or less conventional, other than sheer hype and some preconceived notions about Villeneuve's past work. That's not even necessarily a bad thing; in the end, it's a familiar story well-told. It is something I observed, though.

Will see how I feel after I watch the film. Only halfway through the journey here.

Quoted from TonyDionisio Boring characters. Boring aliens. Boring message about time. I can't even understand the hype generated from this snore fest.

Just watched it at work today and I agree with you.

I was very underwhelmed by this film. Felt cheap and like something that can never happen. Contact, for example felt real. Like it actually could happen like that, but then it probably helps to have someone like Carl Sagan to make it seem real.

Also, IMHO, don't use flashforwards if you're going to give the rest of the film away...
:-/

I am a sci-fi fan, so I enjoyed it.

Compared to the genius that was "Enemy", I found this pretty tame and conventional, however.

I'm largely with Dave, Tony and Pia. There was so much going on that felt really fake and contrived that it lost its sense of wonder, and the flash forwards gave the "twist" away so early that it rendered that aspect redundant.

It was a standard sci-fi flick with a decent budget and cast. Certainly not up there with the classics.

Concur!