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!