Arrival
Arrival
7.994%82%
Linguist Louise Banks leads a team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touch down around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors.
Manuel Frangis reviewedApril 15, 2025
I just watched Arrival, and I give it 4 out of 5 stars. This is one of those movies that sneaks up on you. You go in expecting a sci-fi alien movie, and you end up watching something way deeper and more emotional than that. It is slow, quiet, and filled with tension, but underneath all of that is a story about language, connection, memory, and what it means to live with the choices we make. It took me a little while to settle into its pace, but by the end, it really hit me.
The movie starts with twelve alien ships arriving on Earth, and no one knows why they are here. Every country is trying to figure out how to communicate with them. That is where Dr. Louise Banks comes in. She is a linguist, and the government asks her to help translate what the aliens are trying to say. What follows is not just about decoding a language — it is about understanding a completely different way of thinking, and that idea opens the door to something way bigger.
Amy Adams is incredible in this role. She brings so much emotion to the character without ever overdoing it. Most of the movie is quiet and thoughtful, and she holds all of it together. You feel everything through her — the fear, the curiosity, the grief, and the strength. She plays it with such honesty that you are fully with her every step of the way. It is one of those performances that does not need to shout to be powerful.
Jeremy Renner also does a great job as Ian, a scientist who works alongside Louise. He brings a nice balance to the film with some warmth and lightness. Their chemistry is subtle but real, and their dynamic never tries to overshadow the story. Forest Whitaker plays the military colonel overseeing the mission, and he keeps things grounded and believable. The entire cast feels real, which is what makes the sci-fi elements work even more.
The visuals are simple but beautiful. The design of the alien ships and creatures is eerie in a good way. It is not flashy or loud. It is just strange and mysterious, which fits the tone perfectly. The cinematography has this soft, almost dreamlike look to it, and it really adds to the atmosphere. The music by Jóhann Jóhannsson is haunting and emotional. It blends into the scenes so well that sometimes you barely notice it, but it sticks with you afterward.
The pacing is slow, and that might not work for everyone. It takes its time building the tension and letting the story unfold. But if you are patient with it, the payoff is absolutely worth it. There is a moment where everything clicks, and it completely changes how you see the rest of the movie. That reveal is what took it from interesting to something way more powerful for me.
I give Arrival 4 out of 5 stars because it is emotional, thought-provoking, and beautifully made. It is not your typical alien movie. It is something much deeper about understanding, communication, and time in a way that stays with you. Overall Arrival is a smart, emotional sci-fi film that feels both intimate and huge at the same time. It makes you think and makes you feel, and I really respect movies that can do both.