Arrival
Directed by Denis Villeneuve7.994%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.
Cast of Arrival
Arrival Ratings & Reviews
- HaHaHarvey445d agoWhat if aliens show up in giant obsidian coffee pods, and instead of nuking New York, they ask if we want to learn sentence structure? It’s a slow, thoughtful, brain-melting meditation on language, perception, and time, basically Independence Day for people who read books without pictures. Amy Adams is deciphering grief one inky Heptapod swirl at a time. These aliens don’t speak, they mist-blast entire concepts into the air like intergalactic Rorschach tests, and somehow it makes total sense. By the end, the twist doesn’t explode, it just lands in your chest like a memory you haven’t lived yet, quietly rearranging your understanding of time. There’s no war, no special effects show, just the terrifying realisation that communication might be the most powerful weapon, or gift, we’ve got.
- S JohnsonOctober 22, 2024Just watched it again, and honestly, it might be even better the second time around.
- ayayronApril 6, 2025Non-zero sum game
- Manuel FrangisApril 15, 2025I 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.
- GnomeSliceApril 13, 2025Excellent first contact sci-fi.
- SJPONeillApril 7, 2025Interesting premise, well presented with good effects but not ground breaking or a movie that begs to be watched over and over....
- Miroslav LajczykFebruary 22, 2025ČSFD: 80% ke dni 22.02.25
- RyezooFebruary 15, 2025The more time that passes, the more I spend thinking about this movie. The cinematography is flat out gorgeous, the score is an orgasm for the ears, and the performances from Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner were some of there best ever. This director has proven himself time and time again and is definitely somebody that I keep on my radar and am excited to see in the theaters. The film is an extremely slow burn but that's OK. The story is intriguing and keeps you guessing. The aliens and their language is mesmerizing. Lastly the third act ties everything together wonderfully and really makes you want to see the film again. Do not miss this in theaters!
- Rowan KrzysiakFebruary 13, 2025Recommended as the antidote to Tenet, it felt more formulaic but also more successful than that. Not mind blowing but there's enough there to intrigue and ponder throughout and after.
- saood137mJanuary 6, 2025Unique. An excellent science fiction film.
- douglascraigenDecember 15, 2024I love the main idea of this movie.
